Heavy Armor Amphibious Attack: New Navy Abrams-Tank Transporting Landing Craft Arrives

by Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

The US Navy has now received its first Abrams-tank-transporting Ship-to-Shore Connector Landing Craft designed to bring Marines, weapons, supplies and ammunition from ship-to-shore in support of amphibious operations, a Naval Sea Systems Command essay says.

In development now for many years, the now operational Ship-to-Shore Connectors (SSCs) change the paradigm for landing craft and will ultimately replace the Navy’s long-serving 72 Landing Craft Air Cushions.

The Textron built SSCs advance the technical curve in a number of key respects as they are faster, more high-tech and, perhaps most of all, able to transport 70-ton Abrams tanks.

In addition to more payload capability, which greatly improves the ability of a joint force to project heavy armor in support of amphibious assault, the new SSC operates with digital flight controls and computer automation replacing the traditional yoke and pedals on existing LCACs. As a result, on-board computers will quickly calculate relevant details such as wind speed and navigational information

The new SSC’s have also moved to a lower frequency for ship electronics, moving from 400 Hertz down to 60 Hertz in order to better synchronize ship systems with Navy common standards, Textron developers explained. Along with these properties, the new craft reduces the number of gear boxes from eight to two.

While much more capable than the traditional LCACs, the SSCs are built to similar configuration standards and dimensions to ensure it is compatible with the well-decks of current amphibious ships such as the Expeditionary Sea Base and the Expeditionary Transfer Dock.