Their lightweight construction allows for them to be carried by multiple men on foot.
They can either be paddled or fitted with an outboard motor for high-speed operation.
Some assault boats can be fitted with small firearms such as automatic rifles.
The length of assault boats is usually 5 to 20 meters and they are constructed from rubber, fiberglass, aluminum, or steel.
The "Storm Boat" was an 8-man (6+2 crew) high-speed assault boat with a 55-horsepower outboard motor designed to breach at speed thus allowing the soldiers on board to "storm the shore".