Landing Force / Navy Infantry


A NOTE FROM YOUR TOUR GUIDE: These images are not copyrighted or restricted in any way. But I do put a lot of time into collecting, curating, scanning, describing, and posting them to my website. I have no problem with these images being used but PLEASE site the source if you do.


3″ field gun drill, ca. 1910-18

Field gun artillery drill under the watchful eye of a junior officer.

Landing Force; Navy Infantry; Artillery; field gun; 3 inch gun


Landing force artillery training, New Orleans, Louisiana, 15 November 1918.

Landing Force, Navy Infantry; Artillery; field gun; 3 inch gun


Landing force artillery training, New Orleans, Louisiana, 15 November 1918.

Landing Force; Navy Infantry; artillery; field gun; 3 inch gun


Lowering a field piece, possibly from U.S.S. Delaware, ca. 1910-18. Note the sailors in the whale boat, waiting to load the gun.

Navy infantry; landing force; 3 inch gun; artillery; field gun; battleship


Field gun deployment drill, commanded by a Chief Petty Officer, ca. 1915-20.

Navy infantry; landing force; 3 inch gun; artillery; field gun; 3 inch gun; Chief Petty Officer


Shipboard target practice with M1903 Springfield rifles. Navy infantry received training both aboard ship and ashore. Note the officer with pistol and pistol belt monitoring the firing line.

Landing force, Navy infantry; 1903 Springfield


Navy and USMC Landings at Vera Cruz, Mexico, 21-22 April 1914


Navy Infantry and USMC landing force aboard U.S.S. Louisiana, preparing for landings at Vera Cruz, April 1914.

Navy Infantry; Landing Force; Vera Cruz; battleship; dreadnaught; Marine


Two “potato digger” machine guns in action 21-22 April 1914.

Navy infantry; landing force; Colt 1895 machine gun; Potato Digger


Navy infantry in action near the Vera Cruz custom house, 22 April 1914.

Navy infantry; landing force


Navy corpsmen carrying out wounded during the battle to capture Vera Cruz, 21-22 April 1914. This postcard was sent by a Marine who served with the landing force at Vera Cruz.

Navy infantry; landing force; corpsmen


Naval Brigade in formation at Vera Cruz, April 1914.

Navy Infantry; landing force


Landing force on an unidentified battleship, preparing to go ashore at Vera Cruz, 21-22 April 1914. Note the sailors, officer, and warrant officer in dyed uniforms.

Landing force; navy infantry; battleship; warrant officer; Marine


Landing force preparing to go ashore at Vera Cruz, Mexico, probably around 22 April 1914. Note the dyed clothing of the men in the boat and on the gangway. The first wave of sailors who entered Vera Cruz did not dye their uniforms. Subsequent landing force sailors did.

Landing force; Navy infantry; Vera Cruz


Officers of the landing force resting under a tree at Vera Cruz, 21-22 April 1914.

Landing force; navy infantry


Landing force pulling a 3″ field gun in Vera Cruz, 21-22 April 1914.

Landing force; navy infantry; 3 inch gun; artillery; field gun


Deck gun crew in Vera Cruz harbor, in front of the San Juan de Ulua prison, 21-22 April 1914.

Deck gun; open mount gun; San Juan de Ulua


Naval brigade in formation at Vera Cruz, 21-22 April 1914. Note Marines spread throughout the formation.

Landing force; navy infantry; Marine