For more than a century, the U.S. Navy's formidable amphibious fleet has delivered large numbers of troops, equipment and materiel to defeat its adversaries and to provide disaster relief and humanitarian assistance to many nations. In World War II, the Allies would not have prevailed without the essential landing craft, transports and cargo ships of America's "Gator Navy."

This book provides the histories, operations and characteristics of some 1,000 amphibious warfare ships in 29 classifications and a plethora of smaller amphibious craft in about 40 classifications that have served in the Gator Navy from World War I to today. "Amphibs" of all types--from 12-foot inflatable rubber landing craft to 855-foot amphibious assault ships--are depicted in numerous images. Selected histories of various vessels demonstrate the unique role of the U.S. amphibious force in both war and peace during the past 100 years.