The LACV-30 (Lighter Air Cushion Vehicle, 30 tons) was a hovercraft used by the U.S. Army Mobility Equipment Research and Development Command (MERADCOM) for offloading cargo from amphibious ships. For logistic transport, the Army was already using the LARC-V and LARC-LX, huge 4-wheeled vehicles referred to as 'barges on wheels'. The Army used the LACV-30 to transport 20 ft. standard MILVAN containers as well as outsize loads that would not fit on a LARC-V or LARC-LX. MERADCOM operated 24 LACV-30s between 1983 and 1994.[3]

Lighter Air Cushioned Vehicle, 30 Tons
A US Army LACV-30
TypeHovercraft
Place of originUnited States
Service history
Used byU.S. Army
Production history
ManufacturerBell Aerospace Textron
Unit cost$5.833 million (1983)[1]
Produced1983-1994
No. built26[2]
Specifications
Mass29,510 kilograms (65,060 lb)
Length24 metres (79 ft)
Width12 metres (39 ft)
Crew5

Engine2 Pratt & Whitney PT6T Twin-Pac gas turbines
1800 hp (ea.)
Payload capacity30 tons (27 tonnes)
Maximum speed 97 kilometres per hour (60 mph)

The LACV-30 was derived from the civilian Bell Voyageur air-cushion vehicle (hovercraft). It is capable of carrying 30 tons (27 tonnes).[2] The hull is that of a large barge, but behind the deck house at the stern, there are 2 air propellers, which are followed by rudders, while under the hull there is a cushion of air which is inflated by 2 fans. There is a large crane at the bow, with a rectangular superstructure shaped like that of a typical river barge.[2]

A noteworthy feature of the vehicle is that, if necessary, it can be divided into 15 sections that can be transported and reassembled, and put in the water by its crew.[citation needed] The LACV-30 was capable of traveling in conditions of up to sea state 3.[3]: 7 

The LACV-30 was criticized for its high purchase and operating costs: it consumed five to seven times as much fuel as a conventional lighter. An Army report further criticized its poor reliability, availability, and maintainability.[2] The LACV-30 was also often unable to carry the advertised 30 tons, with typical loads being 22 to 23 tons,[2] although modifications begun in 1983, namely adding a new stern seal and raising the longitudinal seal, enabled the LACV-30 to carry 30-35 tons.[3]

The LACV-30s were operated by 8th and 331st Transportation Companies in the U.S. Army's 11th Transportation Battalion from 1983 to 1994. Each company had 12 vehicles.[4] The U.S. Navy conducted tests on the LACV-30 from 1985–1988.[5]

Following their Army service, most LACV-30s were sold to a Native Alaskan company for use as cargo and passenger transports in Alaska. In 1996, the U.S. Postal Service investigated the possibility using LACV-30 hovercraft to deliver mail to remote villages in the vicinity of Bethel, Alaska. The LACV-30 was rejected for environmental concerns, particularly its high noise level. The LACV-30 is comparable in noise level to modern military jets or first-generation commercial jet airliners.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Armor, January–February 1983, v. 92, no. 1, p. 51.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Pike, John. "Lighter Air Cushioned Vehicle 30-ton (LACV 30)". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  3. ^ a b c LACV-30 INCREASED PAYLOAD STUDY (PDF) (Technical report). Bell Aerospace Textron. August 1983. 7467-928028. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 March 2017 – via DTIC.
  4. ^ Killblane, Richard; Nalli, Diana. "8 th Transportation Company" (PDF). www.transportation.army.mil. U.S. Army Transportation Corps. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  5. ^ Carisle, Rodney P (1998). Where the fleet begins: A History of the David Taylor Research Center, 1898-1998. Washington DC: Naval Historical Center Department of Navy. p. 502. ISBN 0160873088.