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 (8,600 kg)
Length 420 in (1,067 cm)
Width 120 in (305 cm)
Height 122 in (310 cm)
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 mi (15.3 km)
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, the Philippines 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 operators including a number of LARC vehicles is in use on Iceland for tourist trips on the Jökulsárlón ice lake and four LARC-V's used in Halifax, Nova Scotia for city and harbour tours.[1]

Operational history

LARC-Vs were used extensively by the U.S. Army and Navy for beach supply during the Vietnam War. They supported the 101st Airborne Division in 1967 and later the 1st Cavalry Division in 1968.[2]

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
 United States
U.S. and Australian LARCs in an amphibious dock.

Specifications

In popular culture

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About the Vehicle", Harbour Hopper Tours Halifax, Nova Scotia
  2. ↑ "LARC-V", GlobalSecurity.org
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ "LARC". Australian Antarctic Division. Retrieved 26 November 2016.

Further reading

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External links

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