moses persuaded the owner of the factory and designer of alligator, donald roebling, to design a stronger and more powerful version that would meet the needs of the marine corps. following a period of tests and modifications, moses recommended the navy department to buy alligators and navy ordered one hundred alligators in october 1940 and additional two hundred alligators were ordered in february 1941. alligators were subsequently renamed lvts and began to form a specialized units to operate them.