 These craft were based on vessels created and used for traveling through swamps and marshes. The Higgins boats proved to be effective for the Allies during numerous World War II amphibious landings, including the one on D-Day. Each of these vessels could carry 36 soldiers or up to 8,000 pounds of cargo. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Forces, singled out the Higgins boat as a crucial factor for the success of the Normandy landings, which eventually led to ultimate victory in Europe.