The battle for Peleliu, from 15 September to 27 November 1944, was a particularly bloody one during the Pacific Campaign. This tiny island 800km east of the Philippines, now part of Palau, had to be captured to protect the American right flank. Many Landing Vehicles Tracked (LVT) were used in the initial amphibious assault, and so devastating was the Japanese resistance that 60 LVTs and DUKWs were destroyed within the first hour of the landing.
Dragon Armor has released a 1/72 scale model of one of the vehicles that participated in the assault of this island. It is an American LVT(A)-4. Introduced in March 1944 as a modification of the LVT(A)-1, the LVT(A)-4 featured a complete turret and M2 or M3 75mm howitzer taken directly from the M8 Gun Motor Carriage (GMC). A total of 1,890 LVT(A)-4 vehicles were manufactured, its 75mm weapon proving effective in attacking Japanese fortifications during amphibious assaults.
The Dragon Armor model is from the 3rd Armored Amphibian Battalion of the US Marine Corps (USMC). The LVT wears a new olive drab paint finish. The tactical number ‘D12’ is painted prominently in white on the turret sides, although such markings often proved inviting targets for Japanese gunners! This amtrac has been christened “Lady Luck”. The detail on this LVT(A)-4 is quite stunning, including the open-topped turret and a .50-cal machine gun mounted on it. This “lucky” LVT is the perfect companion to the Iwo Jima LVT(A)-4 released earlier by Dragon Armor.
