Higgins’ Eureka LCP (Landing Craft Personnel)

In the Hesperus Prophecy, the Clypeate uses the Higgins’ Eureka LCP to transfer the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma teams from the FV Melville to the Queen Maud’s Land ice shelf. This took place in January 1939, just a few months before the US Navy officially adopted the Higgins’ Eureka LCP as its preferred landing craft.

The Higgins’ Eureka LCP became the standard landing craft after testing during FLEX-5. Fleet Exercise 5 ran from January through March 1939 in the Caribbean. Using existing landing craft, Marine assault teams found it difficult to get equipment onto the beachhead during amphibious landings. Most landing boats were incapable of hauling the important supplies needed for properly establishing a base. The Marines tested a variety of different commercially produced boats. Of all these tested, the Higgins' Eureka LCP was their favorite.

When tested during FLEX 5 by the Navy and Marine Corps, Higgins' Eureka boat surpassed the performance of the other designs. The Higgins’ Eureka LCP was adopted as the standard personnel landing craft, the Landing Craft Personnel (LCP) by 1940.