Landing Craft Utility (LCU) vessels are carried aboard U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships to the objective area.
LCU are used to transport personnel, weapons, equipment and cargo from ship to shore and shore to shore across a range of military operations. These connectors provide a heavy-lift capability and can carry about the same payload capacity as several C-17 aircraft.
Capabilities
- 24 hours/day operations for up to 10 days
- 1200 nautical miles for continuous landing of troops, equipment and supplies
- Conduct missions requiring persistence such as riverine sustainment, surveillance or port clearing support
- Conduct missions to reinforce, reposition and resupply forces over a wide operating area
- Highly effective in theater security cooperation and building partnership activities
SPECIFICATIONS
| Length | 139 feet (42.4 meters) |
| Beam | 31 feet (9.4 meters) |
| Max speed | 11 knots |
| Range | 1,200 nautical miles @ 8 knots |
| Navy crew | 14 |
| Machinery | (2) 500 shp propulsion engines (2) 4 foot diameter FPP with Kort Nozzle (2) 67 kW gensets (1) diesel HPU for anchor winch Bow ramp Stern gate Kedge anchor and winch |
| Mission equipment |
Deck cargo up to 152 light tons or (2) M1A1 tanks or 350 combat equipped Marines or 400 non-combatants |