It looked like a scene out of a World War II movie. A 135-ton landing craft came ashore on the south-side of Maui Tuesday morning but there were no soldiers on board. In fact, this boat was unmanned and turns out, it has a very interesting history.
Maui Canoe Club paddlers were hoping to start their Tuesday with an early morning workout. But two things surfaced over-night: strong southerly winds and what appeared to be a World War II landing craft.
"We were amazed to see an old World War II landing craft on the beach when we came out to paddle this morning," said club member Mike Elam.
Glenn Barr grabbed his camera and started capturing images of the historic vessel that came ashore at Sugar Beach in front of their canoe hale.
"The current is currently digging it into the sand so it's kind of on the beach and just being roughed by the current," said Barr.
We contacted historian Daniel Martinez to take a closer look at the landing craft known as an LCM.
"They're landing craft mechanical or landing craft mechanized," said Martinez. He says LCMs were first developed by the British in the 1920's and 30's and used in World War II during amphibious assaults. "So throughout World War II the LCM is how we won the war in Europe and how we won the war in the Pacific. They were used in major invasions from Normandy to Iwo Jima."
But Martinez dug deeper and found that LCM 8540 was one of 70 built in 1971-to-72.
"These are ones that were built during the Vietnam War and so they did use them in the deltas -- and maneuvered them around to get men and equipment," said Martinez.
The state says the vessel is intact and although it can hold 100 gallons of diesel, no fluids are leaking. The state has contacted the owner who is on Oahu and has advised him remove it.
"It was moored offshore and has been there for quite awhile and occassionally used for as an escort vessel for canoe races or fireworks," said Barr. "It has been moored in Maalaea Harbor for many years."
"It just shows you that World War II doesn't really fade that much from the scene that even in the latter days of the war these designs and these vessels were retained," said Martinez. "Our World War II heritage comes back to visit once again when one breaks loose and goes aground."
The state says no coral was damaged when the boat washed ashore.
