The Landing Craft Utility 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.
France The Engin de débarquement amphibie rapide
landing catamaran or L-CAT, entered service in January 2011. They can carry a main battle
tank like other European LCUs, but are capable of much higher speeds, up to 30 knots.
Germany
Only two Barbe class utility landing craft, dating from the mid-1960s, remain in service
with SEK-M Naval Special Forces command, but Germany is looking to buy more. Five Barbe
were transferred to Greece at the end of the Cold War.
Netherlands With the launch of the amphibious transport
ship HNLMS Rotterdam in 1998 there was a need for LCUs. The Dutch LCUs are similar
to the British LCU Mk.10 with the bridge being set to one side allowing for a roll-on roll-off
design. Until 2005 the Netherlands Marine Corps used the LCU Mark I.
In 2005 and 2006 the five vessels were modernized to the type Mark II. The vessels have been
stretched by 9 meters to decrease their draft, which increased their load carrying capacity
by 20 tons and allows them to come closer to shore. In addition they were fitted with
a strengthened bow ramp, and they can now accommodate the Royal Netherlands Army Leopard
2A6 main battle tank. Because of the lengthening of the Mark II, the Rotterdam can only take
two LCU in its dock. The dock of Rotterdam '​s sister ship, Johan de Witt, has only enough
capacity to transport two LCU, but carries four LCVPs in davits.
United Kingdom LCU Mk.9
The LCU Mk.9 was built for use on the LPDs Fearless and Intrepid where they were operated
from the dock in the rear of the ships. Each ship carried four LCUs and four davit mounted
LCVPs. The Mk.9 was to see many changes and upgrades during its service including a move
from propeller to jet in many cases. The Mk.9 was capable of traveling as an ocean-going
vessel and a number would be converted into a version, affectionately known as the "Black
Pig", for use in Norway. The crew had full living quarters aboard with galley and heads.
The opinion that the successful British amphibious operations during the Falklands War were only
possible because of the two LPDs and their landing craft is well documented. The Mk.9,
like the LPDs, served longer than ever anticipated, providing the backbone of Britain's amphibious
assault capabilities. Three Mk.9s, pennant numbers 701, 705, and
709, remained in service by 2012. However by 2014, they had all been withdrawn from
service. LCU Mk.10
The LCU Mk.10 class vessels are operated by the Royal Marines. They are intended for use
on board the new assault ships Albion and Bulwark and can use the Bay class landing
ships. Deliveries of the class started from 1998 and the fleet currently consists of ten
vessels, bearing pennant numbers 1001 to 1010. Both Albion and Bulwark are capable of carrying
4 LCU's. These vessels are capable of operating independently for up to 14 days with a range
of 600 nautical miles. They are capable of operating world-wide, from Arctic operating
areas to tropical operating areas. The Mk.10 differs greatly from the Mk.9 with the bridge
being set to the side allowing for a roll-on roll-off design. This greatly increases efficiency
over the old Mk.9 as loading of the rear LCUs can take place without the LCUs being launched,
the LPD having to dock down to do so, to change over and load up, which was a problem prior
to the Falklands landings. The LCU Mk.10 has a 7 man crew and can carry up to 120 Marines
or alternatively 1 battle tank or 4 lorries. British assault ships also carry smaller LCVPs
on davits to transport troops and light vehicles. All ten Mk.10s, pennant numbers 1001 to 1010,
remain in service as of 2012. United States
LCU 1610, 1627 and 1646 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 thirteen. They have been adapted
for many uses including salvage operations, ferry boats for vehicles and passengers, and
underwater test platforms. Each LCU is assigned a non-commissioned-officer-in-charge who is
either a Chief Petty Officer or Petty Officer First Class in the Boatswain’s Mate, Quartermaster
or Operations 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 40-year-old craft will be replaced under the Surface Connector Recapitalization,
or SC(X)R, project starting in FY2017. LCU 2000
The Runnymede class large landing craft or 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. 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, and 10,000 miles. This class is also equipped
with an aft anchor to assist in retracting from the beach.
In literature Cap'n Fatso is the second book in a series
of three by Daniel V. Gallery that feature Boatswains Mate First Class John "Fatso" Gioninni.
Fatso is the commander of an LCU that, while on a special supply errand for his LSD's captain,
is left behind in the Mediterranean Sea when the whole Sixth Fleet unexpectedly leaves
for Vietnam. Through a series of accidents and misunderstandings Fatso and his crew are
left without orders or attachment to any fleet and decide to "search the Mediterranean Sea
for the Sixth Fleet". Hilarity ensues when they play practical jokes on the Russian fleet
and make an "official" visit to Israel during the Six-Day War.
References
External links Royal Marines - Landing Craft
Media related to Landing craft utility at Wikimedia Commons