LARC-V

LARC-V
A LARC-V vehicle
Type Amphibious cargo vehicle
Place of origin United States
Production history
Manufacturer Condec, LeTourneau-Westinghouse
Specifications
Weight 19,000 lb (8,618 kg)
Length 420 in (11 m)
Width 120 in (3 m)
Height 122 in (3 m)
Engine Cummins V8-300
785 cu in (12.9 L) Diesel V8
300 hp (220 kW)
Suspension wheel 4x4
Operational
range
 250 mi (402.3 km)
Speed Land:30 mph (48 km/h)
Water:9.5 mph (15.3 km/h)
A LARC of the U.S. Navy Beach Master Unit 2 at Fort Story, Virginia
LARC V vehicle in use for tourist trips on Iceland – Jokulsarlon icelake
LARC-V (Iceland – Jokulsarlon 2)
LARC-V (Iceland – Jokulsarlon 3)
LARC-V converted for harbour tours in Halifax, Nova Scotia

LARC-V (Lighter, Amphibious Resupply, Cargo, 5 ton), is an aluminium-hulled amphibious cargo vehicle capable of transporting 5 tons. It was developed in the United States during the 1950s, and is used in a variety of auxiliary roles to this day.

In addition to the United States, Larc-Vs have been used by military forces in Australia, Argentina, Portugal, Philippines, Singapore and Iceland. Approximately 968 were made. About 500 were destroyed, most by scuttling during the American withdrawal from South Vietnam. About 200 have been retained in U.S. military service. Roughly 100 are privately owned and mostly used for tourism. These include tourist trips on the Jökulsárlón ice lake in Iceland and city and harbour tours in Halifax, Nova Scotia .[1]

Operational history

LARC-Vs were used extensively by the U.S. Army for over the beach supply during the Vietnam War. They supported the logistical and manpower build up at the start of and during the Vietnam war. Two units arrived from Ft. Story, VA. in June 1965. The 344TC setup harbor operations in QuiNhon and the 347thTC in Cham Ran Bay. Each company had 2 platoons of 17 LARCVs each and a separate 3rd echelon maintenance detachment. About December 1965, one of the 344th's platoons moved to Danang and was attached to the Air Force Wing. There it ran 24hour/day operations hauling bombs from ships in the harbor to the flight line. Their operation was so crucial to the AF that if at least 15 LARCS didn't remain operational, any needed parts were flown in by Nonoperational Ready Supply Grounded (NORSG) aircraft from St Louis.[2]

101st Airborne Division in 1967 and later the 1st Cavalry Division in 1968.[3]

LARC-Vs were used by the Argentine Marines during the 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands.

In January 2011, during the 2010–2011 Queensland floods in Australia, it was reported that C-17 aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force were to carry two LARC-V vehicles for use in Operation Flood Assist. The vehicles were deployed from Townsville to RAAF Base Amberley.

U.S. Navy service life extension program

The United States Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) has directed the Sealift Support Program Office (SSPO) to supervise a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) on the LARC V's used by the Navy. This SLEP involved changing from a mechanical to a hydraulic transmission, updating the electrical system, and improving other on-board systems. These reworked LARCs began delivery in June 2006 for use by U.S. Navy Beach Master Units, Underwater Construction Teams and the Maritime Prepositioned Force ships. A total of 42 LARCs are currently funded to transition through the SLEP process.

Towing capacity on land was improved to approximately 29,000 lb and bollard pull in water was doubled to 7600 lb. The vehicle operates in all-wheel drive while in land or tow modes. The craft is powered by a 375-horsepower John Deere turbo-charged Diesel engine that is Tier 2 certified. Engine speed is constant, with a hydraulic transmission modifying speed.

Design and manufacture of the SLEP LARC-V's was carried out by Power Dynamics, LLC of Stennis Space Center, Mississippi.

Operators

Argentine Marine's LARC-V on Puerto Belgrano Navy Base.
 Argentina
 Australia
 Iceland
 Philippines
 Portugal
 Singapore
 United States
U.S. and Australian LARCs in an amphibious dock.

Specifications

  • Land speed: 30 mph
  • Water speed: 7.5 knots
  • Capacity: 3 crew + 20 passengers (up to 10,000 lbs.)
  • Maximum gradient: 60%
  • Fuel capacity: 144 gallons diesel total (2 tanks)
  • Unloaded land range: 280 to 335 miles
  • Unloaded sea range: 110 miles

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About the Vehicle", Harbour Hopper Tours Halifax, Nova Scotia
  2. ↑ Cpt.Baker,344TC
  3. ↑ "LARC-V", GlobalSecurity.org
  4. ↑ Morley, Sgt Dave (12 February 2015). "Specialists rest easy" (PDF). Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1344 ed.). Canberra, Australia: Department of Defence. ISSN 0729-5685. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  5. ↑ Cole, Captain G.S. (2014). "Will JP2048 provide Army with an amphibious capability for independent coastal and riverine operations?" (PDF). Australian Army Transport Journal (46): 83–87. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  6. ↑ "LARC". Australian Antarctic Division. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  7. ↑ Vandever, Justin. "LARC Survey System". frf.usace.army.mil. Field Research Facility. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.

Further reading

  • Doyle, David (2003). Standard catalog of U.S. Military Vehicles. Krause Publications. pp. 250–251. ISBN 0-87349-508-X.

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