Landing Craft Utility
Landing Craft Utility (LCU) are used by amphibious forces to transport equipment and troops to the shore. They are capable of transporting tracked or wheeled vehicles and troops from amphibious assault ships to beachheads or piers.
US classes
The LCU 1610, 1627 and 1646 class vessels are operated by the United States Navy. They are a self-sustaining craft complete with living accommodations and messing facilities for a crew of fourteen. They have been adapted for many uses including salvage operations, ferry boats for vehicles and passengers, and underwater test platforms. Each LCU is assigned an officer-in-charge (Craft Master) who is either a Chief Petty Officer or Petty Officer First Class in the Boatswain’s Mate, Quartermaster, Operations Specialist or Culinary Specialist rating. These vessels have bow ramps for onload/offload, and can be linked bow to stern gate to create a temporary pier-like structure. Its welded steel hull provides high durability with deck loads of 800 pounds per square foot. Arrangement of machinery and equipment has taken into account built-in redundancy in the event of battle damage. The craft features two engine rooms separated by a watertight bulkhead to permit limited operation in the event that one engine room is disabled. An anchor system is installed on the starboard side aft to assist in retracting from the beach. These vessels are normally transported to their areas of operation onboard larger amphibious vessels such as LHDs and LHAs.
The LCU 2000 class vessels are operated by the United States Army. They transport rolling and tracked vehicles, containers, and outsized and general cargo from ships offshore to shore, as well as to areas that cannot be reached by oceangoing vessels (coastal, harbor, and intercoastal waterways). It can be self-deployed or transported aboard a float-on/float-off vessel. It is classed for full ocean service and one-man engine room operations and is built to U.S. Coast Guard standards. The vessel can sustain a crew of 2 warrant officers and 11 enlisted personnel for up to 18 days. This class is also equipped with an aft anchor to assist in retracting from the beach.
LCU 1610, 1627 and 1646 classes
- Power Plant: 2 × Detroit 12V-71 diesel engines, 2 × shafts, hp (507 kW) sustained, Kort nozzles
- Length: 134.9 ft (41.1 m)
- Beam: 29 ft (8.8 m)
- Displacement: 200 tons (203 metric tons) light; 375 tons (381 metric tons) full load
- Deck area: 1,850 ft² (171 m²)
- Draft: 3.5 ft (1.1 m) (forward, full Load), 6.8 ft (2.1 m) (aft, full Load)
- Speed: knots ( km/h)
- Range: nautical miles ( km) at knots ( km/h)
- Capacity: 170 tons (480 m³)
- Military Lift: 125 tons of cargo, trucks, tanks, or 400 marines
- Crew: 10
- Guns: 2 × 12.7 mm machine guns
- Radar: Navigation: LN 66 or SPS-53; I band.
LCU 2000 class
- Length: 174 ft (53 m)
- Beam: 42 ft (12.8 m)
- Displacement: 575 tons (584 metric tons) light; 1087 tons (1104 metric tons) full load.
- Deck area: 2,500 ft² (232 m²) (5 M1 main battle tanks or 12 (24 double-stacked) foot ( m) ISO containers.
- Payload: 350 short tons (320 t) (15 C-141 loads).
- Range: nautical miles ( km) at knots ( km/h) light; nautical miles ( km) at knots ( km/h) loaded.
- Draft: 8 ft (light); 9 ft (loaded).
- Beaching draft: ft ( m) at the bow.
- Carries up to thirty ft ( m) containers or twelve ft ( m) containers.
- Crew: 13
- Equipped with latest navigation, communications, and electronic equipment including an automatic pilot and steering system.
UK LCUs
The LCU Mk10 class vessels are operated by the Royal Marines. They are intended for use onboard the new assault ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark. These vessels are capable of operating independently for up to 14 days. They are capable of operating world-wide, from Arctic operating areas to tropical operating areas.
LCU Mk10 class
- Power Plant: 2 × diesel engines
- Length: 97.8 ft (29.8 m)
- Beam: 24.2 (7.4 m)
- Displacement: 236 tons (240 metric tons)
- Draft: 5.6 ft (1.7 m)
- Speed: knots ( km/h)
- Capacity: 1 main battle tank, four large vehicles or 120 troops
German LCUs
External links
- navsource.org: Index of Landing Craft Utility
- Assault Craft Unit One (operates LCUs)
- Assault Craft Unit Two (operates LCUs)
- 4 Assault Squadron Royal Marines (operates LCUs)
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