European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 26, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse 7fte Landing Grafl air Cushion during sea trials of the first production mods in 1994. The Lac enhances help to Thom smut. Navy s new Breed of Landing Craft by Eric Bailey los angelas times from a distance it looks something like a overgrown River raft ils it Rah ringed by Chubby Black tube of rubber. To the military it s a technological Marvel a new Breed of Craft that dramatically enhances ship to Shore assaults. In military jargon it is the Lac Landing Craft air Cushion a Sale Mohe Arl Craft hat made its debut recently before reporters and Navy brass on a Beach North of Oceanside Calif the new Craft afe the first in a Navy Squadron being formed at Camp pc Lelon a sprawling Marine base 40 Miles North of san Diego quite frankly we re very very excited about it said rear adm. John Higginson. Commander of amphibious group 3, who suggested that the $20 million Craft will revolutionize amphibious warfare dancing across the swells on a four fool Cushion of air during a demons ration cruise the Lac pronounced Elhak showed very quickly thai in should have few problems living up to such Heady reviews. While tract Lional Landing Craft would churn slowly ashore Wilh troops and supplies the Lac is designed to travel at speeds in excess of 45 Mph on the water and then do something no predecessor could Roar up she Beach and tar Inland As Well. Jeff Birllell a Boatswain mate Chiet who pills one of the vessels put it More simply it s like going irom a Volkswagen to a peering Tom behind aviators Fyle sunglasses. Bartlett mane Vered the is loot Craft Down a Concrete ramp from the $50 million Lac training Center on the Beach next to interstate 5. A torrent of Sand sprayed into the air As the Craft Pago 18 the stars and stripes manned by a Crew of five floated across the Beach. The rolling up the vehicle s four Gas Turbine engines Bartlett steered the machine through the Breakers. Like some High tech water Bug Trie Craft shipped Over the Waves and zipped along on its carpet of air. Inside Bartlelt and two crewmen allot them outfitted in Olive Green Light suits with colourful shoulder palches listing their unit monitored sophisticated instruments and video screens showing everything from the status of various engine components to the Speed of the vessel. The Lac has radar and other equipment designed to allow it to make right landings. From the looks on their laces the crewmen Manning the Lac seemed like they would not Trade places Wilh anyone. Very fun Bartlett said. It s like driving Acar once you get used to after a Quick spin around the coastal Waters and a Side trip onto a Camp Pendleton Beach bar Felt pointed the Craft Back toward the training facility. Eager to display the trait s ability to tackle rough terrain. The Seaman steered the Lac toward a gaping pothole at the Edge of the Concrete apron leading Back to the training facility. The obstacle easily would have devoured most Small cars but Iho Craft slipped Over without a bump. The Short trip concluded Barfell and his Crew hipped a series of switches and the Craft settled Onlo the Edge of the paved training ground which is about the size of Lour football Fields. The Pilot lighted a cigarette took a few contented Pults and grinned. Piece i cake he said. Senior military officers Hope that the Lac it ewer necessary will make assaults on enemy shorelines. Wilh its Speed the Craft has several advantages Over older amphibious vessels. Ii enables commanders to launch assaults from ships As tar As so Miles out Al sea sunday october 26.1986 i Viroj them a better Chance at obtaining an element of Surprise. The Lac s ability to motor onto hard ground opens up numerous beachfront that would be inaccessible to lesser Landing Craft which can approach Only 17 percent of the world s Beach fronts. The Lac is accessible to More than 80 percent of the coastline according to the Navy. You can go where the enemy is not said cmdr. Wallace Fine Leader of assault Craft unit 5. Which will include Camp Pendleton based Craft. This will revolutionize amphibious Higginson said the a All s prime responsibility would be to ferry Large loads like tanks and jeeps to beaches. The Lac can carry up to 60 tons of equipment. Initial assaults will still be made by marines who Are carried ashore in helicopters and amphibious tractors. Three of the Craft Are stationed at Camp Pendleton. The machines arrived aboard a support ship via the Panama canal irom the new Orleans factory of Tex Iron Marine systems a division of Bell aerospace. By 1933. The Navy expects to have about 45 of the Craft stationed Al Camp Pendleton the Western Hall of a network of 90 such vessels nationwide. Another base is planned Al Little Creek a. To accommodate the Craft the Navy has undertaken construction of the training Center on the Marine corps base at Camp Pendleton although Many sections of the facility remain unfinished passers by on interstate 5 can see the sloping earthen shoulders with thick Concrete Walls that encircle the area. Although the Navy built the Walls to Block noise from the vehicles senior Olti cers say they Are pleased that the Craft is much quieter than they expected adding that they Are confident that noise and other effects from the vehicles will not spoil the local environment
