The LACV-30 (Lighter Air Cushion Vehicle, 30 tons) was a hovercraft used by the U.S. Army Mobility Equipment Research and Development Command (MERADCOM) for offloading cargo from amphibious ships. For logistic transport, the Army was already using the LARC-V and LARC-LX, huge 4-wheeled vehicles referred to as 'barges on wheels'. The Army used the LACV-30 to transport 20 ft. standard MILVAN containers as well as outsize loads that would not fit on a LARC-V or LARC-LX. MERADCOM operated 24 LACV-30s between 1983 and 1994.[3]
2 Pratt & Whitney PT6T Twin-Pac gas turbines 1800 hp (ea.)
Payload capacity
30 tons (27 tonnes)
Maximum speed
97 kilometres per hour (60 mph)
The LACV-30 was derived from the civilian Bell Voyageur air-cushion vehicle (hovercraft). It is capable of carrying 30 tons (27 tonnes).[2] The hull is that of a large barge, but behind the deck house at the stern, there are 2 air propellers, which are followed by rudders, while under the hull there is a cushion of air which is inflated by 2 fans. There is a large crane at the bow, with a rectangular superstructure shaped like that of a typical river barge.[2]
A noteworthy feature of the vehicle is that, if necessary, it can be divided into 15 sections that can be transported and reassembled, and put in the water by its crew.[citation needed] The LACV-30 was capable of traveling in conditions of up to sea state 3.[3]: 7
The LACV-30 was criticized for its high purchase and operating costs: it consumed five to seven times as much fuel as a conventional lighter. An Army report further criticized its poor reliability, availability, and maintainability.[2] The LACV-30 was also often unable to carry the advertised 30 tons, with typical loads being 22 to 23 tons,[2] although modifications begun in 1983, namely adding a new stern seal and raising the longitudinal seal, enabled the LACV-30 to carry 30-35 tons.[3]
The LACV-30s were operated by 8th and 331st Transportation Companies in the U.S. Army's 11th Transportation Battalion from 1983 to 1994. Each company had 12 vehicles.[4] The U.S. Navy conducted tests on the LACV-30 from 1985–1988.[5]
Following their Army service, most LACV-30s were sold to a Native Alaskan company for use as cargo and passenger transports in Alaska. In 1996, the U.S. Postal Service investigated the possibility using LACV-30 hovercraft to deliver mail to remote villages in the vicinity of Bethel, Alaska. The LACV-30 was rejected for environmental concerns, particularly its high noise level. The LACV-30 is comparable in noise level to modern military jets or first-generation commercial jet airliners.[2]
Referencesedit
^Armor, January–February 1983, v. 92, no. 1, p. 51.
^ abcdefPike, John. "Lighter Air Cushioned Vehicle 30-ton (LACV 30)". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
^ abcLACV-30 INCREASED PAYLOAD STUDY(PDF) (Technical report). Bell Aerospace Textron. August 1983. 7467-928028. (PDF) from the original on 2 March 2017 – via DTIC.
^Killblane, Richard; Nalli, Diana. "8 th Transportation Company" (PDF). www.transportation.army.mil. U.S. Army Transportation Corps. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^Carisle, Rodney P (1998). Where the fleet begins: A History of the David Taylor Research Center, 1898-1998. Washington DC: Naval Historical Center Department of Navy. p. 502. ISBN0160873088.
lacv, lighter, cushion, vehicle, tons, hovercraft, used, army, mobility, equipment, research, development, command, meradcom, offloading, cargo, from, amphibious, ships, logistic, transport, army, already, using, larc, larc, huge, wheeled, vehicles, referred, . The LACV 30 Lighter Air Cushion Vehicle 30 tons was a hovercraft used by the U S Army Mobility Equipment Research and Development Command MERADCOM for offloading cargo from amphibious ships For logistic transport the Army was already using the LARC V and LARC LX huge 4 wheeled vehicles referred to as barges on wheels The Army used the LACV 30 to transport 20 ft standard MILVAN containers as well as outsize loads that would not fit on a LARC V or LARC LX MERADCOM operated 24 LACV 30s between 1983 and 1994 3 Lighter Air Cushioned Vehicle 30 TonsA US Army LACV 30TypeHovercraftPlace of originUnited StatesService historyUsed byU S ArmyProduction historyManufacturerBell Aerospace TextronUnit cost 5 833 million 1983 1 Produced1983 1994No built26 2 SpecificationsMass29 510 kilograms 65 060 lb Length24 metres 79 ft Width12 metres 39 ft Crew5Engine2 Pratt amp Whitney PT6T Twin Pac gas turbines1800 hp ea Payload capacity30 tons 27 tonnes Maximum speed97 kilometres per hour 60 mph The LACV 30 was derived from the civilian Bell Voyageur air cushion vehicle hovercraft It is capable of carrying 30 tons 27 tonnes 2 The hull is that of a large barge but behind the deck house at the stern there are 2 air propellers which are followed by rudders while under the hull there is a cushion of air which is inflated by 2 fans There is a large crane at the bow with a rectangular superstructure shaped like that of a typical river barge 2 A noteworthy feature of the vehicle is that if necessary it can be divided into 15 sections that can be transported and reassembled and put in the water by its crew citation needed The LACV 30 was capable of traveling in conditions of up to sea state 3 3 7 The LACV 30 was criticized for its high purchase and operating costs it consumed five to seven times as much fuel as a conventional lighter An Army report further criticized its poor reliability availability and maintainability 2 The LACV 30 was also often unable to carry the advertised 30 tons with typical loads being 22 to 23 tons 2 although modifications begun in 1983 namely adding a new stern seal and raising the longitudinal seal enabled the LACV 30 to carry 30 35 tons 3 The LACV 30s were operated by 8th and 331st Transportation Companies in the U S Army s 11th Transportation Battalion from 1983 to 1994 Each company had 12 vehicles 4 The U S Navy conducted tests on the LACV 30 from 1985 1988 5 Following their Army service most LACV 30s were sold to a Native Alaskan company for use as cargo and passenger transports in Alaska In 1996 the U S Postal Service investigated the possibility using LACV 30 hovercraft to deliver mail to remote villages in the vicinity of Bethel Alaska The LACV 30 was rejected for environmental concerns particularly its high noise level The LACV 30 is comparable in noise level to modern military jets or first generation commercial jet airliners 2 References edit Armor January February 1983 v 92 no 1 p 51 a b c d e f Pike John Lighter Air Cushioned Vehicle 30 ton LACV 30 GlobalSecurity org Retrieved 18 July 2018 a b c LACV 30 INCREASED PAYLOAD STUDY PDF Technical report Bell Aerospace Textron August 1983 7467 928028 Archived PDF from the original on 2 March 2017 via DTIC Killblane Richard Nalli Diana 8 th Transportation Company PDF www transportation army mil U S Army Transportation Corps Retrieved 19 May 2016 Carisle Rodney P 1998 Where the fleet begins A History of the David Taylor Research Center 1898 1998 Washington DC Naval Historical Center Department of Navy p 502 ISBN 0160873088 nbsp This United States military article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This article related to water transport is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title LACV 30 amp oldid 1167013042, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
