Austal USA begins construction of LCU 1710

Austal USA began construction of the first of three U.S. Navy Landing Craft Utility Ships (LCUs), LCU 1710, during a ceremony in Mobile, Alabama. Shipyard last week. The shipbuilder signed her $91.5 million contract in September 2023 for her three LCUs and related support activities.

At the ceremony, U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Carsten S. Heckle, deputy commander for Combat Development and Integration, said: He emphasized the strategic value and versatility of the LCU to Navy-Marine Corps teams. General Heckle said these landing craft play a critical role in strengthening Marine Air-Ground Task Forces and Marine Expeditionary Forces at sea, providing unparalleled flexibility to maneuver personnel and equipment in difficult environments. I emphasized that there is.

dave groden Austal USA’s vice president of new construction programs expressed eagerness to begin construction of these naval assets. “General Heckle’s addition to the Austal USA team today to commemorate this milestone sends a strong message about the critical role this platform plays in supporting Navy and Marine Corps expeditionary operations. We are excited to get these vessels off the assembly line and into our fleet.” Groden said at the ceremony.

LCUs are utilized in amphibious assault operations to transport vehicles, personnel, and cargo from sea to land and vice versa. These connectors have a heavy-lift capacity equivalent to the payload of approximately seven C-17 aircraft.

The main specifications of the LCU 1700 class are summarized below. navcyincluding diesel propulsion Colt The nozzles, twin shafts each produce a sustained output of 500 horsepower. The 139-foot by 31-foot vessel can reach 11 knots, and when sailing at 8 knots she can achieve a range of 1,200 nautical miles.

The LCU 1700 class can accommodate a crew of 14 people and carry various payloads, including two M1A1 tanks, 350 combat troops or 400 people, or 170 short tons of cargo. The ship includes the following armed mounts: Four-person crew-operated weapons, commercial navigation radar, military communications suite, and amphibious assault direction system.

Austal USA’s steel line has been in active operation since it began operations two years ago. Steel shipbuilding production continues on two Navy Towing, Salvage and Rescue Ships (T-ATS) and the Navy’s 90,800 square foot auxiliary medium floating dry dock (AFDM). Austal USA also has multi-vessel contracts for the Navy’s TAGOS-25 ocean surveillance vessel and the U.S. Coast Guard’s Heritage-class Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program, with construction scheduled to begin this summer.