Page 23: of Marine News Magazine (June 2022)

22 24

Feature

Combat and Patrol Craft

As my ? ight into Norfolk, Va. descended over Chesapeake

Bay, I gazed in amazement as a Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) raced toward Virginia Beach, slowed, glided up the beach and into its shore base. Being awestruck then,

I’m honestly blown away by today’s developments in com- bat and patrol craft.

The upgraded LCAC 100 series is in build by Textron

Marine & Land Systems of Slidell, La. The ? rst 24 of 73 planned are contracted and will replace 72 legacy LCACs which power on, courtesy of the Navy’s LCAC Service Life

Extension Program (SLEP). The 20-year-to-30-year SLEP provides a time window for LCAC 100 Class tests, veri? ca- tion and incorporation into the Navy’s new Ship-to-Shore

Connector (SSC) program.

SSC will serve essentially the same military and humani- tarian amphibious functions of the legacy LCACs. Powered by four 6,168HP Rolls-Royce MT7 gas turbine engines, principal characteristics include overall length and beam (LOA, BOA) of 91.8 ft. and 48.25 ft., respectively. Speed rated to 35 knots in Sea State 3 and maximum payload rated to 74 short tons, SSC LCACs enjoy a 25% power up- grade, and the skirt and other components are engineered for reduced maintenance and improved craft availability.

LCAC 103 has engaged the ? rst phase of Ship Interface

Testing and successfully completed well deck interoper- ability trials. Tests were completed by PEO Ships and the

Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Panama City Di- vision in Florida with the USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) on

February 13, 2022.

Captain Scot Searles, Amphibious Assault and Connec- tors Programs program manager at Program Executive Of- ? ce (PEO) Ships, expressed satisfaction. “The success of the well deck testing and […] evolutions validates these modernized craft will be a game changer for the Navy/Ma- rine Corps team as they execute various missions in the maritime domain,” Searles said on completion of the test.

Meanwhile, the upgrade to the Navy’s legacy 53-foot y ? rst visit in 2007 to the American Society Riverine Command Boats (RCB), the Mark VI Class is of Naval Engineers’ (ASNE) Multi-Agency sidelined. From August 2014 through 2018, SAFE Boats

International (SBI) of Bremerton, Wash., delivered 12 of

Craft Conference (MACC) was an eye-open-

M er. Having built a naval architecture career 48 originally planned 85-foot Mk VI patrol boats to Navy

Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC). Plans to deac- with frigates, destroyers and other large naval and commer- cial ships, I was eager to learn of the smaller craft used by tivate the boats last year were abruptly reversed pending FY the U.S. Navy and other government and military bodies. 2022 defense budget resolutions. The impasse results largely www.marinelink.com MN 23|