LCM-1E

Last updated
LCM-1E L602.jpg
L-602
Class overview
NameLCM-1E
Builders Navantia
Operators
Preceded by LCM-8
Planned30
Completed26
Active24
Retired2
General characteristics
TypeRoll-on/roll-off landing craft mechanised
Displacement
  • 56.6 tonnes (55.7 long tons; 62.4 short tons) light
  • 110 tonnes (110 long tons; 120 short tons) loaded
Length23.3 metres (76 ft)
Beam6.4 metres (21 ft)
Draught1 metre (3 ft 3 in) loaded
RampsBow ramp and stern gate
Propulsion
  • 2 × MAN D-2842 LE 402X diesel engines (809 kW each)
  • 2 × MJP CSU650 waterjets
Speed
  • 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) light
  • 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph) loaded
Range190 nautical miles (350 km; 220 mi) at economic speed
Capacity
  • 1 × main battle tank, or
  • 1 × self-propelled howitzer plus resupply vehicle, or
  • 2 × MOWAG Piranha, or
  • 6 × light tactical vehicles, or
  • 170 personnel with equipment
Complement4

The LCM-1E is a class of amphibious mechanized landing craft manufactured by Navantia at their factory in San Fernando. These craft are intended to deliver troops and equipment onshore from amphibious assault ships during amphibious assaults. The craft are operated by the Spanish Navy and the Royal Australian Navy (the latter referring to the vessels as LHD Landing Craft or LLC), and have been ordered by the Turkish Navy.

Contents

Project history and design

In 1999, a contract for the construction of two prototypes landing craft (L-601 and L-602), for evaluation and testing in different conditions was signed. These craft would replace the LCM-8s in Spanish Navy service. After undergoing trials, 12 additional units were ordered to service the two Galicia-class landing platform dock ships (Galicia and Castilla) and the amphibious assault ship Juan Carlos I. [1]

The landing craft have the ability to operate over-the-horizon, as they are equipped with radar navigation, GPS, gyro needle/magnetic compasses and HF communications equipment, VHF and UHF. This allows them to operate up to 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) from their mothership. Propulsion is supplied by two MAN D-2842 LE 402X diesel engines, which supply 809 kilowatts (1,085 hp) each to the two waterjets, allowing the craft to reach 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) unladen, and 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph) loaded. Maximum range at economical speeds is 190 nautical miles (350 km; 220 mi). [1]

The LCM-1E incorporates a stern gate, allowing the loading and unloading of vehicles onto all landing craft within the dry stern dock, without having to open the gate to swap landing craft around. In turn, this saves having to dock down the landing platform, and allows re-stowing of vehicles while the landing platform is underway. There is a maximum limit of 12 tons for the transfer of vehicles in this configuration. [1]

Service

Two Spanish Navy LCM-1E heading for the beach Lanchas LCM-1E.JPG
Two Spanish Navy LCM-1E heading for the beach

Spain

The Spanish LCM-1Es are assigned to the Naval Beach Group, based at Naval Station Props. Since joining the Spanish Navy, four of the 12 units built in the shipyards of San Fernando and Puerto Real have been involved in a mission in Lebanon, where they have been used for beach landing marines.

After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, four LCM-1E were used to land relief personnel and first aid material directly on the beach, avoiding the partially destroyed and highly congested harbours.

Australia

Two Royal Australian Navy LCCs at HMAS Waterhen L4003 RAN 2.JPG
Two Royal Australian Navy LCCs at HMAS Waterhen

In 2009, the Australian Defence Force began plans to acquire landing craft for the under-construction Canberra-class landing helicopter dock ships. Arrangements were made to acquire craft from Navantia (the builder responsible for the LHDs), and in September 2011, the purchase of 12 LCM-1E craft was approved by the Australian government. [2] [3] The landing craft were delivered in batches of four: the first batch in May 2014, followed by the second in February 2015, with the third due by mid-2015. [4] In Australian service, the craft are referred to as LLCs (LHD Landing Craft), and six are assigned to each of the Canberra-class ships: four embarked, two assigned to shore facilities for training and trials, and rotated aboard as embarked craft require maintenance. [4] [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Tarawa</i>-class amphibious assault ship Class of US amphibious assault ships

The Tarawa class is a ship class of Landing Helicopter Assault (LHA) type amphibious assault ships operated by the United States Navy (USN). Five ships were built by Ingalls Shipbuilding between 1971 and 1980; another four ships were planned, but later canceled; instead they were joined by the Wasp-class amphibious assault ships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landing craft</span> Seagoing watercraft

Landing craft are small and medium seagoing watercraft, such as boats and barges, used to convey a landing force from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. The term excludes landing ships, which are larger. Production of landing craft peaked during World War II, with a significant number of different designs produced in large quantities by the United Kingdom and United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dock landing ship</span> Type of amphibious warfare ship

A dock landing ship is an amphibious warfare ship with a well dock to transport and launch landing craft and amphibious vehicles. Some ships with well decks, such as the Soviet Ivan Rogov class, also have bow doors to enable them to deliver vehicles directly onto a beach. Modern dock landing ships also operate helicopters.

Navantia is a Spanish state-owned shipbuilding company that builds vessels for the military and civil sectors. It is the fifth-largest shipbuilder in Europe and the ninth-largest in the world. The company is the result of the segregation of the military assets of the IZAR Group in 2005. The company designs, builds, and supports all types of surface vessels, submarines, and systems. In addition, it is diversifying into new markets such as renewable energy, the offshore industry, and naval services.

Landing Craft Utility Type of boat designed for transporting amphibious forces and cargo to shore

A Landing Craft Utility (LCU) is a type of boat 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.

<i>Galicia</i>-class landing platform dock

The Galicia class are two landing platform dock (LPD) ships in service with the Spanish Navy. Built by Navantia at Ferrol, their mission is to carry out amphibious warfare by transporting the bulk of the Infantería de Marina. These ships have both a large helicopter flight deck and a 885-square-metre (9,530 sq ft) well deck for large landing craft, as well as a 1,000-square-metre (11,000 sq ft) space for up to 33 main battle tanks.

Spanish amphibious assault ship <i>Juan Carlos I</i> Amphibious assault ship

Juan Carlos I is a multi-purpose amphibious assault ship-aircraft carrier in the Spanish Navy. Similar in role to many aircraft carriers, the amphibious landing ship has a ski jump for STOVL operations, and is equipped with the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II attack aircraft or the new Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft. The vessel is named in honour of Juan Carlos I, the former King of Spain.

A joint support ship (JSS) is a multi-role naval vessel capable of launching and supporting joint amphibious and airlift operations. It can also provide command and control, sealift and seabasing, underway replenishment, disaster relief and logistics capabilities for combined land and sea operations.

<i>Canberra</i>-class landing helicopter dock Australian naval amphibious ship class

The Canberra class is a ship class of two landing helicopter dock (LHD) ships built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Planning to upgrade the navy's amphibious fleet began in 2000, based on Australian experiences leading the International Force for East Timor peacekeeping operation. With a new climate for growing Australian Navy spending, a desire existed for forward defence capability for landing and supporting troops on Asian territory, that had never existed in Australian history, even with the old Majestic-class light fleet carriers, HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Sydney in the 1970s. In 2004, French company Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) and Spanish company Navantia were invited to tender proposals, with DCN offering the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship and Navantia proposing the "Buque de Proyección Estratégica" design. The Spanish design was selected in 2007, with Navantia responsible for construction of the ships from the keel to the flight deck, and BAE Systems Australia handling the fabrication of the combat and communications systems. Finally, Siemens (Germany) supplied and fitted the azimuth thrusters.

Spanish ship <i>Galicia</i> (L51)

Galicia (L51) is a Galicia-class landing platform dock (LPD) of the Spanish Navy and is the seventh ship to bear this name. She is the lead ship in her class. The vessel was constructed in Ferrol, Spain and launched in 1997 and commissioned in 1998. Galicia is tasked with transporting Spanish marines, humanitarian aid missions and general logistic support. The LPD has taken part in actions against piracy in the Indian Ocean and off the Somalian coast, provided humanitarian aid following hurricanes and tsunamis and provided support during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain.

Type 071 amphibious transport dock Class of ship in service with the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy

The Type 071 is a class of Chinese amphibious transport dock ships in service with the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The Type 071 provides the PLAN with capabilities and flexibility not found in its previous landing ships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amphibious assault ship</span> Type of warship used in amphibious assaults

An amphibious assault ship is a type of amphibious warfare ship employed to land and support ground forces on enemy territory during an amphibious assault. The design evolved from aircraft carriers converted for use as helicopter carriers. Modern designs support amphibious landing craft, with most designs including a well deck. Coming full circle, some amphibious assault ships also support V/STOL fixed-wing aircraft, now having a secondary role as aircraft carriers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amphibious warfare ships of Australia</span>

The Royal Australian Navy and Australian Army have operated 24 amphibious warfare ships. These ships have been used to transport Army units and supplies during exercises and operational deployments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amphibious warfare ship</span> Ship used in amphibious warfare

An amphibious warfare ship is an amphibious vehicle warship employed to land and support ground forces, such as marines, on enemy territory during an amphibious assault.

HMAS <i>Canberra</i> (L02) Royal Australian Navy helicopter landing ship

HMAS Canberra (L02) is the first ship of the Canberra-class landing helicopter dock in service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and is the second largest in the Navy, succeeded by its sister ship HMAS Adelaide (L01). Construction of the ship started in Spain in 2008, with the hull launched by Navantia in 2011. The hull was then transported to Australia in late 2012 for completion by BAE Systems Australia. Canberra was commissioned on 28 November 2014.

HMAS <i>Adelaide</i> (L01) Landing helicopter dock (ship) of the Royal Australian Navy (launched 2012)

HMAS Adelaide (L01) is the second of two Canberra-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) ships of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and is the largest naval vessel ever built for Australia. Construction of the ship started at Navantia's Spanish shipyard with steel-cutting in February 2010. The ship was laid down in February 2011, and launched on 4 July 2012. Delivery to Australia for fitting out at BAE Systems Australia's facilities in Victoria was scheduled for 2013, but did not occur until early 2014. Despite construction delays and predictions, the ship was commissioned in December 2015.

The procurement of Landing Platform Docks (LPD) by the Indian Navy, formerly known as the "Multi-Role Support Vessel Program" (MRSV) - is an initiative of the Indian Navy (IN) to procure a series of landing platform docks, specific vessels dedicated to amphibious warfare, as part of the service's strategy to augment its capabilities of amphibious warfare, disaster-response, humanitarian assistance and auxiliary duties.

TCG <i>Anadolu</i> Turkish Navy ship

TCG Anadolu (L-400) is an aircraft carrier of the Turkish Navy. It is named after the peninsula of Anatolia which forms the majority of the land mass of Turkey. The construction works began on 30 April 2016 at the shipyard of Sedef Shipbuilding Inc. in Istanbul, with the keel being laid on 7 February 2018. TCG Anadolu was commissioned with a ceremony on 10 April 2023.

Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) is a class of amphibious ship planned for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).

References

  1. 1 2 3 "La nueva lancha de desembarco LCM-1E" (in Spanish). Jan–Feb 2003. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  2. Kerr, Julian (22 December 2011). "Amphibious ambitions: expanding Australia's naval expectations". Jane's Navy International. Jane's Information Group.
  3. Clare, Jason (5 October 2012). "LHD Watercraft and Enhanced Joint Operations Centre Command and Control Capability Projects Approved" (Press release). Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 19 October 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  4. 1 2 Rahmat, Ridzwan (30 April 2015). "Navantia launches Australia's last LHD landing craft". IHS Jane's Navy International. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  5. Kennedy, Emily (1 August 2014). "Canberra's landing craft coxswains demonstrate new skills". Navy Daily. Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 25 September 2014.