U.S. Navy's Massive LCAC Hovercraft Landing

Manufacturer: Textron Marine and Land Systems/Avondale Gulfport Marine.
Service: USMC
Propulsion: 4x Allied-Signal TF-40B gas turbines
Armament: 2x Gun mounts will support M2HB .50 Cal machine gun; M240 7.62 mm machine gun; MK-19 MOD3 40 mm grenade Launcher
Speed: 40+ knots (46+ mph; 74.08 kph) with full load.
Range: 300 miles
Crew: Five
Load: 60 tons

The Landing Craft Air Cushion, or LCAC, is used primarily by the U.S. Marine Corps to transport troops and equipment from amphibious ships to operations ashore. The LCAC is the only transport that can transport an M-1 Abrams tank from an amphibious ship to the beach.

The Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) is a high-speed, over-the-beach fully amphibious landing craft, capable of carrying a 60-75 ton payload. The LCAC payload capability and speed combine to significantly increase the ability of the Marine Ground Element to reach the shore. Air cushion technology allows this vehicle to reach more than 70 percent of the world's coastline, while only about 15 percent of that coastline is accessible by conventional landing craft. Concept Design of the present day LCAC began in the early 1970s with the full-scale Amphibious Assault Landing Craft (AALC) test vehicle. During the advanced development stage, two prototypes where built. JEFF A was designed and built by Aerojet General in California. JEFF B was designed and built by Bell Aerospace in New Orleans, Louisiana. These two craft confirmed the technical feasibility and operational capability that ultimately led to the production of LCAC. JEFF B was selected as the design basis for today’s LCAC. The first LCAC was delivered to the Navy in 1984 and Initial Operational Capability (IOC) was achieved in 1986. Approval for full production was granted in 1987. After an initial 15-craft production competition contract was awarded to each of two companies, Textron Marine and Land Systems (TMLS) of New Orleans, La., and Avondale Gulfport Marine, TMLS was selected to build the remaining craft. A total of ninety-one LCAC have now been built. The final craft, LCAC 91, was delivered to the U.S. Navy in 2001.

Video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ruben Reed, Staff Sgt. Emili Koonce, Staff Sgt. Emma Mayen, Gas Turbine System Technician Mechanical 2nd Class Daniel Stumpff

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