LARC-V

Last updated

LARC-V
LARC V vehicle.JPEG
A LARC-V vehicle
Type Amphibious cargo vehicle
Place of originUnited States
Production history
Manufacturer Condec, LeTourneau-Westinghouse
Specifications
Mass19,000 lb (8,618 kg)
Length420 in (11 m)
Width120 in (3 m)
Height122 in (3 m)

EngineCummins V8-300
785 cu in (12.9 L) Diesel V8
300 hp (220 kW)
Suspensionwheel 4x4
Operational
range
250 mi (402.3 km)
Maximum speed Land:30 mph (48 km/h)
Water:9.5 mph (15.3 km/h)
A LARC of the U.S. Navy Beach Master Unit 2 at Fort Story, Virginia LARC of BMU-2.jpg
A LARC of the U.S. Navy Beach Master Unit 2 at Fort Story, Virginia
LARC V vehicle in use for tourist trips on Iceland - Jokulsarlon icelake LARC-V (Iceland - Jokulsarlon 5).jpg
LARC V vehicle in use for tourist trips on Iceland – Jokulsarlon icelake
LARC-V converted for harbour tours in Halifax, Nova Scotia 420 - Halifax NS.JPG
LARC-V converted for harbour tours in Halifax, Nova Scotia

LARC-V (Lighter, Amphibious Resupply, Cargo, 5 (V) ton), is an aluminium-hulled amphibious cargo vehicle capable of transporting 5 tons. It was developed in the United States during the 1950s, and is used in a variety of auxiliary roles to this day.

Contents

In addition to the United States, LARC-Vs have been used by military forces in Australia, Argentina, Portugal, the Philippines, Singapore and Iceland. Approximately 968 were made. About 500 were destroyed, most by scuttling during the American withdrawal from South Vietnam. About 200 have been retained in U.S. military service. Roughly 100 are privately owned and mostly used for tourism.

Operational history

The LARC-V was fielded in 1963 and were used extensively by the U.S. Army for over the beach supply during the Vietnam War. They supported the logistical and manpower build up at the start of and during the Vietnam war. Two units arrived from Ft. Story, VA. in June 1965. The 344th Transportation Company (Light Amphibious) setup harbor operations in Qui Nhon and the 347th Transportation Company in Cam Ranh Bay. The companies had two platoons of 17 LARCVs each and a separate 3rd echelon maintenance detachment. About December 1965, one of the 344th's platoons moved to Da Nang and was attached to the Air Force wing. There it ran 24-hour/day operations hauling bombs from ships in the harbor to the flight line. Their operation was so crucial to the USAF that if at least 15 LARCS were not operational, any needed parts were flown in by Nonoperational Ready Supply Grounded (NORSG) aircraft from St Louis. [1] 458th Transportation, LARC-V Company, arrived in Cam Ranh Bay Oct 1967. 101st Airborne Division in 1967 and later the 1st Cavalry Division in 1968. [2]

LARC-Vs were used by the Argentine Marines during the 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands.

In January 2011, during the 2010–11 Queensland floods in Australia, it was reported that C-17 aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force were to carry two LARC-V vehicles for use in Operation Flood Assist. The vehicles were deployed from Townsville to RAAF Base Amberley.[ citation needed ]

U.S. Navy service life extension program

The United States Naval Facilities Engineering Command has directed the Sealift Support Program Office to supervise a Service Life Extension Program on the LARC Vs used by the Navy. This SLEP involved changing from a mechanical to a hydraulic transmission, updating the electrical system, and improving other on-board systems. These reworked LARCs began delivery in June 2006 for use by U.S. Navy Beach Master Units, Underwater Construction Teams and the Maritime Prepositioned Force ships. A total of 42 LARCs are currently funded to transition through the SLEP process.

Towing capacity on land was improved to approximately 29,000 lb and bollard pull in water was doubled to 7,600 lb. The vehicle operates in all-wheel drive while in land or tow modes. The craft is powered by a 375-horsepower John Deere turbo-charged Diesel engine that is Tier 2 certified. Engine speed is constant, with a hydraulic transmission modifying speed.

Design and manufacture of the SLEP LARC-Vs was carried out by Power Dynamics, LLC of Stennis Space Center, Mississippi.

Operators

Argentine Marine's LARC-V on Puerto Belgrano Navy Base. LARC5 humvee IMARA 17may07.jpg
Argentine Marine's LARC-V on Puerto Belgrano Navy Base.
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal
Flag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
U.S. and Australian LARCs in an amphibious dock. US Navy 090708-N-6692A-034 U.S. and Royal Australian Navy lighter amphibious resupply cargo (LARC) vessels prepare to conduct launch and recovery training exercises aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46).jpg
U.S. and Australian LARCs in an amphibious dock.
Flag of the United States.svg  United States

Specifications

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Underwater Demolition Team</span> US Navy special operations group

Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs), or frogmen, were amphibious units created by the United States Navy during World War II with specialized non-tactical missions. They were predecessors of the navy's current SEAL teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landing Craft Air Cushion</span> Hovercraft employed as a landing craft

The Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) is a class of air-cushioned landing craft (hovercraft) used by the United States Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). They transport weapons systems, equipment, cargo and personnel from ship to shore and across the beach. It is to be replaced in US service by the Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assault Amphibious Vehicle</span> American tracked amphibious landing vehicle

The Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV)—official designation AAVP-7A1 —is a fully tracked amphibious landing vehicle manufactured by U.S. Combat Systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joint Expeditionary Base–Little Creek</span> Base for the Amphibious Forces in the US Navys Atlantic Fleet

Joint Expeditionary Base–Little Creek (JEB–LC), formerly known as Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek and commonly called simply Little Creek, is the major operating base for the Amphibious Forces in the United States Navy's Atlantic Fleet. The base comprises four locations in three states, including almost 12,000 acres (4,900 ha) of real estate. Its Little Creek location in Virginia Beach, Virginia, totals 2,120 acres (860 ha) of land. Outlying facilities include 350 acres (140 ha) located just north of Training Support Center Hampton Roads in Virginia Beach and 21 acres (8.5 ha) known as Radio Island at Morehead City, North Carolina, used for U.S. Coast Guard ships and personnel as well as serves as an amphibious embarkation/debarkation area for U.S. Marine Corps units at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. It is also home to the Naval School of Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air assault</span> Military movement of ground forces by air into combat or unsecured areas

Air assault is the movement of ground-based military forces by vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft—such as the helicopter—to seize and hold key terrain which has not been fully secured, and to directly engage enemy forces behind enemy lines. In addition to regular infantry training, air-assault units usually receive training in rappelling, fast-rope techniques and air transportation, and their equipment is sometimes designed or field-modified to allow better transportation within aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DUKW</span> US amphibious transport

The DUKW is a six-wheel-drive amphibious modification of the 2+12-ton CCKW trucks used by the U.S. military during World War II and the Korean War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bandvagn 206</span> Swedish articulated all-terrain carrier

Bandvagn 206 is a tracked articulated, all-terrain carrier developed by Hägglunds for the Swedish Army. It consists of two units, with all four tracks powered. It can carry up to 17 people, 6 in the front compartment, 11 in the rear. The trailer unit can be adapted for different uses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marines</span> Military organization specialized in amphibious warfare

Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship, the boarding of vessels during combat or capture of prize ships, and providing manpower for raiding ashore in support of the naval objectives. In most countries, the marines are an integral part of that state's navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LARC-LX</span> Amphibious cargo vehicle

The LARC-LX, originally designated as BARC is a welded steel-hulled amphibious cargo vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion</span> Assault amphibian battalion

3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion is one of two active duty assault amphibian battalions in the United States Marine Corps. The battalion's primary weapon system is the Amphibious Assault Vehicle or AAV. The AAV is a 27.5-ton armored vehicle that carries up to 21 combat-loaded Marines and is armed with the UGWS, which mounts a .50 cal (12.7 mm) M2HB machine gun and a Mk-19 40 mm grenade launcher. The battalion is also equipped with the Amphibious Combat Vehicle or ACV, a rather new variant to the USMC’s amphibious armament which will replace the AAV in years to come. The AAV ACV are the only armored vehicles in the U.S. inventory that are fully capable of operations both on land and in the ocean. The battalion is part of the 1st Marine Division and the I Marine Expeditionary Force. The unit is based in Camp Pendleton, California.

USS <i>Bulloch County</i> LST-491-class tank landing ship

USS Bulloch County (LST-509) was an LST-491-class tank landing ship built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Bulloch County, Georgia, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Australian Corps of Transport</span> Military unit

The Royal Australian Corps of Transport (RACT) is a corps within the Australian Army. The RACT is ranked tenth in seniority of the corps of the Australian Army, and is the most senior logistics corps. It was formed on 1 June 1973 as an amalgamation of the Royal Australian Army Service Corps (RAASC) and Royal Australian Engineers Transportation Service. The RACT is responsible for the operation of army surface transport assets, movement control, terminal and postal services, and Army aspects of air logistic support.

The Naval Infantry Command, also known as the Naval Infantry of the Navy of the Argentine Republic and generally referred to in English as the Argentine marines are the amphibious warfare branch of the Argentine Navy and one of its four operational commands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7th Transportation Brigade (United States)</span> Military unit

The 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) is a Transportation brigade of the United States Army. It is known and referred to as "the most deployed unit in the Army" because of its continuous mission to provide logistical support to all branches of the service for both training and war-time activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beachmaster Unit One</span> Military unit

Beachmaster Unit One, (BMU-1) is a United States Navy amphibious beach party unit based at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in Coronado, California. BMU-1 is the sister unit of Beachmaster Unit Two located in Norfolk, Virginia.

USS <i>Whitfield County</i> United States Navy landing ship tank

USS Whitfield County (LST-1169), previously USS LST-1169, was a United States Navy landing ship tank (LST) in commission from 1954 to 1973 which saw service in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Pacific and saw action in the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 302</span> Military unit

Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit THREE ZERO TWO (CBMU-302) of the U.S. Navy was commissioned on 31 March 1967. Along with a sister unit, CBMU-301, was also commissioned. They were the first CBMUs commissioned since the two that came and went with the Korean War. The official commissioning ceremony of CBMU-301 and CBMU-302 was held at the U.S. Naval Construction Battalion Center, Port Hueneme, CA on 7 April 1967. LT Mel Harper was the first Commanding Officer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landing party</span> Ships crew assigned to take ground ashore

A landing party is a portion of a ship's crew designated to go ashore from the ship and take ground, by force if necessary. In the landing party promulgated by the US Navy 1950 Landing Party Manual, the party was to be equipped with small arms – at least a rifle platoon for a destroyer; up to a rifle company plus machine gun platoon for a cruiser. Embarked Marines were to be used where possible.

Naval Beach Unit Seven, (NBU-7) is a United States Navy amphibious unit based at United States Fleet Activities Sasebo in Sasebo, Japan.

References

  1. Cpt.Baker,344TC
  2. "LARC-V", GlobalSecurity.org
  3. Morley, Sgt Dave (12 February 2015). "Specialists rest easy" (PDF). Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1344 ed.). Canberra, Australia: Department of Defence. ISSN   0729-5685 . Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  4. Cole, Captain G.S. (2014). "Will JP2048 provide Army with an amphibious capability for independent coastal and riverine operations?" (PDF). Australian Army Transport Journal (46): 83–87. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  5. "LARC". Australian Antarctic Division. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  6. Vandever, Justin. "LARC Survey System". frf.usace.army.mil. Field Research Facility. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.