The completion marked the fourth LCAC availability conducted by Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC) since January 2021, with all availabilities delivering either on-time or early.
“Our teammates supporting the operational needs of the Assault Craft Units at Camp Pendleton continue to shine,” said Capt. John Bauer, SWRMC’s commanding officer. “Their work completing these availabilities on-time or early demonstrates their outstanding talent and dedication to supporting the warfighter and exemplifies SWRMC’s commitment to the fleet.”
The LCAC is a high-speed, over-the-beach, fully amphibious, highly capable landing craft used for transporting personnel, weapons, equipment and cargo. This class of air cushion vehicles provide the assault elements of the Navy’s Assault Craft Units, both from ship-to-shore and across the beach. This air cushion technology allows the Navy to reach more than 70 percent of the world’s coastline compared to the 15 percent capability from other landing crafts.
The recent availability on LCAC 75 was 17 weeks long and involved structural, mechanical and electrical repair and upgrade work - all key to sustaining LCAC 75. Additionally, craft alterations, upgrades and refurbishments that were executed, actively contributed to improving and upgrading this versatile platform.
“The Post SLEP Extension availabilities add five years of service life to these valuable landing craft. Our partnership with the SWRMC team has proven successful time and time again with the early completion of these and other availabilities as we continue to enhance operational readiness to the fleet,” said Capt. Cedric McNeal, PMS 377 Program Manager.
The LCAC Program is overseen by the Program Executive Office Ships and executed in close collaboration with the crew, maintenance team, members from SWRMC, the Intermediate Maintenance Activity, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City, Landing Craft Planning Yard and Walashek Industrial & Marine.
Since 1984, 91 LCACs have been delivered to the Navy, many of which have since undergone SLEP and PSE Availabilities to add service life and enhance operational readiness.
SWRMC is meeting its mission to provide superior ship maintenance, modernization, technical support, and training for the Pacific Fleet. This availability was another example of strong teaming enabling delivery of a much-needed asset back to the Fleet to perform and complete required training and operational tasking.
For more information on SWRMC, please visit https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/RMC/SWRMC.