Without the ingenious input of Higgins Industries based in New Orleans, many of the amphibious landings undertaken during WW2 would simply not have been possible. Andrew Higgins wanted to make his mark for the war effort and he came up with a simple but innovative way of mass producing Light Craft that Infantry could use to land on hostile territory. The early boats were of shallow draft construction but didn't have the characteristic Landing Ramp that we associate with the later operations. Instead the troops simply dropped over the side. But this was proving costly as it left men exposed to enemy fire and eventually the LCI (Landing Craft Infantry) was developed with the ramp which did offer some cover to troops during the approach to Landings.
Good stuff Spit, and links to this nicely, on Higgins MTBs and the Brit equivalent http://www.war44.com/forum/showthread.php?t=98&highlight=higgins
Early Higgins Boat with the Troops climbing over the side and a later LCVP (Landing Craft Vehicle/Personnel) with troops exiting down the ramp.