Landing Craft Utility
A Landing Craft Utility is a type of boat used by amphibious forces to transport equipment and troops to the shore. They are capable of transporting tracked or wheeled vehicles and troops from amphibious assault ships to beachheads or piers.
Colombia
The Golfo de Tribugá-class landing craft is an LCU developed by COTECMAR for the Colombian National Navy. The vessel class is also known as BDA and an unarmored version for logistical and humanitarian services has also been developed, known as BALC.Operators
- : 5 in service, 1 on order
- : 1 in service
- : 2 in service
France
Germany
Germany has two Barbe-class utility landing craft, dating from the mid-1960s, which remain in service under the SEK-M Naval Special Forces' command. Germany is looking to acquire more such crafts. Five Barbe landing crafts were transferred to Greece at the end of the Cold War.India
India currently has three Kumbhir class LCU and six Mk IV class LCU. Currently two more MK IV class of LCU are under construction at GRSE.Netherlands
With the launch of the amphibious transport ship in 1998 there was a need for LCUs. The Dutch LCUs are similar to the British LCU Mk.10 with the bridge being set to one side allowing for a roll-on roll-off design. Until 2005 the Netherlands Marine Corps used the LCU Mark I.In 2005 and 2006 the five vessels were modernized to the type Mark II. The vessels have been stretched by 9 meters to decrease their draft, which increased their load carrying capacity by 20 tons and allows them to come closer to shore. In addition they were fitted with a strengthened bow ramp, and they can now accommodate the Royal Netherlands Army Leopard 2 A6 main battle tank.
Because of the lengthening of the Mark II, the Rotterdam can take two LCUs in its dock. The dock of Rotterdams sister ship, HNLMS Johan de Witt, has the capacity to transport two LCUs, but carries four LCVPs in davits.
Russia
Dyugon
The Dyugon-class landing craft are operated by the Russian NavySweden
Sweden operates 16 small and fast water jet landing crafts with a displacement of 65 tones. They are armed with one 12,7 mm machine gun but can also lay out mines and is equipped with armour for anti submarine warfare. The vessel type has been exported to the United Arab Emirates.In addition, HSwMS :sv:HMS_Loke_|Loke is a larger vessel at a displacement of 305 tones, capable of carrying 150 tones. The ship has a crew of 7 and is armed with two 7,62 mm machine guns.
Spain
The Armada has 26 LCM-1E in service since 2001 and has been exported to Australia and Turkey.United Kingdom
LCU Mk.9
The LCU Mk.9 was built for use on the LPDs and where they were operated from the dock in the rear of the ships. Each ship carried four LCUs and four davit mounted LCVPs. The Mk.9 was to see many changes and upgrades during its service including a move from propeller to jet in many cases. The Mk.9 was capable of traveling as an ocean-going vessel and a number would be converted into a version, affectionately known as the "Black Pig", for use in Norway. The crew had full living quarters aboard with galley and heads. The opinion that the successful British amphibious operations during the Falklands War were only possible because of the two LPDs and their landing craft is well documented. In the Falklands War during the Bluff Cove Air Attacks LCU F4 from was bombed and sunk in Choiseul Sound by an Argentine Air Force A-4B Skyhawk of Grupo 5. The Mk.9, like the LPDs, served longer than ever anticipated, providing the backbone of Britain's amphibious assault capabilities.Three Mk.9s, pennant numbers 701, 705, and 709, remained in service by 2012. However, by 2014, they had all been withdrawn from service.
LCU Mk.10
The LCU Mk.10 class vessels are operated by the Royal Marines. They are intended for use on board the assault ships and and can also be used by the Bay class landing ships. Deliveries of the class started from 1998 and the fleet currently consists of ten vessels, bearing pennant numbers 1001 to 1010. Both Albion and Bulwark are capable of carrying four LCUs each. These vessels are capable of operating independently for up to 14 days with a range of 600 nautical miles. They are capable of operating worldwide, from Arctic operating areas to tropical operating areas. The Mk.10 differs greatly from the Mk.9 with the bridge being set to the side allowing for a roll-on roll-off design. This greatly increases efficiency over the old Mk.9 as loading of the rear LCUs can take place without the LCUs being launched, the LPD having to dock down to do so, to change over and load up, which was a problem prior to the Falklands landings. The LCU Mk.10 has a 7-man crew and can carry up to 120 Marines or alternatively 1 battle tank or 4 lorries. British assault ships also carry smaller LCVPs on davits to transport troops and light vehicles.All ten Mk.10s, pennant numbers 1001 to 1010, remain in service as of 2012.
United States
LCU 1466, 1610 and 1627 classes
The LCU 1466, 1610 and 1627 class vessels are operated by the United States Navy at support commands. They are a self-sustaining craft complete with living accommodations and mess facilities for a crew of thirteen. They have been adapted for many uses including salvage operations, ferry boats for vehicles and passengers, and underwater test platforms. Each LCU is assigned a non-commissioned-officer-in-charge who is either a Chief Petty Officer or Petty Officer First Class in the Boatswain’s Mate, Quartermaster or Operations Specialist rating. These vessels have bow ramps for onload/offload, and can be linked bow to stern gate to create a temporary pier-like structure. Its welded steel hull provides high durability with deck loads of 3,900 kg/m². Arrangement of machinery and equipment has taken into account built-in redundancy in the event of battle damage. The craft features two engine rooms separated by a watertight bulkhead to permit limited operation in the event that one engine room is disabled. An anchor system is installed on the starboard side aft to assist in retracting from the beach. These vessels are normally transported to their areas of operation onboard larger amphibious vessels such as LSDs, LHDs and LHAs. The 40-year-old craft will be replaced under the Surface Connector Recapitalization, or SCR, project starting in FY2017.| LCU 1466 | LCU 1610 | LCU 1627 | |
| Displacement – light | |||
| Displacement – full | n/a | ||
| Length overall | |||
| Beam | |||
| Draft – full load, forward | |||
| Draft – full load, aft | |||
| Power – sustained | |||
| Propulsion | 3 x Gray Marine diesel engines | 2 x Detroit 12V-71 diesel engines | 4 x Detroit diesel engines |
| Shafts | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Speed | |||
| Range | at | at | at |
| Complement | 14 | 14 | 12–14 |
| Capacity – troops | 300 | 400 | 350 |
| Capacity – cargo |
LCU 2000
The Runnymede class large landing craft or LCU 2000 class vessels are operated by the United States Army.They transport rolling and tracked vehicles, containers, and outsized and general cargo from ships offshore to shore, as well as to areas that cannot be reached by oceangoing vessels. It can be self-deployed or transported aboard a float-on/float-off vessel. It is classed for full ocean service and one-man engine room operations and is built to U.S. Coast Guard standards. The vessel can sustain a crew of 2 warrant officers and 11 enlisted personnel for up to 18 days, and 10,000 miles. This class is also equipped with an aft anchor to assist in retracting from the beach.