Higgins Boat Patterson Contribution

Inventor of the Modern Speed Boat
Another means that Patterson, as a rum runner,
used to avoid custom agents was by designing an
incredibly fast (by 1928 standards) boat. His unique
design would become part of every speed boat and
was a major component of millitary landing craft.

The First Step Hull Design
AC Patterson holds a US patent for his step hull
design, one that gives a boat lift and therefore
reduces friction with the water. This design is part of
all racing boats today--modern speed boats using
often a double step hull. This design allowed his
boat, "The Bullet," to reach speeds over 60 knots
and easily outdistance and outmaneuver his
pursuers, be they pirates or US Customs Agent.
"The Bullet" was constructed by Andrew Higgins, the
man who built the landing crafts for the Normandy
Invasion.

The "Higgins Boat"
Patterson was a close friend of Andrew Higgins,
and we have oral accounts that he helped Higgins in
the design of the landing craft built by Higgins
Industries. Patterson has several designs of landing
crafts, one of which was patented. His patented
design is a rear exit craft that had a shallow draft
and could be driven to the beach. We have some
accounts that Patterson was not in favor of the front
exit craft (the Higgins Boat) used in Normandy. The
P. T. boat has a design most like that of Patterson.

But it was the Higgins Boat that led to the defeat of
the Nazis and it was the Higgins boat that
successfully transported thousands of troops onto
the beach at Normandy. Andrew Higgins had
developed a manufacturing process that was
efficient and effective. Two men from New Orleans,
Alonzo Patterson and his long time friend Andrew
Higgins proved vital to the war effor.