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fighting ships of the world

UNITED STATES NAVY (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS AND CRAFT

 

LCAC air-cushion landing craft (LCAC1) (1984 - 2001)

 

LCAC1 1985

 

No Name Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate
LCAC1     Textron, New Orleans     12.1984 in reserve (2019)
LCAC2     Textron, New Orleans     2.1986 in service (2019)
LCAC3     Textron, New Orleans     6.1986 in reserve (2019)
LCAC4     Textron, New Orleans     8.1986 in service (2019)
LCAC5     Textron, New Orleans     11.1986 in reserve (2019)
LCAC6     Textron, New Orleans     12.1986 in reserve (2019)
LCAC7     Textron, New Orleans     3.1987 in service (2019)
LCAC8     Textron, New Orleans     6.1987 in service (2019)
LCAC9     Textron, New Orleans     6.1987 in service (2019)
LCAC10     Textron, New Orleans     9.1987 in service (2019)
LCAC11     Textron, New Orleans     12.1987 in reserve (2019)
LCAC12     Textron, New Orleans     12.1987 in reserve (2019)
LCAC13     Textron, New Orleans     9.1988 in reserve (2019)
LCAC14     Textron, New Orleans     11.1988 in service (2019)
LCAC15     Avondale, Gulfport     9.1988 in service (2019)
LCAC16     Avondale, Gulfport     11.1988 in service (2019)
LCAC17     Avondale, Gulfport     1989 in service (2019)
LCAC18     Avondale, Gulfport     1989 in reserve (2019)
LCAC19     Avondale, Gulfport     5.1990 in service (2019)
LCAC20     Avondale, Gulfport     1990 in service (2019)
LCAC21     Avondale, Gulfport     1990 in service (2019)
LCAC22     Avondale, Gulfport     11.1990 in reserve (2019)
LCAC23     Avondale, Gulfport     6.1991 in service (2019)
LCAC24     Textron, New Orleans     3.1990 in service (2019)
LCAC25     Textron, New Orleans     6.1990 SLEP 2001, in service (2019)
LCAC26     Textron, New Orleans     7.1990 in service (2019)
LCAC27     Textron, New Orleans     8.1990 in service (2019)
LCAC28     Textron, New Orleans     10.1990 in service (2019)
LCAC29     Textron, New Orleans     12.1990 in service (2019)
LCAC30     Textron, New Orleans     12.1990 in service (2019)
LCAC31     Textron, New Orleans     2.1991 in service (2019)
LCAC32     Textron, New Orleans     5.1991 in service (2019)
LCAC33     Textron, New Orleans     6.1991 in service (2019)
LCAC34     Avondale, Gulfport     5.1992 in service (2019)
LCAC35     Avondale, Gulfport     5.1992 in service (2019)
LCAC36     Avondale, Gulfport     5.1992 in service (2019)
LCAC37     Textron, New Orleans     7.1991 in service (2019)
LCAC38     Textron, New Orleans     9.1991 in service (2019)
LCAC39     Textron, New Orleans     9.1991 in service (2019)
LCAC40     Textron, New Orleans     11.1991 in service (2019)
LCAC41     Textron, New Orleans     11.1991 in service (2019)
LCAC42     Textron, New Orleans     12.1991 in service (2019)
LCAC43     Textron, New Orleans     2.1992 in service (2019)
LCAC44     Textron, New Orleans     2.1992 in service (2019)
LCAC45     Textron, New Orleans     3.1992 in service (2019)
LCAC46     Textron, New Orleans     5.1992 in service (2019)
LCAC47     Textron, New Orleans     6.1992 in service (2019)
LCAC48     Textron, New Orleans     7.1992 in service (2019)
LCAC49     Avondale, Gulfport     10.1992 in service (2019)
LCAC50     Avondale, Gulfport     2.1993 in service (2019)
LCAC51     Avondale, Gulfport     6.1993 in service (2019)
LCAC52     Textron, New Orleans     9.1992 in service (2019)
LCAC53     Textron, New Orleans     7.1992 in service (2019)
LCAC54     Textron, New Orleans     10.1992 in service (2019)
LCAC55     Textron, New Orleans     11.1992 in service (2019)
LCAC56     Textron, New Orleans     1.1993 in service (2019)
LCAC57     Textron, New Orleans     2.1993 in service (2019)
LCAC58     Textron, New Orleans     3.1993 in service (2019)
LCAC59     Textron, New Orleans     4.1993 in service (2019)
LCAC60     Textron, New Orleans     6.1993 in service (2019)
LCAC61     Textron, New Orleans     7.1993 in service (2019)
LCAC62     Textron, New Orleans     8.1993 in service (2019)
LCAC63     Textron, New Orleans     9.1993 in service (2019)
LCAC64     Textron, New Orleans     10.1993 in service (2019)
LCAC65     Textron, New Orleans     11.1993 in service (2019)
LCAC66     Textron, New Orleans     12.1993 in service (2019)
LCAC67     Textron, New Orleans     2.1994 in service (2019)
LCAC68     Textron, New Orleans     3.1994 in service (2019)
LCAC69     Textron, New Orleans     4.1994 in service (2019)
LCAC70     Textron, New Orleans     6.1994 in service (2019)
LCAC71     Textron, New Orleans     6.1994 in service (2019)
LCAC72     Textron, New Orleans     7.1994 in service (2019)
LCAC73     Textron, New Orleans     9.1994 in service (2019)
LCAC74     Textron, New Orleans     11.1994 in service (2019)
LCAC75     Textron, New Orleans     1.1995 in service (2019)
LCAC76     Textron, New Orleans     2.1995 in service (2019)
LCAC77     Textron, New Orleans     3.1995 in service (2019)
LCAC78     Textron, New Orleans     5.1995 in service (2019)
LCAC79     Textron, New Orleans     7.1995 in service (2019)
LCAC80     Textron, New Orleans     8.1995 in service (2019)
LCAC81     Textron, New Orleans     10.1995 in service (2019)
LCAC82     Textron, New Orleans     12.1995 in service (2019)
LCAC83     Textron, New Orleans     2.1996 in service (2019)
LCAC84     Textron, New Orleans     4.1996 in service (2019)
LCAC85     Textron, New Orleans     7.1996 in service (2019)
LCAC86     Textron, New Orleans     9.1996 in service (2019)
LCAC87     Textron, New Orleans     11.1996 in service (2019)
LCAC88     Textron, New Orleans     2.1997 in service (2019)
LCAC89     Textron, New Orleans     4.1997 in service (2019)
LCAC90     Textron, New Orleans     10.1997 in service (2019)
LCAC91     Textron, New Orleans     3.2001 in service (2019)

 

 

Displacement standard, t

88 - 93

Displacement full, t

167, 182 overload

Length, m

24.7 hull 26.8 oa

Breadth, m

13.3 hull 14.3 oa

Draught, m

0.78 at rest, loaded / 0

No of shafts

2 shrouded airscrews + 4 centrifugal lift fans

Machinery

LCAC1-90: 4 Avco TF40B gas turbines (2 for propulsion, 2 for lift)

LCAC91: 4 Vericor ETF40B gas turbines (2 for propulsion, 2 for lift)

Power, h. p.

LCAC1-90: 7910 + 7910

LCAC91: 9490 + 9490

Max speed, kts

54 light, 40 loaded

Fuel, t

gas turbine oil 6.2

Endurance, nm(kts)

223(48) light 200(40) loaded

Armament

none

Electronic equipment CMR-91 or Decca Bridge radar

Military load

180 troops or 60 t of cargo (75 t overload) + 24 troops

Complement

5

   

Project history: LCAC are intended to move heavy equipment from beyond the horizon over a beach. An LCAC can also cross a wider variety of beaches than an LCU. In the late 1970s this concept was developed (as JEFF B) in competition with a hard-chine planing craft, which would have been less expensive, but which could not have carried its cargo past the surf zone. The first two were authorised in FY82, for a total of ninety-one; the programme initially envisaged a total of 108. Because an LCAC is substantially larger than an LCU, dock landing ships designed to accommodate several of the latter often cannot accommodate more than one LCAC. The new generation of ships (LHD, LSD 41/49, LPD17) are all sized to take several LCACs.

    Because well deck temperatures can be quite high (and noise levels intense), these craft have separate troop compartments (for a total of 25 troops). Modular troop compartments, to be acquired 1994-95, will accommodate 180 troops or 150 litters. Several LCACs may be used for mine countermeasures, partly because their well decks offer considerable spice to handle gear and partly because the air cushion may reduce the shock effect of mines. M58 Minesweeping modules, comparable to equipment on MH-53E helicopters, are used

Compared to an LCU, an LCAC carries less than half as much weight (75t vs 180t) at much higher speed (50kts vs 11kts). It is also far more expensive, relatively delicate, and far more difficult to repair in the event of battle damage or accident. Its rationale is that a force beyond the horizon can mount assaults over so broad an area that it cannot readily be defended against, at least at the surf line: the assault ought therefore to be unresisted (over the horizon assault also limits the exposure of the valuable big amphibious ships to coast defence missiles).

Modernizations: 2003: LCAC25; 2004: LCAC2; 2005: LCAC4, 7, 8, 9; 2006: LCAC10, 21; 2007: LCAC26, 28, 37, 39, 40, 42, 43, 45, 47; 2008: LCAC29, 32, 34, 54; 2009: LCAC24, 31, 33, 48, 68; 2010: LCAC30, 36, 61, 69; 2011: LCAC41, 46, 53, 56, 59, 62; 2012: LCAC49, 51, 63, 67, 70, 71, 72, 74, 79; 2013: LCAC27, 38, 75, 80, 82; 2014: LCAC55, 73; 2015: LCAC60, 78, 81, 88, 89; 2016: LCAC52, 57, 83, 90; 2017: LCAC58, 64, 84, 85; 2018: LCAC14, 65, 76, 86; 2019: LCAC20, 35, 50, 77, 87, 64 units at all: re-engined as LCAC91 (4 Vericor ETF40B gas turbines (2 for propulsion, 2 for lift)), 9490 + 9490hp (58 craft were modernized till 1.12.2016)

Naval service: No significant events.

LCAC86 2005

LCAC81 2008

© Ivan Gogin, 2016-19