Austal USA earlier this month celebrated the beginning of building on the primary of three LCU 1710 Landing Craft Utility vessels for the U.S. Navy on the firm’s Mobile, Ala. shipyard.
Austal USA, a subsidiary if the Australian shipbuilding group Austal, was awarded a US$91.5 million (A$143.4 million) contract in September 2023 that features three LCU 1710 vessels and related help efforts.
Austal CEO Paddy Gregg mentioned the beginning of building on Austal USA’s newest metal vessel program highlighted the shipyard’s rising capability and functionality to effectively manufacture a number of metal vessel initiatives. The shipyard expanded upon its well-established aluminum shipbuilding capabilities with a brand new facility devoted to metal shipbuilding opened in 2022.
“The Austal USA team is already constructing the U.S. Navy’s Towing, Salvage and Rescue (T-ATS) ships and the Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock Medium (AFDM), with more steel projects to commence soon, including the Navy’s Ocean Surveillance (T-AGOS) ships and the Coast Guards’ Offshore Patrol Cutters,” Gregg mentioned.
U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) Lieutenant General Karsten S. Heckl, Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration (DC, CD&I), mentioned, “The LCU provides strategic value and versatility to the Navy-Marine Corps team. These landing craft will significantly enhance our sea-based Marine Air-Ground Task Forces and Marine Expeditionary Units, providing them with unparalleled flexibility, and the capability to maneuver Marines, sailors and equipment in environments unreachable by other means.”
Austal USA Vice President of New Construction Programs Dave Growden mentioned, “Austal USA is eager to begin construction on the first of these important connectors for the U.S. Navy. Having General Heckl join the Austal USA team today in honor of this milestone sends a strong message on the critical role this platform plays in supporting expeditionary operations for the Navy and Marine Corps. We are excited to roll these vessels down the assembly line and into the fleet.”
LCU 1710 are carried aboard the U.S. Navy’s amphibious assault ships to the target space and used throughout a spread of navy operations to ship autos, personnel and cargo from sea-to-shore and again. The vessels present a vital heavy-lift functionality and might carry roughly the identical payload capability as seven C-17 plane.
