Manufacturer: Textron Marine and Land Systems/Avondale Gulfport Marine.
Propulsion: Powered by four Allied-Signal TF-40B gas turbines.
Armament: Equipped with two gun mounts supporting M2HB .50 Cal machine guns, M240 7.62 mm machine guns, and MK-19 MOD3 40 mm grenade launchers.
Speed: Capable of reaching speeds exceeding 40 knots (46+ mph; 74.08 kph) with a full load.
Range: 300 miles
Crew Capacity: Five
Payload: 60 tons
The Landing Craft Air Cushion, known as the LCAC, serves as a vital asset for the U.S. Marine Corps, facilitating the efficient transport of troops and equipment from amphibious ships to onshore operations. Uniquely capable, the LCAC is the sole transport vehicle capable of ferrying an M-1 Abrams tank from an amphibious ship to the beach.
The Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC), is an advanced, high-speed amphibious landing craft designed to operate seamlessly over beaches, fully amphibious and capable of transporting a payload ranging from 60 to 75 tons. The LCAC’s unique combination of payload capacity and speed significantly enhances the Marine Ground Element’s capability to swiftly reach the shore. Leveraging air cushion technology, this vehicle can access over 70% of the world’s coastline, a substantial increase compared to the approximately 15% accessible by conventional landing craft.
The conceptual design of the current LCAC began in the early 1970s with the full-scale Amphibious Assault Landing Craft (AALC) test vehicle. During the advanced development phase, two prototypes were constructed. JEFF A was designed and built by Aerojet General in California, while JEFF B was designed and constructed by Bell Aerospace in New Orleans, Louisiana. These two crafts validated the technical feasibility and operational capability that ultimately paved the way for the production of the LCAC. JEFF B was chosen as the design basis for today’s LCAC.
The first LCAC was delivered to the Navy in 1984, achieving Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 1986. Approval for full production was granted in 1987. Following an initial 15-craft production competition contract awarded to Textrop Marine and Land Systems (TMLS) of New Orleans, LA, and Avondale Gulfport Marine, TMLS was selected to build the remaining crafts. A total of ninety-one LCACs have now been constructed, with the final craft, LCAC 91, delivered to the U.S. Navy in 2001.
This vessel formed the foundation for the Navy’s LCAC Service Life Extension Program (SLEP). The program’s objective is to extend the operational life of 72 crafts and one Research and Development (R&D) craft. As of October 10, 2013, forty-six LCACs have undergone SLEP (including the R&D craft), and contracts are in place for the SLEP of seven additional LCACs through FY2013. An extra twenty LCACs are slated for SLEP through FY2018, bringing the total Program of Record to 72 operational SLEP crafts and 1 R&D SLEP craft.
The LCAC made its inaugural deployment in 1987 aboard USS Germantown (LSD 42). LCACs are transported into and operated from all amphibious well deck ships, including LHA, LHD, LSD, and LPD. The vessel operates efficiently with a crew of five.
In addition to its beach landing capabilities, the LCAC serves various roles, including personnel transport, evacuation support, lake breaching, mine countermeasure operations, and the delivery of Marine and Special Warfare equipment.
All 91 planned crafts have been successfully delivered to the Navy. Currently, a Service Life Extension Program is underway to add 10 years to the craft’s designed lifespan, postponing the need for replacement of these versatile vessels.
On July 6, 2012, Textrop, Inc. was awarded a contract for a new Ship to Shore Connector (SSC) craft, intended to replace the retiring LCAC.