Monthly Archives: March 2014

WWII-Era Landing Craft Videos

Here are several online movies that provide a great view into what it was like to operate landing craft during WWII.

The USS Calvert’s Landing Craft in action:

This first video shows the Calvert’s landing craft in action from 1944 color film footage (full film is available here).

This second movie shows the Calvert’s LCVPs and LCMs at the Makin invasion, Gilbert Islands, on November 20th 1943. Although this free preview at CriticalPast is low quality, it is possible to make out the “32” on several of the landing craft throughout the video.

Other WWII-Era Landing Craft Videos: Additional WWII-era landing craft movies area available on the “Landing Craft” page on this site.

48-Page “A History of the USS Calvert” by David B. Cullen

In the book A History of the USS Calvert (APA-32) (click on the name to download the .pdf), David B. Cullen, Jr. provides a detailed written account of the Calvert’s full history while in the service of the United States Navy: 1942 – 1966.

Mr. Cullen served as an officer aboard the Calvert during WWII. He published this book in 1986 and made it available at the Calvert Association reunions and via the Calversion.

I was able to obtain a copy of this book at the September 2013 Calvert Associates Reunion, Des Moines, IA.