LCAC 1

Textron's Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) is a revolutionary mean which US Navy and Marine Corps amphibious forces to access more than 70 percent shorelines. The air cushion can traverse water, snow, marsh, ice, tundra and sand. Its primary role is transportation of military cargo and personnel for up to 180 passengers. In addition, it can be utilized for mine hunting/sweeping and humanitarian relief. LCAC is combat proven and has been successfully deployed in many scenarios such as Kuwait, Somalia, Bangladesh, Liberia and Haiti. The first LCACs were handed over to the US Navy in 1984 and the last one in 2001 with a service life of 20 years. LCAC fleet is undergoing a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) which introduces improved performance and extends the service life to 30 years. SLEP also reduces operating and maintenance costs as well as crew workload. LCACs are expected to continue serving the US Navy and the US Marine Corps well into the 21st century. The LCAC is capable of operating at ranges of up to 350 miles from its home base or ship and can transverse obstacles on land as high as four feet (1.22 meters). It was designed to serve in extreme climates such as Sahara desert to Arctic transporting equipment and troops from ship to shore and vice versa. At sea state 2 this hovercraft can travel at 50 knots. Its propulsion system includes four ETF-40B gas turbines each rated at 3,955-shp, two four-blade variable pitch 11.75-ft (3.58 meters) diameter propellers, and four 63-inch (1.6 meters) centrifugal lift fans. The LCAC is not a fighting craft but can be armed with two M2HB 12.7mm/.50 caliber machine guns, MK 19 40mm grenade launcher, and M60 machine guns. The 91 crafts making up this class were built between Textron Marine and Land Systems/Avondale Gulfport Marine.

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