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Landing craft

A landing craft is a small, specialized naval vessel designed to transport troops, vehicles, equipment, and supplies from larger ships to shore during amphibious assaults, featuring shallow drafts and bow or stern ramps for direct beaching and unloading.^[1] These craft enable rapid deployment in contested environments, supporting operations from ship-to-shore and across beaches, and have been integral to military strategy since ancient times but saw critical modernization in the 20th century.^[2] The concept of landing craft traces back to antiquity, with early examples including Greek vessels used in the siege of Troy around 1183 B.C. and Persian designs in 490 B.C. that incorporated runways for horses, though these were rudimentary compared to later innovations.^[2] By World War II, the U.S. Navy developed key types such as the Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP), also known as the Higgins boat, which was 36 feet long and pivotal in operations like D-Day, allowing efficient troop delivery via a bow ramp.^[3] Post-war advancements included larger variants for mechanized transport, with the U.S. military continuing to refine these for global power projection.^[1] Modern landing craft encompass diverse types tailored to specific roles in amphibious warfare. The Landing Craft, Mechanized (LCM) and Utility (LCU), such as the LCM 8 (73.7 feet long, 60 short ton capacity, up to 100 troops, 10 knots speed, 400 nautical mile range) and LCU 1610 (134.75 feet, 140 short ton capacity, up to 400 personnel, 11 knots speed, 1,200 nautical mile range), are steel displacement vessels that can carry heavy vehicles like M1A1 tanks while supporting assaults, humanitarian aid, and partnership exercises.^[1] Complementing these, the Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC), a 91.5-foot hovercraft introduced in 1987, achieves over 40 knots while transporting 60-75 tons—equivalent to an M1 tank—across more than 70% of the world's coastlines, operating from amphibious ships like LHDs and LPDs for enhanced mobility in minefields or rough terrain.^[4] These vessels remain essential for U.S. Marine Corps and Navy operations, with ongoing programs like the LCU 1700 class replacing older models to maintain expeditionary capabilities.^[1]

Overview

Definition and Purpose

Landing craft are specialized naval vessels designed to transport and deploy troops, equipment, vehicles, and supplies from larger amphibious ships to shore during military operations, particularly in environments where access to established ports is unavailable or denied. These craft are typically small to medium-sized watercraft engineered for operations in shallow waters, featuring a shallow draft to enable beaching directly on coastal areas unsuitable for deeper-draft ships. A key design element is the bow or stern ramp, which allows for rapid loading and unloading of personnel and cargo, facilitating efficient transition from sea to land.^[5]^[1] The primary purposes of landing craft in amphibious warfare include enabling beach assaults, providing logistical resupply to forward positions, and supporting evacuations of personnel or equipment under combat conditions. They serve as critical connectors in amphibious operations, bridging the gap between naval forces at sea and ground forces establishing a foothold ashore, thereby allowing for the rapid buildup of combat power. This capability supports a range of missions, from forcible entry to sustainment, by delivering assault elements while maintaining operational flexibility in dynamic environments. Rugged construction ensures durability against the stresses of repeated beaching and retraction cycles, often in contested waters.^[5]^[6] Strategically, landing craft play a pivotal role in power projection by enabling surprise attacks on enemy coastlines and integrating naval infantry tactics with combined arms operations, where sea-based maneuver exploits vulnerabilities in land defenses. Their use enhances the ability to select advantageous landing sites, often over the horizon, to achieve tactical surprise and sustain momentum in joint or multinational efforts. This versatility underscores their importance in modern military strategy, where amphibious forces must rapidly transition from maritime to terrestrial dominance.^[5] In operation, landing craft follow principles centered on coordinated ship-to-shore movement, where they transport units in organized waves to preserve tactical integrity during transit from mother ships to the beach. Vulnerability to enemy fire during this exposed phase necessitates integration with naval gunfire, air support, or other protective measures to minimize risks and ensure successful debarkation. Loading and unloading cycles are optimized for speed, with craft retracting after discharge to return for additional runs, thereby supporting continuous resupply and reinforcement. Close synchronization between naval and landing force elements is essential for adapting to terrain, weather, and opposition.^[5]^[6]

Classification and Nomenclature

Landing craft are primarily classified by their payload capacity, which determines their role in amphibious operations: personnel carriers designed for infantry transport, utility craft for general cargo and equipment, and vehicle or tank carriers for heavier loads such as armored units.^[1]^[7] Additional schemes categorize them by propulsion systems, including mechanized (diesel or gasoline engines for displacement hulls) and air-cushioned (hovercraft for over-the-beach operations), as well as by size, with smaller variants like the Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP) suited for up to 36 troops and larger ones like the Landing Craft, Utility (LCU) for vehicles up to 150 tons.^[1]^[7] The nomenclature for landing craft originated during World War II with the U.S. Navy's standardized abbreviations, which combined "LC" for Landing Craft with descriptors for function and payload, such as LCVP for Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (capable of carrying a jeep and 12 troops) and LCA for Landing Craft, Assault (a British-influenced design for troop assault).^[7] These codes evolved post-war to incorporate international standards, particularly through NATO's STANAG 1166 (Standard Ship Designator System), which provides unified hull classification symbols for amphibious warfare vessels and craft, including designators for landing types under the amphibious category to ensure interoperability among member nations._standard_ship_designator_system.pdf) Key categories distinguish personnel carriers, focused on rapid troop debarkation via bow ramps, from cargo haulers optimized for bulk logistics like ammunition or supplies.^[7] Landing craft are differentiated from landing ships, which are larger vessels capable of self-propelled operations to offshore positions and troop capacities exceeding 200 personnel, often with integral docking facilities.^[1] Subtypes include specialized variants such as control craft (LCC for command and communication), navigation aids (LCP(Sy) for survey), and flak variants (LCF for anti-aircraft defense during landings).^[7] In the post-2000 era, nomenclature and classification have adapted to emphasize modular designs, allowing interchangeable mission modules for roles like humanitarian aid or unmanned vehicle deployment, and multi-role capabilities in classes like the LCU 1700, which supports both combat and logistics with enhanced stern ramps for flexibility.^[1] These updates align with NATO standards to facilitate joint operations, incorporating air-cushioned and hybrid propulsion for versatile amphibious environments._standard_ship_designator_system.pdf)

Historical Development

Early Origins to World War I

The concept of landing craft traces its rudimentary origins to ancient amphibious operations, where simple vessels facilitated troop debarkation during sieges and invasions. In the siege of Troy around 1183 B.C., Greek forces utilized ships to transport warriors and supplies to the shore, enabling a prolonged blockade as described in Homer's Iliad. Similarly, during the Persian invasion of Greece in 490 B.C., Darius I employed specialized vessels with runways to disembark horses and troops, though the effort ultimately failed against Athenian resistance. In the 5th century B.C., during the Sicilian Expedition (415–413 B.C.), Athenian fleets besieged Syracuse and relied on galleys for landing infantry, but faced devastating countermeasures like flaming projectiles. In medieval times, Viking longships from 789 to 1089 A.D. exemplified shallow-draft rowboats ideal for raiding European coasts, allowing rapid beaching and withdrawal. William the Conqueror's 1066 crossing of the English Channel with rowed craft further demonstrated the use of basic barges for mass troop deployment in the Battle of Hastings.^[2] The 19th century saw incremental adaptations of steam-powered launches and lifeboats for colonial expeditions, driven by European naval powers' expansionist needs. During the Crimean War in 1854, British forces at Eupatoria used rowing boats and small gigs to ferry thousands of soldiers from transports to the beach via rope ladders, covering a mile-wide front despite rough seas that overturned vessels and drowned horses. French naval operations in the same campaign employed similar oar-powered launches for landings near the Black Sea coast, often towed by steamers to overcome surf challenges. These efforts marked early trials in mechanized assistance, but remained improvised, with steam launches serving primarily as tugs rather than self-propelled landing vessels. An earlier example from 1775 involved the Spanish expedition against the Regency of Algiers in the Bay of Algiers, where 51 vessels and transports relied on shallow-draft boats for troop debarkation, only to suffer high losses from enemy fire and slow unloading.^[8]^[2]) World War I introduced the first motorized landing craft amid the demands of large-scale amphibious assaults, though designs were ad hoc and experimental. At the Gallipoli campaign in 1915, British forces initially used ship's boats, lighters, and pontoons towed by tugs for the April 25 landings at Anzac Cove and Cape Helles, with the collier River Clyde grounded as an improvised pier linked by barges to the shore. Later, purpose-built "Beetles," or X-Lighters—135-ton, diesel-powered craft measuring 32.3 meters long with a 500-troop capacity and 5-7 knot speed—were deployed at Suvla Bay in August, featuring armored sides and bow ramps for beaching. U.S. experimental designs, such as early troop barges tested post-entry into the war, focused on shallow-draft vessels for personnel transport but saw limited combat use. These innovations represented a shift from oar reliance, yet no standardized models existed.^[9]^[10]^[11] Key limitations plagued these early efforts, particularly the initial Gallipoli landings, including the absence of bow ramps for rapid unloading in makeshift vessels, dependence on manual rowing or external tugs, and extreme vulnerability to machine-gun and rifle fire on exposed beaches. Later introductions like the X-Lighters mitigated some issues with ramps but did not fully resolve exposure risks. At Gallipoli, slow debarkation via makeshift pontoons led to over 2,000 Allied casualties in the initial hours, as troops waded through surf under Ottoman fire. High casualties stemmed from these inefficiencies, underscoring the need for purpose-engineered craft in future conflicts.^[9]^[2]^[12]

Interwar Period Innovations

The failures of the Gallipoli Campaign during World War I profoundly shaped interwar amphibious doctrine for both the U.S. Marine Corps and the British Royal Navy, highlighting the need for rapid beaching and unloading to maintain surprise and momentum. For the British, the campaign's logistical delays and poor combat loading underscored vulnerabilities in large-scale landings, leading to an emphasis on small-scale night raids and simplicity in operations, as detailed in the 1925 Manual of Combined Operations.^[13] The U.S. Marine Corps, drawing contrasting lessons, prioritized massed daylight assaults with unified command and accurate naval gunfire support to enable swift unloading, avoiding Gallipoli's disorganized shore-to-ship movements that exposed troops to fire.^[13] These insights drove early experiments in landing techniques, focusing on craft that could beach efficiently and retract under fire. Doctrinal advancements in the interwar period built on these lessons, with the U.S. establishing the Advanced Base Force in 1921 to support fleet operations through occupation and raiding, including amphibious assaults on defended shores.^[14] Major Earl H. Ellis's 1921 Operation Plan 712, "Advanced Base Operations in Micronesia," envisioned seizing Japanese-held islands via coordinated naval-ground actions, necessitating specialized equipment for island-hopping in the Pacific under War Plan Orange.^[15] International naval treaties, such as the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty, constrained capital ship construction and budgets, redirecting resources toward smaller, versatile craft for amphibious roles rather than large warships.^[16] This shift influenced joint U.S. Navy-Marine Corps publications like the 1934 Tentative Manual for Landing Operations, which formalized opposed beach assaults and combat loading.^[16] Key prototypes emerged from these doctrines, including U.S. Navy experiments in the 1920s with ramp-equipped vessels for efficient troop and equipment delivery. The 1923-1924 Troop Barge A, a 50-foot twin-engined craft with shallow draft capable of 12 knots, transported 110 Marines and demonstrated effective beaching with stern anchors during Culebra trials.^[17] In 1927, a 45-foot artillery lighter with dual hinged stern ramps was tested for unloading heavy 155mm guns, though it relied on towing without its own power plant.^[17] Japan advanced similarly with the Type A Daihatsu landing craft, developed by Daihatsu starting in 1924 and completed in 1930, featuring a steel hull, 60 hp gasoline or diesel engine, and a front ramp for tanks or 70 troops.^[18] British efforts included 1930s trials of prototype landing craft funded by the Naval Staff's Inter-Service Training and Development Committee, testing shallow-water designs for combined operations, though inter-service rivalries limited progress.^[19] Technological innovations during this era included shallow-draft hulls for beaching in low water, basic internal combustion engines for propulsion, and initial armor plating for crew protection, addressing vulnerabilities exposed in early exercises.^[16] These features were validated in U.S. Navy's Fleet Problem IX in 1929, which tested amphibious landings alongside carrier operations, simulating assaults on defended shores like the Panama Canal to refine ship-to-shore coordination and craft retraction.^[20] The exercise highlighted the need for ramps and shallow drafts to support Marine advances, informing later doctrine in FTP-167 (1938).^[16]

World War II Era

Infantry Landing Craft

Infantry landing craft during World War II were specialized small vessels designed primarily for transporting troops from offshore ships to contested beaches, emphasizing rapid personnel delivery over heavy cargo or vehicle transport. These craft addressed the critical need for efficient beach assaults in amphibious operations, evolving from earlier experimental designs to meet the demands of large-scale invasions. They featured shallow drafts for close-in beaching, bow or side ramps for quick troop disembarkation, and minimal armament for self-defense, making them vulnerable to small-arms fire and artillery once exposed on approach runs.^[21]^[22] The United States' primary infantry landing craft was the Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP), commonly known as the Higgins boat, developed by Higgins Industries in New Orleans starting in 1941. This 36-foot wooden vessel, weighing 8.5 tons, had a forward draft of about 12 inches and an aft draft of 3.5 feet, allowing it to navigate shallow waters and beach directly for unloading. It could carry up to 36 fully equipped troops at speeds of 9 to 12 knots, powered by a 225-horsepower diesel engine, and was armed with two .30-caliber machine guns for limited protection. In response to the U.S. Navy's urgent requirements for personnel carriers following early Pacific campaigns, more than 23,000 LCVPs were produced during the war, enabling massed assaults by lowering a hinged ramp bow to allow troops to wade ashore in seconds.^[21]^[22]^[22]^[23] The British counterpart, the Landing Craft, Assault (LCA), entered service in 1938 as an armored, davit-launched boat suited for deployment from larger warships. Measuring 41 feet in length with a beam of 10 feet, it featured a shallow draft of approximately 1 foot forward and 3 feet aft, accommodating 30 to 35 troops at speeds around 7 to 8 knots via twin petrol engines. Armored plating protected the coxswain and a mounted Bren light machine gun or similar provided fire support, while side benches and a drop-nose bow facilitated organized exit under fire. Developed amid interwar concerns over European invasions, approximately 2,000 LCAs were built, prioritizing troop safety in opposed landings over speed or range.^[24]^[25]^[26]^[27] Operationally, these craft proved indispensable in major WWII assaults, with LCVPs ferrying troops during the D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, where thousands delivered U.S. and Allied infantry to Omaha and Utah beaches despite heavy losses from machine-gun fire and obstacles. In the Pacific theater, LCVPs supported island-hopping campaigns, such as the 1944 Guam landings, where their beaching mechanics allowed rapid reinforcement amid coral reefs and surf, though vulnerability to small-arms fire often resulted in high casualties during final approaches. LCAs similarly played key roles in British-led operations, including Dieppe and Sicily, launching from infantry landing ships to deposit commandos in tight formations.^[21]^[28]^[29] Variants adapted for covert operations included folding canoes and inflatable boats, such as the British Mark II Cockleshell canoe, a collapsible kayak-like craft used by special forces for clandestine raids. These lightweight, man-portable designs, often carried aboard submarines or larger vessels, enabled small teams to infiltrate enemy coasts undetected, as seen in the 1942 St. Nazaire raid where Commandos paddled ashore to sabotage a dry dock. Inflatable rubber boats, towed or paddled, supplemented main landings for reconnaissance or extraction in low-profile missions, prioritizing stealth over capacity.^[30]^[31]

Vehicle and Tank Landing Craft

Vehicle and tank landing craft were essential for delivering armored vehicles and heavy equipment directly onto hostile beaches during World War II amphibious assaults. The primary designs included the U.S. Navy's Landing Craft, Mechanized Mark 3 (LCM(3)), introduced in 1942, which could transport a single 30-ton tank such as the M4 Sherman, along with up to 60,000 pounds of additional cargo, at a loaded speed of approximately 8 knots.^[22] Complementing this was the British Landing Craft, Tank (LCT) Mark III, entering service in 1940, capable of carrying multiple tanks—up to 11 light Valentines or 11 Shermans, or 5 heavy Churchills—at speeds up to 10 knots.^[32] These craft featured wide, open decks measuring 32 feet by 9.5 feet on the LCM(3) and broader 30-foot beams on the LCT Mark III, paired with heavy-duty bow ramps that dropped via hydraulic or engine-driven mechanisms to enable rapid vehicle offloading over soft sand or coral.^[22]^[33] Production of these craft ramped up dramatically to support global operations, with over 8,000 LCM(3)s built by U.S. shipyards like Higgins Industries, while British yards constructed around 235 LCT Mark IIIs and 865 Mark IV variants, the latter an enlarged model with enhanced payload capacity.^[23]^[33] They proved pivotal in major invasions, such as the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944, where hundreds of LCM(3)s and LCTs unloaded Sherman tanks directly onto Omaha and Gold Beaches, enabling armored support for infantry advances amid intense German fire.^[34] In the Pacific, LCM(3)s and similar craft at Tarawa Atoll in November 1943 ferried medium tanks to the shore, bolstering Marine assaults despite operational hurdles.^[35] However, challenges like tidal stranding plagued these operations; at Tarawa, low tides grounded many craft on offshore reefs, forcing troops and vehicles to wade through chest-deep water under fire, while Normandy's variable tides caused some LCTs to beach hours after high water, complicating exits and exposing them to artillery.^[36]^[37] Engineering focused on durability for heavy loads and beach operations, with the LCM(3) featuring a reinforced steel hull—double-bottomed with watertight wing tanks—capable of supporting over 50 tons total when fully loaded, including a 30-ton tank.^[22] Propulsion came from twin Gray Marine 225-horsepower diesel engines driving twin screws, providing a shallow draft of 3 feet forward for beaching and a skeg-protected rudder for surf retraction.^[22] The LCT Mark III employed similar diesel power plants, with two 460-horsepower Paxman engines enabling reliable beach-exit capabilities through a robust bow ramp and flat-bottomed hull designed for grounding and reversing off slopes up to 10 degrees.^[33] Adaptations included armored variants for closer fire support, such as the British LCT(A), where 26 standard LCTs were up-armored with additional plating around crew positions and gun mounts, though this reduced tank capacity from four to three mediums; these were used by the Royal Marine Armoured Support Group in the initial Normandy waves to suppress beach defenses with mounted howitzers.^[38]^[39] The LCM(3) received lighter armor enhancements around the wheelhouse and machine-gun positions for crew protection during unloading, allowing some to provide suppressive fire while delivering vehicles.^[34]

Landing Ships

Landing ships represented a critical evolution in amphibious warfare during World War II, serving as larger vessels capable of transporting significant numbers of troops, vehicles, and smaller landing craft across oceans to act as mobile bases for assaults. Unlike smaller landing craft that relied on mother ships for transit, landing ships like the U.S. Navy's Landing Ship, Tank (LST) and Landing Ship, Dock (LSD) were designed for independent ocean voyages while enabling direct beaching or deployment near shorelines. These ships facilitated sustained operations by unloading directly onto beaches or launching subordinate craft, playing pivotal roles in major invasions such as those in Sicily and Iwo Jima.^[40] The primary class of landing ships was the LST, introduced in 1942 with the commissioning of the first vessel, USS LST-1. These ships displaced approximately 1,625 tons light and 4,080 tons full load, measuring 328 feet in length with a beam of 50 feet, and were powered by diesel engines achieving a maximum speed of 12 knots, though typically limited to 10 knots when fully loaded. LSTs featured innovative design elements, including bow doors and a ramp for direct vehicle discharge onto beaches, floodable ballast tanks in the hull to lower the bow for grounding, and a high freeboard to handle rough seas during transit. They could accommodate up to 29 tanks or equivalent vehicles on the main deck, along with 500 troops and substantial cargo, making them versatile for combined arms landings. Over 1,051 LSTs were produced in U.S. shipyards during the war, with production ramping up rapidly after initial designs in 1941 to meet Allied demands.^[41]^[42] LSTs proved instrumental in key operations, such as Operation Husky, the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily, where they transported and beached tanks and infantry directly on Sicilian shores, enabling rapid advances despite challenging weather and enemy fire. In the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima, LSTs delivered essential armored support and supplies to Marines under intense Japanese artillery, with vessels like USS LST-779 enduring mortar attacks while offloading cargo. These ships differed operationally from smaller craft by self-propelling to the shoreline for unloading, often carrying over 20 vehicles or acting as logistical hubs to resupply forward positions for extended campaigns.^[43]^[41]^[44] Complementing the LSTs were the LSDs, first commissioned in the early 1940s with the Ashland-class entering service in 1943. These vessels displaced around 4,500 tons standard and 7,800 tons full load, with a length of 457 feet and speeds up to 15 knots, equipped with a floodable well deck that submerged to launch or recover smaller landing craft like LCAs and LCVPs. LSDs incorporated cranes, including 50-ton capacity units, for lifting and repairing embarked craft, allowing them to function as floating docks and maintenance bases offshore. Typically carrying 18 to 20 landing craft or amphibious vehicles, along with troops and gear, LSDs supported operations by deploying assets without beaching themselves, thus serving as rear-area hubs for sustained amphibious efforts. About 27 LSDs were built or converted during the war, emphasizing their role in coordinating complex landings.^[45]^[40] Despite their effectiveness, landing ships had notable limitations that impacted their tactical use. Their slow speeds—around 10 knots for LSTs under load—made them vulnerable during transits and required escort protection against submarines and aircraft. Additionally, their large size and prominent silhouettes turned them into high-value targets, prone to enemy fire during beach approaches, as evidenced by losses in Sicily and the Pacific. These drawbacks necessitated careful planning to mitigate exposure in contested waters.^[46]^[47]^[43]

Support and Fire Support Craft

Support and fire support craft played a crucial role in World War II amphibious operations by providing navigation, coordination, and suppressive firepower to facilitate the safe and effective landing of assault waves. These specialized vessels, often conversions of existing landing craft designs, were essential for guiding troops through hazardous waters and neutralizing beach defenses prior to infantry contact. Developed primarily by British and U.S. naval forces, they emphasized armored protection, elevated weapon mounts, and communication systems to operate close to shore under fire.^[48]^[49] Navigation and control variants included the Landing Craft, Control (LCC), introduced in 1943 as radio-equipped command boats measuring 56 feet in length with displacements of 30 to 50 tons. These craft, with 99 units produced across Mark I and II versions, featured enhanced radar and signaling equipment to direct landing waves, maintain formation spacing, and adjust to tidal changes or enemy fire. During the Normandy invasion on D-Day, LCCs shepherded assault groups at Omaha Beach, positioning on flanks to coordinate the approach of Higgins boats and ensure timely beaching despite heavy opposition from German defenses. Complementing them were Landing Craft, Navigation (LCN) units, nine-ton vessels used by British Combined Operations Assault Pilotage Parties to deploy buoys and markers for precise channel guidance and obstacle avoidance. These LCNs, often converted from LCP(L) personnel craft, supported hydrographic surveys and real-time navigation aids, enabling accurate positioning of follow-on waves.^[49]^[50]^[7]^[51] Fire support variants delivered direct suppression against fortifications, with designs incorporating armored bridges for crew protection and elevated mounts for improved fields of fire. The Landing Craft, Gun (LCG), typically a modified LCT(3) or LCT(4) at 192 feet long, mounted two 4.7-inch or 75mm guns for medium-range bombardment, achieving effective ranges of up to 10,000 yards. Hundreds of LCGs were produced, with examples like LCG 831 and 1007 providing close support at Juno Beach on D-Day by engaging bunkers from H-30 minutes, covering Duplex Drive tank launches, and returning fire against shore batteries. The Landing Craft, Flak (LCF) variant, also based on the LCT(3) or LCT(4), focused on anti-aircraft defense with multiple pom-poms and 20mm guns, protecting approaching convoys from Luftwaffe sorties. For rocket-based suppression, the Landing Craft, Rocket (LCR) or LCT(R), a 192-foot conversion carrying 972 to 1,044 5-inch rockets (each with 7 pounds of explosive), saturated targets over 800 yards inland, with salvos covering 700 yards wide by 300 yards deep at ranges up to 3,580 yards. Capable of firing up to 1,000 rockets per minute in electronic salvos, LCRs like LCT(R) 367 at Omaha Beach unleashed 12,605 high-explosive rounds starting at H-Hour minus 2 minutes, demolishing wire entanglements and pillboxes to enable the first assault waves. The Landing Craft Support (LCS) provided close-in firepower with mortars, twin 20mm guns, and rocket launchers; small LCS(S) models (558 built, 48 feet long, 12 knots) used 0.5-inch machine guns and 12-inch rockets, while larger LCS(L) (130 built, 16.5 knots) added a 5-inch/38 gun and 40mm anti-aircraft batteries for sustained beachhead defense.^[48]^[52]^[53]^[33]^[54] These craft's effectiveness was evident in their ability to suppress defenses long enough for main assault vessels to discharge troops, though vulnerabilities like limited maneuverability at 9-12 knots and exposure to counter-battery fire required precise timing with naval gunfire. Production reached hundreds across types, with U.S. and British yards converting existing hulls for rapid deployment. Other auxiliaries, such as hedgerow breaching craft fitted with flails for inland obstacles and amphibious tractors like LVTs for overland support, briefly extended these roles post-beaching to aid breakout from fortified beaches.^[48]^[53]^[52]

Post-World War II Developments

Cold War Utility Craft

During the Cold War, landing craft utility (LCU) designs evolved from World War II-era predecessors to support modular logistics in a bipolar geopolitical environment, emphasizing sustained amphibious operations and interoperability among allies. The United States Navy developed the LCU-1610 class in the 1950s as a direct successor to the wartime LCT(6) and LCM(8) classes, with construction beginning in the late 1950s to enhance over-the-horizon transport capabilities.^[55] These craft measured 135 feet in length and featured both bow and stern ramps for roll-on/roll-off operations, allowing versatile loading of vehicles or personnel directly from ships or beaches.^[55] With a payload capacity of 140 short tons (127 metric tons)—such as one M1A1 tank or up to 350 combat-equipped Marines—the LCU-1610 supported intra-theater distances and was crewed by 13 personnel.^[1] Adaptations during the Korean War (1950–1953) influenced these designs, as the U.S. Navy and Army repurposed WWII landing ship utilities (LSUs)—redesignated from LCTs in 1949 and later to LCUs in 1952—for resupply and amphibious assaults, including operations at Incheon and Wonsan where LSUs lightered cargo over beaches lacking port facilities.^[56] In Vietnam, LCU-1610 variants played a key role in resupply missions, transporting troops, equipment, and supplies from deep-water ships to shallow coastal and riverine areas, often in support of logistics-over-the-shore (LOTS) efforts amid challenging terrain.^[57] NATO efforts toward standardization during this period promoted interoperability, with allied navies adopting similar displacement-hull LCU concepts for joint exercises and potential contingencies, drawing on U.S. designs to facilitate collective defense logistics.^[58] By the 1980s, the LCU design evolved into the LCU-2000 class (also known as the Runnymede class), operated primarily by the U.S. Army, which improved upon earlier models with enhanced speed of up to 11 knots and greater automation, including one-man engine room operations for reduced crew demands.^[59] These 174-foot vessels maintained a robust cargo capacity of 350 tons for vehicles, containers, or general supplies, powered by twin 16-cylinder diesel engines with controllable-pitch propellers and bow thrusters for precise beaching maneuvers.^[59] The LCU-2000's features enabled sustained beachhead establishment, supporting extended amphibious logistics in austere environments during Cold War contingencies.^[59] On the opposing side, Warsaw Pact forces developed utility craft tailored for rapid Baltic and Black Sea deployments. The Soviet Project T-4 landing craft, introduced in 1967, served as a modular platform with variants like the T-4M, capable of carrying one medium tank or 40–50 tons of cargo over 270 nautical miles at 8–10 knots.^[60] Built across multiple yards including Leningrad and Astrakhan, these 19–21-meter steel-hulled boats were employed by Soviet naval infantry for amphibious assaults and resupply, with many units also adapted as tugs or cargo carriers within Pact operations.^[60] Polish designs complemented these, featuring large (BDD), medium (BDS), and small (BM) landing barges optimized for Warsaw Pact coastal maneuvers, such as potential invasions of Danish islands like Bornholm, where they would transport troops and vehicles in coordinated assaults.^[61] These craft underscored the Pact's focus on massed, short-range utility for establishing forward beachheads against NATO defenses.^[62]

Air-Cushion and Hovercraft Introduction

The development of air-cushion technology for military landing craft originated in Britain with the work of engineer Christopher Cockerell, who patented the hovercraft concept on December 12, 1955, leading to the construction of the Saunders-Roe SR.N1 prototype.^[63] This four-ton craft, launched on June 11, 1959, became the first practical hovercraft capable of carrying a crew of three at speeds up to 25 knots over calm water, demonstrating the feasibility of ground-effect propulsion for amphibious operations.^[64] In the United States, the Navy's interest in hovercraft emerged in the early 1960s, culminating in the Joint Expeditionary Forces (Air) [JEFF(A)] program under the Amphibious Assault Landing Craft (AALC) initiative established in 1968, which aimed to develop high-speed over-the-beach capabilities through prototypes like the JEFF(A) tested in the 1970s.^[65]^[66] Military adaptations of early hovercraft focused on smaller models for rapid troop insertion and logistics. The British SR.N5 and SR.N6, introduced in 1964 and 1965 respectively, were adapted for Royal Marines use after the Royal Navy formed a dedicated hovercraft unit in 1967 to operate converted civilian SR.N6 variants for amphibious trials.^[67] These craft, capable of carrying up to 38 troops or 6 tons of cargo, offered non-contact propulsion over varied terrain but faced significant operational hurdles, including frequent skirt maintenance due to rapid wear from abrasive surfaces and environmental exposure, as well as high fuel inefficiency from the power-intensive air cushion system.^[68]^[69] Key milestones in hovercraft adoption included combat evaluations during the Vietnam War, where U.S. Navy Patrol Air Cushion Vehicles (PACVs), based on the SR.N5 design and designated SK-5, underwent operational tests in riverine and delta environments starting in 1966 and continuing through 1969.^[70] These trials validated the technology's potential for surprise assaults, prompting integration into amphibious doctrine by the late 1960s and 1970s, emphasizing over-beach operations that bypassed traditional ramps by allowing direct unloading onto unprepared shores.^[71] Hovercraft provided distinct advantages for landing operations, achieving speeds exceeding 50 knots to reduce transit vulnerability and enabling access to approximately 70% of global coastlines, including shallow or obstructed beaches unsuitable for conventional craft.^[72] However, limitations in rough seas restricted their effectiveness, as high winds and waves up to sea state 3 could disrupt the air cushion and skirt stability, confining reliable use to calmer conditions.^[73]

Helicopter-Compatible Designs

The integration of helicopter operations into landing craft designs during the 1960s through 1990s marked a significant evolution in amphibious warfare, enabling synchronized vertical and surface assaults to support heliborne troops and rapid resupply. The U.S. Navy's Tarawa-class Landing Helicopter Assault (LHA) ships, commissioned starting in 1976, exemplified this shift by combining extensive helicopter capabilities with landing craft deployment. These vessels featured an 820-foot flight deck capable of handling up to 10 helicopters simultaneously, with hangar space for approximately 30, including CH-46 Sea Knights for troop transport, alongside a well deck accommodating up to four LCU-1610-class landing craft for vehicle and equipment delivery. This design facilitated over-the-horizon assaults, where helicopters could insert forces 10-25 miles inland, bypassing heavily defended beaches and reducing exposure to shore-based threats by minimizing time in the surf zone.^[74]^[75] Subsequent U.S. developments in the 1980s and 1990s extended this compatibility to Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) classes, such as the Wasp-class, which enhanced vertical envelopment with larger hangars for 30 helicopters and automated systems for coordinating craft launches. In the British Royal Navy, the LCU Mk.9, introduced in the early 1980s and deployed during the 1982 Falklands War from HMS Fearless and Intrepid, supported integrated operations by enabling simultaneous helicopter vertical assaults and surface landings, though primarily as a utility craft rather than a dedicated helipad platform. These adaptations underscored a doctrinal transition from beach-centric operations to an air-sea nexus, where helicopters extended the reach of surface craft beyond traditional littoral limits.^[76]^[77]^[78] The failed 1980 Operation Eagle Claw hostage rescue mission highlighted vulnerabilities in joint helicopter-surface coordination, prompting reforms that influenced amphibious doctrine. Lessons from the operation, including inadequate command and control and helicopter reliability issues in austere environments, led to the 1986 Goldwater-Nichols Act, which improved interservice integration for combined arms assaults involving heliborne troops and landing craft. This shift emphasized over-the-horizon tactics in U.S. Marine Corps planning, as seen in NATO exercises like Teamwork '84, where multinational forces practiced helicopter-supported landings with landing craft to simulate rapid reinforcement against potential Soviet incursions. By the late 1980s, these doctrines prioritized reduced exposure times, with helicopters landing troops inland while craft secured beachheads, cutting assault timelines from hours to minutes.^[79]^[80]^[81] Technical features in helicopter-compatible landing craft focused on enhancing interoperability and safety. Decks on modified LCUs and supporting platforms underwent strengthening with reinforced steel plating to withstand helicopter downwash and landing impacts, typically rated for 15-20 ton aircraft like the CH-53 Sea Stallion. Secure tie-down systems, including recessed fittings and adjustable strops compatible with rotor hubs, were installed to restrain helicopters during transit in high sea states, preventing movement that could damage blades or compromise stability. These modifications, standardized in naval guidelines, allowed for vertical resupply of up to 10 tons per sortie directly onto craft or adjacent beachheads, further minimizing logistical vulnerabilities in contested environments.^[82]^[83]^[84]

Modern Landing Craft

Contemporary Utility and Mechanized Craft

The LCU-2000 class, also known as the Runnymede-class large landing craft, represents a key conventional design in U.S. Army service, with 35 vessels originally commissioned between 1990 and 1992 for intra-theater transport of personnel, vehicles, and cargo. These craft, measuring 174 feet in length and displacing 575 tons light, feature twin diesel engines providing speeds of up to 12 knots when light and 10 knots when loaded, with a range exceeding 10,000 nautical miles at economical speeds. Their payload capacity reaches 350 short tons, enabling the carriage of up to five M1 Abrams main battle tanks or 24 twenty-foot ISO containers, supporting heavy mechanized logistics in amphibious operations.^[59] Automation in propulsion, navigation, and cargo handling systems has reduced the required crew to 13 personnel, including two warrant officers and 11 enlisted, allowing sustained operations for up to 18 days.^[59] In the 2020s, the U.S. Army has pursued service life extension programs (SLEP) for its LCU-2000 fleet to maintain operational readiness amid aging hulls that have exceeded their original 25-year design life. As of May 2024, seven of the 17 active Army LCU-2000 vessels had completed SLEP upgrades, which include structural reinforcements, engine overhauls, and modernized electronics, extending service by approximately 10 years each.^[85] These extensions ensure continued utility for logistics-over-the-shore missions, such as transferring ammunition and equipment from ships to austere beaches without fixed port infrastructure. The LCU-2000 serves as a precursor to broader ship-to-shore connector concepts, emphasizing displacement hulls for reliable heavy lift in contested environments. The U.S. Navy's LCU 1700-class program, awarded in 2018 with significant advancements initiated in 2022, aims to replace the aging LCU 1610 fleet of 34 vessels, introducing up to 32 new craft for enhanced amphibious support.^[86] These steel-hulled vessels, approximately 139 feet long, offer a 170-short-ton payload—sufficient for two M1A1 Abrams tanks—while achieving 11 knots maximum speed and a 1,200-nautical-mile range at 8 knots, with provisions for four machine gun mounts to integrate crew-served weapons.^[87] Designed for compatibility with existing well decks on LHD, LPD, LSD, and LHA ships without modifications, the LCU 1700 incorporates advanced 3D engineering for improved survivability and reduced maintenance, playing a vital role in Indo-Pacific logistics by enabling distributed maritime operations across vast distances and island chains.^[88] The first vessel, LCU 1710, was launched in August 2025 by Austal USA under a $91.5 million contract tranche, with plans to add a second shipbuilder to accelerate production.^[89] Among allied forces, the United Kingdom's LCU Mk.10, introduced in the 2010s, exemplifies contemporary mechanized upgrades tailored for the Royal Navy's Albion-class landing platform docks. These 97.8-foot craft, displacing 236 tons fully loaded, achieve 11 knots and carry a crew of seven, with capacity for one Challenger 2 main battle tank, up to 56 tons of cargo, or 120 troops, facilitating rapid vehicle offload via forward-facing ramps.^[90]^[91] Procured under a £35 million contract for HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, the LCU Mk.10 enhances expeditionary logistics by integrating with floodable dock systems, supporting joint operations in littoral zones without relying on air-cushioned alternatives.^[92]

Advanced Air-Cushioned Vehicles

Advanced air-cushioned landing craft, particularly those developed post-1990, have evolved to enhance amphibious operations through improved speed, payload capacity, and technological integrations. The U.S. Navy's original Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), introduced in 1986, can transport a 60-ton payload at over 40 knots, enabling rapid over-the-beach delivery from amphibious ships.^[4]^[93] To extend service life and address obsolescence, the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP), initiated in the early 2000s, upgraded 73 LCACs with enhanced propulsion and structural reinforcements.^[94] Complementing these, the Ship to Shore Connector (SSC) program, awarded in 2012, began delivering modernized variants in the early 2020s, featuring more efficient MT7 gas turbine engines that improve fuel economy by approximately 70% over legacy systems while maintaining the LCAC's footprint for seamless integration with existing amphibious vessels.^[95]^[96] Internationally, several nations have adopted or adapted similar air-cushioned technologies for advanced operations. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force operates two LCAC-class hovercraft, acquired from the United States and integrated into its amphibious fleet since 2013, providing equivalent high-speed assault capabilities for regional defense scenarios. Russia's Zubr-class LCAC, originally designed in the 1980s as the world's largest hovercraft with a 555-ton displacement, underwent significant modernization in the 2020s, including upgraded avionics, propulsion systems, and weapon integrations to enhance its role in Arctic and Black Sea operations. These developments reflect a global emphasis on air-cushion vehicles for versatile, high-mobility amphibious support. Key advancements in these craft include the incorporation of full-authority digital electronic controls (FADEC) for propulsion management, which optimizes performance and reliability, as seen in the SSC's engine upgrades.^[95] Efforts to reduce acoustic signatures have also been pursued through quieter propeller designs and engine enclosures in upgraded models, minimizing detectability during stealthy approaches. Operationally, LCACs have proven vital in conflicts and humanitarian missions; during the Gulf Wars, particularly Operation Desert Storm in 1991, they facilitated the rapid offload of tanks and supplies onto Iraqi beaches, marking their combat debut. In humanitarian efforts, such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake response, LCACs from USS Bataan delivered over 1,000 tons of relief supplies and vehicles across damaged shorelines when piers were unavailable.^[97] Despite these capabilities, advanced air-cushioned vehicles face notable challenges, including high maintenance demands due to complex skirt systems and gas turbine engines, which can require up to 50% more upkeep hours than conventional landing craft.^[98] Weather limitations restrict operations to sea state 3 or below, with high winds and waves compromising stability and cushion integrity.^[93] As of 2025, the U.S. Navy inventory includes over 70 operational LCACs, comprising SLEP-upgraded originals and initial SSC deliveries, ensuring sustained amphibious readiness.

International and Non-U.S. Designs

The Type 726 (also designated as the Yuyi-class) air-cushioned landing craft, introduced in the 2000s by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), represents a key advancement in Chinese amphibious capabilities, with a full-load displacement of approximately 160 tons and compatibility with the Type 071 Yuzhao-class amphibious transport docks.^[99] These craft can transport up to 50 tons of payload, including vehicles or troops, at speeds exceeding 50 knots, enabling rapid deployment in contested littoral zones such as the South China Sea, where they support island-seizing operations and enhance PLAN's power projection.^[100] At least six units have been commissioned, underscoring their role in bolstering regional deterrence.^[101] Russia maintains a legacy of robust amphibious transporters from the Soviet era, exemplified by the PTS-2, a tracked vehicle developed in the 1990s with a payload capacity of 5-10 tons, including artillery or light vehicles, suitable for riverine and coastal operations in harsh terrains.^[102] This diesel-powered, fully amphibious design, with a top water speed of 10 km/h, remains in service with Russian forces for logistics in austere environments.^[103] Complementing this, the modern Project 11770 Serna-class fast landing craft, entering service in the 2010s, features an air-cavity hull for high-speed transit, accommodating up to 45 troops or 45 tons of cargo at 35 knots, and has been produced in limited numbers for rapid troop insertion.^[104] These vessels support Russia's emphasis on versatile, exportable designs, with variants offered to international partners.^[105] European nations have pursued innovative landing craft to meet diverse operational needs, such as the French Engin de Débarquement Amphibie Rapide (EDA-R), a catamaran-style craft introduced in the 2000s for the Mistral-class amphibious assault ships, capable of carrying 80 tons of payload—including tanks—at speeds up to 21 knots.^[106] This design prioritizes roll-on/roll-off efficiency and has been exported to Egypt, demonstrating its adaptability for multinational amphibious forces.^[107] In the Netherlands, the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps is transitioning to a new generation of modular littoral assault craft (LAC) in the mid-2020s, replacing older LCVP models with faster, weaponized vessels featuring enhanced payload flexibility for joint operations; in October 2025, a contract was awarded to Finnish company Marine Alutech for delivery, expected to enter service between 2026 and 2028.^[108] India's LCU Mk.IV class, commissioned starting in the 2010s, exemplifies indigenous development with eight vessels built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, each displacing 830 tons and capable of transporting one main battle tank, 160 troops, or equivalent cargo over 1,500 nautical miles at 15 knots.^[109] These utility craft support the Indian Navy's Andaman and Nicobar Command, focusing on logistics in the Indian Ocean region.^[110] Post-1990 international designs increasingly emphasize export viability and adaptability to extreme conditions, with models like the EDA-R and Serna-class marketed globally for allied interoperability.^[106] Emerging trends include hybrid electric propulsion systems for reduced emissions and stealth in select European prototypes, alongside a 2020s shift toward Arctic and austere environment operations, as seen in Russia's Husky-10 hovercraft, which carries a 10-ton payload for ice-edge deployments.^[111]

Operational and Tactical Aspects

Amphibious Assault Roles

Landing craft play a pivotal role in amphibious assaults by enabling the rapid projection of combat power from sea to shore, facilitating the initial seizure of beachheads and subsequent inland advances. These vessels, including amphibious assault vehicles (AAVs) and landing craft air cushion (LCACs), transport infantry, armor, and supplies under fire, coordinating with naval gunfire, air support, and ground elements to overwhelm defenses. In modern operations, they support distributed maritime operations, emphasizing speed and maneuver to exploit enemy vulnerabilities.^[112]^[113] Tactics for amphibious assaults involving landing craft center on synchronized ship-to-shore movements, with wave formations organizing AAVs into lines for maximum frontal firepower during beach assaults or columns for controlled navigation through restricted terrain. Waves are spaced at 25-meter intervals in daylight or 50 meters in low visibility, with three-minute gaps between AAV waves to maintain momentum while minimizing exposure. Feints employ demonstrations of force, such as AAV-generated smoke and noise, to deceive enemies about the main landing site, drawing defenders away from primary objectives without committing to decisive engagement.^[112]^[112]^[112] Mine countermeasures integrate organic capabilities like the Mk-154 Mod 1 system on AAVs, which clears 16-meter-wide paths through minefields using shaped charges, achieving up to 95% success rates in surf zones and beaches. These efforts synchronize with naval assets for route clearance and unmanned undersea vehicles like the Knifefish for littoral mine detection, ensuring safe transit for assault waves. Post-2000, drone integration enhances reconnaissance, with Marine unmanned aerial systems providing real-time beach surveys and target identification ahead of landings, as seen in Marine Expeditionary Unit operations supporting route reconnaissance and fires integration.^[112]^[114]^[114]^[115] From the scale of D-Day's massed landings, amphibious assaults have evolved to more agile operations, exemplified by the 2024 RIMPAC exercise where multinational forces used LCACs, AAVs, and combat raiding craft for a joint raid involving over 375 personnel from 10 nations, incorporating military operations on urban terrain (MOUT) tactics. In urban littoral warfare, landing craft enable close-in assaults on contested coastlines with dense infrastructure, as demonstrated in RIMPAC's fire-and-movement drills transitioning from beachheads to built-up areas.^[116]^[116] Anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) threats, including long-range missiles and integrated air defenses, pose severe risks to concentrated landing forces by disrupting assembly and transit phases. Countermeasures emphasize speed via high-velocity craft like LCACs, which reduce exposure time, and dispersion of small, mobile teams to complicate enemy targeting and enable unpredictable maneuvers.^[113]^[113]^[113] Doctrinal evolution in the U.S. Marine Corps reflects these challenges through Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO), introduced in the 2020s to conduct mobile, low-signature operations from austere forward bases in contested littorals. EABO shifts from large-scale assaults to distributed forces using landing craft for sea denial, maritime awareness, and rapid power projection, as tested in exercises like those at San Clemente Island in 2021, enhancing integration with naval campaigns.^[117]^[117]

Logistics and Support Functions

Landing craft are essential for over-the-beach (OTB) logistics, enabling the direct offloading of supplies onto unprepared shores to sustain forces without relying on fixed port infrastructure. In Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, the U.S. Army's 24th Transportation Battalion executed Logistics Over-the-Shore (LOTS) operations at Kuwait Naval Base, employing landing craft to discharge ammunition and other cargo from ships directly to the beach, thereby supporting the rapid sustainment of ground forces.^[118] These vessels handle containerized and palletized loads, including fuel and ammunition, which are transferred efficiently to shore for distribution to forward units.^[119] Beyond resupply, landing craft facilitate evacuation and humanitarian aid in disaster scenarios. Following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, U.S. Navy LCACs delivered personnel and equipment to affected coastal areas during Operation Tomodachi, aiding in relief efforts amid damaged infrastructure.^[120] Dedicated medical evacuation variants, such as the Landing Craft Utility Ambulance, provide specialized capabilities for transporting casualties from amphibious zones to treatment facilities, enhancing rapid response in austere environments.^[121] Contemporary enhancements focus on versatility and automation to bolster support roles. Roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) features, including bow and stern ramps, allow seamless loading of vehicles, pallets, and bulk cargo like fuel and munitions directly from ships or quays.^[122] In the 2020s, trials have integrated autonomous systems, exemplified by Navantia Australia's Uncrewed Landing Craft (ULC) concept unveiled in 2025, which supports unmanned resupply to reduce crew exposure and increase operational tempo.^[123] Such adaptations enable cycle times of 30 to 60 minutes per run, scaling capacity for prolonged logistics in contested or remote areas.^[124]

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Landing Craft Utility (LCU) - GlobalSecurity.org
Jan 7, 2021 · The LCU 2000 moves containers/general/ vehicular cargo. This includes missions in LOTS operations in remote areas with austere shore facilities or unimproved ...Missing: Navy | Show results with:Navy
[58]
... landing craft (project T-4/T-4M) (1957 - 2010) - NAVYPEDIA
Full number of boats used as landing is unknown (also many boats served as workboats, tugs, cargo carriers etc). Built in Leningrad (5 Yd, 2 T-4 in 1957), ...
[59]
[PDF] LANDING CRAFT OF THE POLISH NAVY - CIA
APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE. The Polish Navy has four types of landing craft: Large landing barge (BDD b. Medium landing barge(BDS. C. Small landing barge ...
[60]
[PDF] planning for a landing operation of the polish people's army on the ...
In the mid-1980s, the landing tasks of the. PPA were limited to the occupation of the Danish island of Bornholm. Keywords: the Cold War, Warsaw Pact, Polish ...Missing: designs | Show results with:designs
[61]
The History of the Hovercraft - Christopher Cockerell - The Inventors
The hovercraft was invented by Christopher Cockerell in 1956. The theory behind one of the most successful inventions of the 20th century, the Hovercraft, was ...
[62]
June 1959: The birth of the hovercraft - The Engineer
Jun 1, 2020 · June 1959: The birth of the hovercraft ... For three decades the hovercraft was the fastest and most thrilling way to cross the English channel.Missing: date
[63]
Amphibious Assault Landing Craft (AALC) - GlobalSecurity.org
Jul 22, 2011 · Indeed, this was the main objective of the Navy's Amphibious Assault Landing Craft (AALC) program established in 1968.Missing: history | Show results with:history
[64]
[PDF] US Navy Advanced Vehicle Programmes
Fig 8 Arrangement of JEFF A and JEFF B Landing Craft. Hovercraft. The US Navy's active interest in hovercraft dates from the early 1960s with a number of ...
[65]
[PDF] Hovering into action: Military and other applications of the hovercraft
In June 1967 the Royal Navy decided that the hovercraft had an operational role and therefore formed a unit to convert and operate a civilian. 10 ton SRN6 ...
[66]
The Hovercraft Revolution And Finding The Right Niche For A ...
Dec 11, 2024 · The skirts ended up wearing down much faster than expected, resulting in a need for daily maintenance and replacement of skirt sections. By the ...
[67]
The century-old dream of traveling by hovercraft is still alive
Aug 10, 2022 · When it comes to military hovercraft, Fitzgerald admits they are considerably less fuel efficient than their boat or truck counterparts. “ ...Missing: maintenance inefficiency
[68]
The Strange U.S. Navy Hovercraft That Fought in Vietnam | PACV
Feb 25, 2021 · The PACV served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1970. The idea was these vehicles could ply Vietnam's rivers, bursting through fallen trees, and attacking enemy boats.Missing: 1969 | Show results with:1969
[69]
Away All . . . Hovercraft! | Proceedings - U.S. Naval Institute
As manufactured, the EPS M10 attains speeds of 50 knots, has a range of 500 nautical miles, is operable up to sea state 4, can deliver 56 Marines or 8 tons ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[70]
Marines Set to Hit the Beach in Revolutionary Landing Craft
Jul 18, 1988 · Riding on an inflated air bag and powered by four gas-turbine engines, the LCAC is five times (top speed: 50 knots) as fast as its World War II- ...
[71]
Why Hovercraft - Griffon Hoverwork
Hovercraft travel over shallow waters, floods, mud, and ice to reach locations and save lives where boats, cars, and helicopters cannot reach.
[72]
Pictorial—USS Tarawa (LHA-1) | Proceedings - U.S. Naval Institute
The LHA's primary mission—“to embark, deploy and land elements of a landing force in an amphibious assault by helicopters, amphibious vehicles, and landing ...
[73]
LHA-1 Tarawa class - Command and Control - GlobalSecurity.org
Jul 7, 2011 · Add to this the requirements of coordinating the helicopter and landing craft operations on the LHA and accompanying ships, the movement of ...
[74]
Amphibious Assault Ship (LHD/LHA)
The Wasp-class LHDs provide the Marine Corps with a means of ship-to-shore movement by helicopter in addition to movement by landing craft. LHDs have been ...
[75]
[PDF] The Feasibility of the Over-The-Horizon Amphibious Assault ... - DTIC
The next class is the LST. The LST does not carry assault helicopters or landing craft, but it does carry amphibious assault vehicles (AAV). These are ...
[76]
https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/Ships/By-Class/Amphibious-Assault-Ship-LHD-LHA/
[77]
Operation Eagle Claw: A Catalyst for Change in the American Military
Thesis: This paper will analyze Operation Eagle Claw's impact on the U.S. Military. The analysis will prove that the lessons learned from the mission are ...
[78]
[PDF] Operation Eagle Claw-Lessons Learned - DTIC
A study of Operation Eagle Claw reveals three recurring themes regarding the failure of the operation, Operations Security (OPSEC), Command and Control, and ...
[79]
[PDF] Unlocking NATO's Amphibious Potential - RAND
Beginning in the late 1970s and continuing through the 1980s, NATO underwent a major shift in maritime thinking, moving from largely defensive concepts to a ...
[80]
[PDF] Provision, Rating and Use of Helicopter Tie-Down Straps
May 1, 2023 · 3.48 Tie-down strops held on the installation or vessel should be compatible with the bar diameter of the helideck tie-down points. Tie-down ...
[81]
Helicopter TIE Down Fitting - Curtiss-Wright's EMS
The Indal tie-downs will sustain the loads required to secure a 15-tonne helicopter under severe sea state conditions, and have been installed on the British ...
[82]
[PDF] Guide for the Class Notation Helicopter Decks and Facilities ...
1. 7.3 Tie Downs. The helicopter deck is to have recessed tie-down points for securing a helicopter. 9. Safety. 9.1. Safety Net (1 October 2015). 9.1.1 Vessels.
[83]
Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1700-class Vessels, USA
Jun 18, 2024 · The vessels can maintain a speed of 11kt and have a range of 1,200nm at 8kt. The steel-hulled vessels were designed with advanced 3D engineering ...Missing: stealth | Show results with:stealth
[84]
L14 Albion LPD(R) - GlobalSecurity.org
Ten Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Mk10 landing craft of a £35 million contract are being procured for the new assault ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark. The first ...
[85]
[PDF] GAO-25-106387, ARMY WATERCRAFT
Oct 16, 2024 · For example, the Army has completed service-life extensions on seven out of 17 LCU vessels as of May 2024. The Army also plans to complete the ...Missing: specifications | Show results with:specifications
[86]
LCU - Naval Sea Systems Command
These craft will operate independently for up to 10 days with a range of 1200 nm for continuous landing of troops, equipment and supplies; missions requiring ...
[87]
NAVSEA and Swiftships update on LCU 1700 program
Aug 10, 2022 · Earlier on 1st August, 2022, NAVSEA reported to Naval News that 32 LCUs 1700 are on-order, but the total requirement will be more and several ...Missing: initiated | Show results with:initiated<|control11|><|separator|>
[88]
Austal USA launches first of 12 new LCU vessels for US Navy
Sep 2, 2025 · The launching ceremony took place on August 22, 2025. LCU 1710 is the first of 12 new LCUs under contract at Austal USA, a part of a $91.5 ...Missing: replacement initiated 2022
[89]
LCU Mk.10 - cmano-db.com
Type: LCU - Utility Landing Craft, Max Speed: 11 kt ; Crew: 7, Length: 29.7 m ; Beam: 7.4 m, Draft: 1.7 m ; Displacement Full: 236 t, Displacement: 200 t.Missing: specifications | Show results with:specifications
[90]
Albion Class - Royal Navy
The LPD is equipped with a new design of roll-on, roll-off landing craft, the LCU MK10, which means that the land vehicles are forward-facing for quick and easy ...Missing: specifications | Show results with:specifications
[91]
Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) - GlobalSecurity.org
The LCAC is capable of carrying a 60 ton payload (up to 75 tons in an overload condition) at speeds over 40 knots. Fuel capacity is 5000 gallons. The LCAC ...
[92]
[PDF] ARCHIVED REPORT LCAC-1 - Forecast International
Aug 1, 2009 · The craft is powered by four Textron Lycoming TF40B gas turbines. Two of the gas turbines are used to generate the lift cushion, and the other ...<|separator|>
[93]
The New LCAC Picks Up Steam | Proceedings - U.S. Naval Institute
In April 2020, the Navy awarded the company a follow-on SSC production contract for a total of 24 units.Missing: 2020s fuel
[94]
Ship to Shore Connector (SSC) - Naval Sea Systems Command
LCACs/SSCs are used primarily to haul vehicles, heavy equipment, and supplies through varied environmental conditions from amphibious ships to over the beach.Missing: Extension 2020s engines fuel
[95]
America Class LHA - All Hands Magazine
Oct 11, 2014 · The largest of all amphibious warfare ships, modern US Navy amphibious assault ships, also referred to as big decks, resemble small aircraft carriers.Missing: types | Show results with:types
[96]
[PDF] Air Cushioned Landing Craft (LCAC) Based Ship to Shore ... - DTIC
makers do not typically appreciate the unique limitations associated with operating the LCAC heavily loaded and in high winds and seas. When operated ...
[97]
Type 726 Yuyi-class hovercraft - Program - GlobalSecurity.org
Oct 23, 2019 · According to foreign media reports, the production of the 726 air cushion landing craft was discontinued, and only the first four were built. In ...
[98]
Chinese Type 726 Landing Craft Air Cushion conduct beach landing ...
Jan 18, 2022 · The Type 726 LCAC (Yuyi class) is a class of air-cushioned landing craft used by the People's Liberation Army Navy. Six Yuyi-class LCACs are ...
[99]
Type 726 Landing Craft, Air-Cushioned (LCAC) Amphibious Vessel
The Type 726 is a standard Landing Craft, Air-Cushioned (LCAC) vehicle uses by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
[100]
PTS-2 (1985) - Tank-AFV
The Soviet PTS-2 is a tracked amphibious transport vehicle developed during the Cold War by the Soviet Union. It's a versatile military vehicle.
[101]
PTS-2 - Weaponsystems.net
The PTS-2 is a late Cold War era amphibious cargo vehicle of Soviet origin. It is a further development of the PTS-M and is based around the newer MT-T tracked ...Missing: transporter | Show results with:transporter
[102]
Project 11770 Serna fast landing craft - GlobalSecurity.org
Mar 8, 2013 · The fast landing craft Project 11770 main task is to quickly get to the shore, to land troopers and just as quickly go away to a safe ...
[103]
Project 11770 - Air-Cavity Landing Craft - RussianShips.info
NATO: Serna Class ; Speed (knots):, 35 ; Range: 600 nmi (12 knots), 100 nmi (30 knots) ; Autonomy (days):, 1 ; Propulsion: 2x3300 hp M-503A-3 diesels (№807-811 – ...
[104]
France takes delivery of third EDA-R landing craft - Naval Technology
Apr 25, 2012 · The 30m-long and 12m-wide catamaran landing craft vessel can carry a payload of 80t and will provide five times the landing capacity of the ...
[105]
Engin de Debarquement Amphibie Rapide (EDA-R) - Military Factory
Aug 2, 2016 · The boats are specifically designed to operate with/from the French Navy's Mistral-class amphibious assault ships - bringing whole systems, combat tanks, ...
[106]
Marine Alutech to deliver New Generation Landing Craft to Dutch ...
Oct 16, 2025 · The new craft delivers a significant leap in performance and is equipped with powerful weapon systems. It is faster than its predecessors, ...Missing: Mk. III
[107]
Mk-IV Class Landing Craft Utility (LCU) - Naval Technology
Jun 25, 2018 · The Mk-IV Class landing craft utility (LCU) vessels are built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) for the Indian Navy.
[108]
LCU Mk-IV Landing Craft Utility - GlobalSecurity.org
Sep 13, 2021 · LCU MK-IV ship is an amphibious ship with a displacement of 830 Tons and is capable of transporting combat equipment such as Main Battle Tank.
[109]
Exclusive: Russian Navy to Strengthen Arctic Naval Capabilities with ...
Apr 22, 2025 · Exclusive: Russian Navy to Strengthen Arctic Naval Capabilities with New Husky-10 Hovercraft Featuring 10-Ton Payload.<|control11|><|separator|>
[110]
None
Below is a merged summary of the amphibious assault tactics using landing craft from MCTP 3-10C, consolidating all provided segments into a comprehensive response. To maximize detail and clarity, I’ve organized key information into tables where appropriate (in CSV format for dense representation) and supplemented with narrative text for context. All unique details from the summaries are retained, with references to page numbers and URLs where provided.
[111]
A2/AD: The New Death Knell for Amphibious Operations?
Once the assault is under way, the Air Force and Navy will provide joint suppression of enemy air defenses and offensive counter-air capability, providing ...
[112]
[PDF] Amphibious Operations in Contested Environments - RAND
May 18, 2017 · These include ship-launched amphibious assault vehicles (AAVs) and organic mine countermeasures. Amphibious Operations Missions and Capabilities.Missing: feints | Show results with:feints
[113]
[PDF] USN, USMC and USCG Unmanned Systems - Defense.info
Jun 15, 2018 · The VMU squadron supports the Marine Corps Ground Combat Element (GCE) with route reconnaissance, fires integration and force-protection prior ...
[114]
Combined, joint forces complete amphibious raid during RIMPAC ...
Aug 14, 2024 · The combined joint amphibious raid demonstrated interoperability during the tactical phase and served as the culminating event for the landing force in RIMPAC ...
[115]
Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) - Marines.mil
Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations is a form of expeditionary warfare that involves the employment of mobile, low-signature, operationally ...Missing: 1921 | Show results with:1921
[116]
Logistics-Over-The-Shore (LOTS) Operations - Transportation Corps
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, 2003. 24th Trans Bn conducted LOTS at Kuwaiti Naval Base (KNB) to offload ammunition ships. COL Veditz, Commander of the 7th Trans ...
[117]
Logistics Over-the-Shore [LOTS] - GlobalSecurity.org
Sep 25, 2024 · ... over the beach and inland to marshalling yards for control and distribution. Navy and Marine units installed cargo-handling equipment and ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[118]
LCAC Delivers in a Big Way | Textron Systems
Jun 28, 2016 · In 2011, the LCAC was also used to move troops and equipment ashore following the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan. Since ...
[119]
Landing Craft Utility Ambulance (LCU Ambulance) - Anadolu Shipyard
The Landing Craft Utility Ambulance (LCU Ambulance) is specifically designed to conduct medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) operations for marines during amphibious ...Missing: variants | Show results with:variants
[120]
the fleet requirement
The 183 watercraft remaining in the Army fleet are the minimum number of craft required to support ASMP objectives and TOE training requirements. These vessels ...
[121]
https://www.anadolushipyard.com/en/catalogue/indigenous-designs/landing-craft-utility-ambulance-lcu-ambulance
[122]
[PDF] Systems Analysis of Amphibious Landing Craft - DTIC
with cycle times as low as 45 minutes, represents landing-craft trips delivering preloaded LVTs for which there is no loading time and very short unloading time ...