assault boat

noun

1. a portable boat used for landing troops on beaches and for crossing rivers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of assault boat¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

A shell screamed into an assault boat just as the ramp was lowered.

From Seattle Times

Henry Herschell Mosley of the 84th Infantry Division was crossing the Ruhr River in an assault boat near Linnich, Germany, on Feb. 23, 1945, when German machine guns opened fire.

From Washington Times

Graff found Frommelt’s body in an assault boat drawn up on the shore.

From Washington Post

“His assault boat landing craft was constantly being repaired in Yokohama,” his wife said, “so he started to study Japanese.”

From New York Times

Clarius Riggs, who left the assault boat in front of me, went under, shot to death.

From Time Magazine Archive