Behind the Lines
During World War II, women played a key role in building inflatable rubber assault boats for soldiers on the front lines
December 1941 marked a pivotal moment in global history when the United States officially entered World War II. For over a year, the U.S. had been providing military supplies and assistance to the Allies, but the attack on Pearl Harbor triggered the country’s full-scale involvement. Almost overnight, the demand for military supplies and personnel surged, and industries across the nation mobilized to support the war effort.
In Akron, Ohio—then known as the Rubber Capital of the World—factories were quick to answer the call. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, along with other major tire manufacturers in the area, shifted gears to produce rubber products for the military. Among its contributions, the company was the main manufacturer of Landing Craft Rubber Small (LCRS) and Landing Craft Rubber Large (LCRL) inflatable assault boats, which the Marine Corps, Navy and Army used for amphibious warfare, river crossings and transporting troops from ship to shore.
LCRS boats were highly transportable, quick to deploy and suited for a variety of combat environments. They measured 12 feet, 5 inches long, weighed 210 pounds light, and could carry up to seven men. LCRLs were 18 feet long, weighed 320 pounds light, and could carry up to 10 men. They often had a .30 cal. machine gun mounted at the bow and could be powered by an outboard motor. When paddled by an experienced team, LCRLs could achieve speeds of up to 57 yards per minute, and they were nearly silent without the motor, making them ideal for stealth raids.
This scene from December 1941 captures three women working in the balloon room at Goodyear, assembling two of these assault boats for the Marine Corps. These women were part of a larger movement that saw many factory positions filled by women as men were called to the front lines. By the following year, they would proudly call themselves “Rosies,” a nod to the iconic symbol of female labor during the war.
At Goodyear, women were involved in almost every stage of the manufacturing process. Production began with patterns being laid out on fabric. Workers then cut several pieces of fabric simultaneously using electric knives. Afterward, women assembled and cemented the pre-shaped fabric pieces on long worktables. They applied rubber cement where fixtures were to be attached, seamed accessories, painted the boats’ undersides, and attached inflatable tubular guardrails around the outer edges. Once completed, the boats were deflated and packed into waterproof containers, each with a compressed gas bottle for inflation.
These boats contributed to many of the Allies’ key victories in Europe and the Pacific. In total, 10,125 LCRL and 8,150 LCRS boats were built between 1938 and 1945. While they were eventually replaced by more modern rubber boats, their legacy—and the contributions of the women who made them—has left a lasting impact on wartime history and the role of women in the workforce.
This article was originally published in the November 2024 issue.
