Does the Navy still use the LCAC?
LCACs are transported in and operate from all the U.S. Navy's amphibious-well deck ships including LHA, LHD, LSD and LPD.
Does a LCAC fly?
Since they are a type of hovercraft, LCACs can fly over mines laid out over seas and beaches, as well as any underwater obstacles like coral. Their air cushion technology gives the LCAC access to more than 70 percent of coastlines, a huge step up from the 15 percent conventional landing craft can access.
Who drives LCAC?
They are $22-million-dollar Landing craft manned by entirely enlisted crews with a CPO or above in charge. LCAC's deploy on a variety of platforms, most commonly LSD'S, LHD's, and LHA's.
How much is an LCAC?
The average cost per unit of the LCAC was $27 million. By 1997 the U.S. Navy will have 90 units in its inventory for a total cost of over $2.4 billion. The annual cost per unit of the LCAC is estimated at $1 million for a total annual cost of $90 million.
How many LCAC does the Navy have?
A total of ninety-one LCAC were built. The final craft, LCAC 91, was delivered to the U.S. Navy in 2001. This craft served as the basis for the Navy's LCAC Service Life Extension Program (SLEP).
How much does an LCAC weigh?
The LCACs weigh 100 tonnes each and carry four gas turbine engines of 4,000 horsepower, a total of 16,000 horsepower. They transport weapons systems, equipment, cargo and personnel of the assault elements of the Marine Air/Ground Task Force both from ship to shore and across the beach.
How tall is a LCAC?
Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC)SpecificationsLengthStructure 81 ft On-Cushion 87 ft 11 inBeamStructure 43 ft 8 in On-Cushion 47 ft 0 inHeight OverallOff-Cushion 19 ft 6 in On-Cushion 23 ft 6 inDraft3 ft 0 in Off-Cushion23 more rows•Sep 10, 2019
Do the Marines still use hovercrafts?
The U.S. Navy uses hovercraft to speed Marines and their equipment to shore quickly. Ship to Shore Connector will replace older LCACs build in the 1980s. The new generation hovercraft are easier to build and use more powerful engines.
What is the biggest hovercraft?
Zubr Class hovercraftAccording to Guinness World Records, the Zubr Class hovercraft is the world's largest hovercraft with 57 m (187 ft) long, 22.3 m (73.1 ft).
How fast is a LCAC?
Speed: 40+ knots (46+ mph; 74.08 kph) with full load. 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.
How fast do hovercrafts go?
The highest recorded speed by a hovercraft is 137.4 km/h (85.38 mph), by Bob Windt (USA) at the 1995 World Hovercraft Championships on the Rio Douro River, Peso de Regua, Portugal.
How much does a US Navy hovercraft cost?
The procurement cost alone has increased to $56.4 million per vessel from a $47.2 million estimate in 2011, according to the figures.
What is a LCAC navigator?
LCAC NAVIGATOR (NEC-701B) is responsible for mission planning, navigation, beach assaults, and craft communications. This position is open to OS, QM, AW, ET, and ET (SS) ratings in paygrades E5 and E6.
What is the mission of the LCAC?
OUR MISSION. At the heart of Amphibious Warfare are the Navy's LCAC's. They are $22-million-dollar Landing craft manned by entirely enlisted crews with a CPO or above in charge. LCAC’s deploy on a variety of platforms, most commonly LSD’S, LHD’s, and LHA’s. Primarily used for transporting, ship-to-shore and across the beach, personnel, weapons, ...
What is LCAC engineer?
LCAC ENGINEER (NEC-4131) is a position similar to that of the ship's Chief Engineer. The source ratings are GSE, GSM, EN, DC, EM, HT, MR, and MM ratings in paygrades E5 and E6. You will be responsible for the operation, preventative, and corrective maintenance of the engineering plant. In addition to engineering responsibilities, you will be cross trained to fly the craft in the event the Craftmaster becomes incapacitated.
What is a LCAC loadmaster?
LCAC LOADMASTER (NEC-700B) is responsible for the proper loading and offloading of all cargo and passengers. In addition, they are the craft armorer. This position is open to BM, GSM, GSE and ABH ratings in paygrades E3 and E6.
How many LCACs are there in the Navy?
All of the planned 91 craft have been delivered to the Navy. Of these 91 LCACs, seventeen have been disassembled for Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE) or otherwise terminated for cost reasons, two are held for R&D, and 36 are in use on each coast at Little Creek, Virginia and Camp Pendleton, California. Eight minesweeping kits were acquired in 1994–1995. A service-life extension program (SLEP) to extend service life from 20 to 30 years for the remaining 72 active LCACs was begun in 2000 and is scheduled to be completed by 2018.
What is a LCAC?
The Landing Craft Air Cushion ( LCAC) is a class of air-cushion vehicle ( hovercraft) used as landing craft by the United States Navy's Assault Craft Units and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). They transport weapons systems, equipment, cargo and personnel of the assault elements of the Marine Air/Ground Task Force both ...
What is C4N in SLEP?
The near-term focus will be on the "C4N" [Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Navigation] program, to replace the crafts' obsolete equipment. This will focus on replacement of LN-66 radars with modern, high-power P-80 radar systems. Additionally, the SLEP will include an open-architecture concept, relying on modern commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment, which will allow much easier incorporation of later technology changes, such as the precision navigation system and communications systems ¾ fully interoperable with in-service and near-term future Joint systems ¾ now planned. The C4N program is to complete by 2010.
How long does a LCAC last?
The SLEP will be applied to 72 LCACs, extending their service life from 20 to 30 years, delaying the need to replace these versatile craft.
How many LCACs were built in 1987?
Lockheed Shipbuilding Company was competitively selected as a second source. The FY 1990 budget request included $219.3 million for nine craft. The FY 1991 request included full funding for 12 LCACs and advance procurement in support of the FY 1992 program (which was intended to be nine craft). The remaining 24 were funded in FY92.
How fast can a LCAC go?
Previously, landing craft had a top speed of approximately eight knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) and could cross only 17% of the world's beach area. Assaults were made from a few miles off-shore.
How many people are on the LCAC?
The craft operates with a crew of five. In addition to beach landing, LCAC provides personnel transport, evacuation support, lane breaching, mine countermeasure operations, and Marine and Special Warfare equipment delivery. The four main engines are all used for lift and all used for main propulsion. The craft can continue to operate, at reduced capability, with two engines inoperable. They are interchangeable for redundancy. A transport model can seat 180 fully equipped troops. Cargo capacity is 1,809 sq ft (168.1 m 2 ). The LCAC is capable of carrying a 60 short-ton payload (up to 75 tons in an overload condition), including one M-1 Abrams tank, at speeds over 40 knots. Fuel capacity is 5000 gallons. The LCAC uses an average of 1000 gallons per hour. Maneuvering considerations include requiring 500 yards or more to stop and 2000 yards or more turning radius. The bow ramp is 28.8 ft (8.8 m) wide while the stern ramp is 15 ft (4.6 m) wide. Noise and dust levels are high with this craft. If disabled the craft is difficult to tow. In recent years spray suppression has been added to the craft's skirt to reduce interference with driver's vision.
Design and development
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 were built. JEFF A was designed and built by Aerojet General in California, with four rotating ducted propellers.
Japanese operations
Six LCAC are in use by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Approval for the sale was given by the United States Government on 8 April 1994. The craft were built by Textron Marine & Land Systems in New Orleans, Louisiana. Purchase of the first craft was included in the FY93 budget, second in FY95, third in FY99 and fifth and sixth in FY00.
Specifications (LCAC 1)
US Marines loading onto a LCAC within the well deck of USS Wasp (LHD-1), 2004.
What is LCAC in military?
LCAC was developed to satisfy the need for an air cushion landing craft capable of carrying troops, artillery, tanks, combat vehicles, and other major items of combat and combat support equipment across the beach.
When was the first LCAC deployed?
The first deployment of LCAC occurred in 1987 with LCAC 02/03/04 embarked in USS GERMANTOWN (LSD 42). In July 1987 LCAC 04 transited Buckner Bay, Okinawa and conducted the first LCAC landing on foreign soil.
What are the advantages of air cushion landing craft?
The advantages of air-cushion landing craft are numerous. They can carry heavy payloads, such as an M-1 tank, at high speeds. Their payload and speed mean more forces reach the shore in a shorter time, with shorter intervals between trips. The air cushion allows this vehicle to reach more than 70 percent of the world's coastline compared ...
How many LCACs were delivered in 1995?
The remaining 24 were funded in FY92. As of December 1995, 82 LCACs had been delivered to the Navy. Initially, all testing had been conducted in Panama City, FL. Subsequently, the LCAC was tested in California, Australia, and in Arctic waters.
When was the largest deployment of LCAC?
The largest deployment of LCAC took place in January 1991 with four detachments consisting of eleven craft reporting for duty in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Storm. back to top go to the end of the page. Additional Information: The similarities between a Navy LCAC and an airplane are substantial.
Is LCAC a minesweeper?
Also, LCAC has been involved in several minesweeping exercises, it has shown itself to be a potentially effective minesweeper in very shallow water. While this was not the original intent of the program, the system offers significant potential for enhancing force readiness.
What is a LCAC crew?
Each LCAC crew consists of a team lead by a craft master and includes an engineer, navigator, loadmaster and deck engineer.
What is ACU 4?
At Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Sailors assigned to Assault Craft Unit Four (ACU-4) learn to operate and man Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), the Navy’s combat ready craft fully capable of worldwide operational tasking. To accomplish that ACU-4 conducts training through simulators and live missions exercises to maintain all craft and equipment in the highest state of readiness.
Overview
The Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) is a class of air-cushioned landing craft (hovercraft) used by the United States Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). They transport weapons systems, equipment, cargo and personnel from ship to shore and across the beach. It is to be replaced in US service by the Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC).
Design and development
Two prototypes were built; JEFF A by Aerojet General in California, JEFF B by Bell Aerospace
JEFF A had four rotating ducted propellers JEFF B had two ducted rear propellers similar to the proposed SK-10 which was derived from the previous Bell SK-5 / SR.N5 hovercraft tested in Vietnam. JEFF B was selected for the LCAC. JEFF A was later modified for Arctic use and deployed in Prudhoe Bay to support offshore oil drilling.
Operations
The LCAC first deployed in 1987 aboard USS Germantown. LCACs are transported in and operate from all the U.S. Navy's amphibious-well deck ships including LHA, LHD, LSD and LPD. Ships capable of carrying the LCAC include the Wasp (3 LCACs), Tarawa (1), Anchorage (4), Austin (1), Whidbey Island (4–5), Harpers Ferry (2), and San Antonio (2) classes.
Japanese operations
Six LCAC are in use by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Approval for the sale was given by the United States Government on 8 April 1994. The craft were built by Textron Marine & Land Systems in New Orleans, Louisiana. Purchase of the first craft was included in the FY93 budget, second in FY95, third and fourth in FY99 and fifth and sixth in FY00.
Operators
• Japan
• United States
See also
• Air-cushioned landing craft
• Engin de débarquement amphibie rapide
• Lebed-class LCAC
• Type 726 LCAC
External links
• LCAC U.S. Navy Fact File
• Textron Marine & Land Systems LCAC page
• LCAC specifications on GlobalSecurity.org
• LCAC page on Fas.org