Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!att!cbnews!military
From: zimmer@cod.nosc.mil (Thomas L. Zimmerman)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Superheavy tanks
Message-ID: <9935@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 5 Oct 89 02:14:06 GMT
References: <9871@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego
Lines: 26
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: zimmer@cod.nosc.mil (Thomas L. Zimmerman)

>From article <9871@cbnews.ATT.COM>, by amdcad!well!nagle@lll-crg.llnl.gov (John Nagle):
> 
> 
> From: amdcad!well!nagle@lll-crg.llnl.gov (John Nagle)
> 
>        Military hovercraft have been proposed at various times, usually
> as naval vessels.  But have any ever been built?  Hovercraft were discussed
> as part of the Fast Deployment Logistics Force (a Carter-era idea) but
> not much came of it, apparently.
> 
Actually something did come of this, they are called LCACs (Landing Craft,
Air Cushioned).  They are medium sized hovercraft, capble of carrying a
full main battle tank or several smaller vehicles and of speeds up to
40 knots (this is from memory, so don't quote me).  They are carried in
Navy amphibious assault ships.  The LCACs, combined with helicopters,
supposedly allow the amphibious assault force to remain safely "over-
the-horizon" while conducting an amphibious assault.  There are supposed
to be two operational squadrons(?).  I know of one for sure at Camp
Pendalton, in California - where I have seen LCACs operating.

Lee Zimmerman
Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego