Camp Pendleton Marines on Friday began initial testing of an experimental amphibious landing craft that’s meant to be far more versatile than the ones now in use.
The prototype represents a step toward creating a highly maneuverable vessel that can transport Marines, supplies and equipment to a variety of shorelines around the world.
Defense analysts say such a vessel would be invaluable if the U.S. were to go to war with China, enabling the Marines to land on islands strewn throughout the Indo-Pacific.
The stern landing vessel (SLV) being tested at Camp Pendleton by the Marines and the Army wasn’t built from scratch. It is a 254-foot leased commercial offshore support vessel that was modified for shore landings.
The SLV features a large retractable bridge that can link users to shore and piers and docks of certain sizes. It has a 14-foot draft, or maximum depth, which enables it to operate in shallow water. The Navy’s Independence-class littoral combat ships have the same draft.
The craft also is expected to serve as a reconnaissance platform. On Friday, the Marines were scheduled to test fly unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, from the vessel. Over roughly a week, the Marines also will try to get an idea of how many people the ship would carry.
The research will he used to help develop a permanent vessel that will be known as a landing ship medium. The LSM will likely be almost 400 feet long and able to carry a minimum of 75 Marines and about 600 tons of equipment, according to the U.S. Naval Institute. The ship’s draft would be less than 12 feet.
