Daihatsu Class Landing Craft
Technical Information

Background
The Daihatsu-class Landing Craft or 14m landing craft (大発) or "Large motorized boat" (大型発動機艇) or simply as Daihatsu. Developed by Daihatsu in 1924 and the first model was completed in 1930. The landing craft was capable of carrying either 70 men, 10-12 tons of cargo or a single Type 95 Ha-Go Light Tank. In 1932, a larger model was designed to transport a single Type 89 Yi-Go Medium Tank.

The Daihatsu has a steel hull and a spiral shaped propeller screw to allow landings in shallow depths. The bottom of the bow is W-shaped to stabilize the vessel while landing on the beach. An armor plate shield protected the pilot. A front ramp extended from the bow to allow load and unload of a vehicle or cargo. American Andrew Higgins of Higgins Industries reviewed photographs of Daihatsu landing craft and integrated features of into his designs for the LCP(L), LCP(R) and LCVP.

Wartime History
The Daihatsu Class was used by both the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy during the Second SIno-Japanese War and Pacific War. The Daihatsu but was capable of being modified with additional armor and could be armed with 2 x light machine guns and several 25mm anti-aircraft guns.

Production
A total of 6,000 Daihatsu Class Landing Craft were built.

Technical Details
Crew  One (pilot)
Engine  Gasoline or Diesel 60 hp
Speed  9 knots
Size  47' x 10' x 2.6'
Displacement  21 Tons
Capacity  70 troops or 10-12 tons cargo or a single Type 95 Ha-Go Light Tank
Armament  None, capable of holding 2 x Light Machine Guns or 2-3 25mm AA guns