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Earlier this month, Austal USA celebrated the start of construction of the first of three LCU 1710 landing craft utility ships for the U.S. Navy at its shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.
Austal USA, a subsidiary of Australian shipbuilding group Austal, signed a US$91.5 million (A$143.4 million) contract in September 2023 that includes three LCU 1710 vessels and associated support activities.
Austal CEO Paddy Gregg said the start of construction on Austal USA’s latest steel vessel program highlights the shipyard’s growing capacity and ability to efficiently manufacture multiple steel vessel projects. said. The shipyard has expanded its established aluminum shipbuilding capabilities with a new facility dedicated to steel shipbuilding that opened in 2022.
“The Austal USA team has already built the U.S. Navy’s Towing, Salvage, and Rescue (T-ATS) vessel and Medium Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock (AFDM), and has additional steel projects in progress, including the Naval Ocean Surveillance (T-AGOS). ) ship and the Coast Guard’s offshore patrol cutter, which is expected to begin soon,” Gregg said.
“The LCU provides strategic value and versatility to the Navy-Marine Corps team,” said Lt. Gen. Karsten S. Heckle, Deputy Commander, Combat Development and Integration (DC, CD&I), U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). ‘s landing craft greatly enhances sea-based Marine Air-Ground Task Forces and Marine Expeditionary Forces, providing unparalleled flexibility and ability to maneuver Marines, sailors, and equipment in environments otherwise inaccessible. We provide the ability.”
“Austal USA’s new construction program is an exciting addition to our growing portfolio of projects,” said Dave Growden, vice president of new construction programs at Austal USA. 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. ”
The LCU 1710 is carried aboard U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships to target areas and used in a variety of military operations to transport vehicles, personnel, and cargo from sea to land and back. These vessels have the requisite heavy-lift capacity and can carry approximately the same payload as seven C-17 aircraft.
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