09-05-2003, 15:17
- 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.
- Capable of operating from existing and planned well deck ships,
- it is used to transport weapons systems, equipment, cargo and personnel from ship to shore and across the beach.
The advantages of air-cushion landing craft are numerous.
- 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 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.( average of 1000 gallons per hour ) Maneuvering considerations: 500 yards or more to stop and 2000 yards or more turning radius.
How it works:
The LCAC, like all hovercraft, rides on a cushion of air. The air is supplied to the cushion by four centrifugal fans driven by the craft's gas turbine engines. The air is enclosed by a flexible skirt system manufactured of rubberized canvas. Unlike the Surface Effect Ship (SES), no portion of the LCAC hull structure penetrates the water surface; the entire hull rides approximately four feet above the surface.
Where can it operate ?
LCAC operates in waters regardless of depth, underwater obstacles, shallows or adverse tides. It can proceed inland on its air cushion, clearing obstacles up to four feet, regardless of terrain or topography), including mud flats, sand dunes, ditches, marshlands, riverbanks, wet snow, or slippery and icy shorelines. Equipment, such as trucks and track vehicles, can disembark via ramps located both forward and aft, there by shortening critical off load time.
How is it good as an amphibious assault craft?
LCAC is a dramatic innovation in modern amphibious warfare technology. It provides the capability to launch amphibious assaults from points over the horizon, thereby decreasing risk to ships and personnel and generating greater uncertainty in the enemy's mind as to the location and timing of an assault, thereby maximizing its prospects of success. It is also important to point out the LCAC propulsion system makes it less susceptible to mines than other assault craft or vehicles
Technical specs:
Builder : Gradenk Marine systems
Power Plant Four Avco-Lycoming gas turbines; 12,280 bhp;
two shrouded reversible-pitch propellers;
four double-entry fans for lift
Length 88 feet
Beam 47 feet
Displacement 200 tons full load
Capacity 60 tons/75 ton overload
Speed 40 plus knots with payload
Armament 2 - 12.7mm MGs. Gun mounts will support: M-2HB .50 cal machine gun; Mk-19 Mod3 40mm grenade launcher; M-60 machine gun
Crew 5
Range 200 miles at 40 kts with payload
300 miles at 35 kts with payload
Operating Time 16 hours per day per LCAC
Time per Sortie Vehicle Load ? 6 hours, 8 min
Cargo Load ? 8 hours, 36 min
Sorties per Day for Vehicles 2.6 sorties per LCAC per day
Total = 104 LCAC sorties per day @ 40 LCACs per day
Sorties per Day for Cargo
1.86 sorties per LCAC per day
Total = 74 LCAC sorties per day @ 40 LCACs per day
Personnel Capacity 36 Troops
180 w/PTM
Short Tons per Sortie 25 STONS
50 pallets (500 lbs per pallet)
Vehicles per Sortie (how many vehicles it can carry per trip )
10 HMMWVs per sortie
4 LAVs per sortie
2 AAVs per sortie
1 M1A1 per sortie
4 M923 per sortie
2 M923 5-Ton Trucks,
2 M198 Howitzers, and
2 HMMWVs per sortie
Time Details Transit (45 NM @ 25 kts) x 2 = 216 min
Well Deck Ops
62 min for vehicles
120 min for cargo
Beach Ops
30 min for vehicles
120 min for cargo
Friction = 60 min
Total = 368 min (for vehicles) or 516 min (for cargo)
Orders can be placed With Gradenk Marine Systems
Price: USD 20 Million
- Capable of operating from existing and planned well deck ships,
- it is used to transport weapons systems, equipment, cargo and personnel from ship to shore and across the beach.
The advantages of air-cushion landing craft are numerous.
- 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 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.( average of 1000 gallons per hour ) Maneuvering considerations: 500 yards or more to stop and 2000 yards or more turning radius.
How it works:
The LCAC, like all hovercraft, rides on a cushion of air. The air is supplied to the cushion by four centrifugal fans driven by the craft's gas turbine engines. The air is enclosed by a flexible skirt system manufactured of rubberized canvas. Unlike the Surface Effect Ship (SES), no portion of the LCAC hull structure penetrates the water surface; the entire hull rides approximately four feet above the surface.
Where can it operate ?
LCAC operates in waters regardless of depth, underwater obstacles, shallows or adverse tides. It can proceed inland on its air cushion, clearing obstacles up to four feet, regardless of terrain or topography), including mud flats, sand dunes, ditches, marshlands, riverbanks, wet snow, or slippery and icy shorelines. Equipment, such as trucks and track vehicles, can disembark via ramps located both forward and aft, there by shortening critical off load time.
How is it good as an amphibious assault craft?
LCAC is a dramatic innovation in modern amphibious warfare technology. It provides the capability to launch amphibious assaults from points over the horizon, thereby decreasing risk to ships and personnel and generating greater uncertainty in the enemy's mind as to the location and timing of an assault, thereby maximizing its prospects of success. It is also important to point out the LCAC propulsion system makes it less susceptible to mines than other assault craft or vehicles
Technical specs:
Builder : Gradenk Marine systems
Power Plant Four Avco-Lycoming gas turbines; 12,280 bhp;
two shrouded reversible-pitch propellers;
four double-entry fans for lift
Length 88 feet
Beam 47 feet
Displacement 200 tons full load
Capacity 60 tons/75 ton overload
Speed 40 plus knots with payload
Armament 2 - 12.7mm MGs. Gun mounts will support: M-2HB .50 cal machine gun; Mk-19 Mod3 40mm grenade launcher; M-60 machine gun
Crew 5
Range 200 miles at 40 kts with payload
300 miles at 35 kts with payload
Operating Time 16 hours per day per LCAC
Time per Sortie Vehicle Load ? 6 hours, 8 min
Cargo Load ? 8 hours, 36 min
Sorties per Day for Vehicles 2.6 sorties per LCAC per day
Total = 104 LCAC sorties per day @ 40 LCACs per day
Sorties per Day for Cargo
1.86 sorties per LCAC per day
Total = 74 LCAC sorties per day @ 40 LCACs per day
Personnel Capacity 36 Troops
180 w/PTM
Short Tons per Sortie 25 STONS
50 pallets (500 lbs per pallet)
Vehicles per Sortie (how many vehicles it can carry per trip )
10 HMMWVs per sortie
4 LAVs per sortie
2 AAVs per sortie
1 M1A1 per sortie
4 M923 per sortie
2 M923 5-Ton Trucks,
2 M198 Howitzers, and
2 HMMWVs per sortie
Time Details Transit (45 NM @ 25 kts) x 2 = 216 min
Well Deck Ops
62 min for vehicles
120 min for cargo
Beach Ops
30 min for vehicles
120 min for cargo
Friction = 60 min
Total = 368 min (for vehicles) or 516 min (for cargo)
Orders can be placed With Gradenk Marine Systems
Price: USD 20 Million