[sandeherred]

Recently picked up a copy of Combat Fleets of the World 1988/89. It lists the U.S. Army as having 65 LARC XV, 30 LARC LX, and 25 LARC V. I have never seen nor heard of these before. Just what are they and how were they employed? Are these still being used?

[shep854]

sandeherred, on Thu 25 Jun 2009 0732, said:

Recently picked up a copy of Combat Fleets of the World 1988/89. It lists the U.S. Army as having 65 LARC XV, 30 LARC LX, and 25 LARC V. I have never seen nor heard of these before. Just what are they and how were they employed? Are these still being used?

http://www.globalsec...s/ship/larc.htm

A LARC was also used in the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. It was the vehicle Angelina Jolie was riding in some of the Arctic scenes.

[rmgill]

sandeherred, on Thu 25 Jun 2009 0832, said:

Recently picked up a copy of Combat Fleets of the World 1988/89. It lists the U.S. Army as having 65 LARC XV, 30 LARC LX, and 25 LARC V. I have never seen nor heard of these before. Just what are they and how were they employed? Are these still being used?

They come up for sale every so often.

Here's one in Conneticut.


Hey, we could start the Tank Net Gator Navy with this pair.

[JamesG123]

There are half a dozen of them slowly rotting away on Camp Shelby MS....

[Ol Paint]

Here's a LARC LX in Lockport, LA, for sale: http://www.yachtworl...A/United-States FlyingCanOpener, your hurricane survival vehicle awaits!
http://www.wareham-s...com/larc-lx.htm Other LARC-LX & LARC-Vs for sale (Great Britian, I believe).
Another LARC-LX in Miami: http://www.miamilaun...ml/larc_lx.html
Video of Lane Automotive Museum LARC-LX running over a stripped car: http://www.youtube.c...player_embedded Other LARC videos are linked in the sidebar.

There was an article in Professional Mariner magazine a few years ago about a construction company in Maine that was using two LARC-60s since they were handy for hauling equipment and supplies to the many islands in the area. As a matter of fact, I think it was this outfit: http://www.seatruk.com/

The LARC-V was basically a DUKW replacement and had a 5 ton payload. LARC-15s and LARC-60s had payloads of 15 and 60 tons, respectively (actual loads could be higher, apparently). They had better water characteristics than the DUKW, but sacrificed road performance. I'm not sure how their offroad performance compared.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/BARC-LARC-XV-2.jpeg From: http://en.wikipedia....-LARC-XV-2.jpeg

According to Global Security, the LARC-LX went out of service with the Army in 2001. I do know that I saw some LARC-Vs in operation at NAB Little Creek, VA in 2003.

See the Global Security article here: http://www.globalsec...s/ship/larc.htm

Douglas

[Ken Estes]

http://www.amphibiou...ecial/barc.html BARC [LARC60]

I saw one of these in 1967 at the Amphib Base, Little Creek. It was indeed huge. I was told an escaped prisoner once tried to get away in one, started up 'the' engine, gave it full throttle, merely dug in the one wheel it propelled!


http://www.amphibiousvehicle.net/amphi/B/barcspecial/barc4-t.jpeghttp://www.amphibiousvehicle.net/amphi/B/barcspecial/barc6-t.jpeg

This post has been edited by Ken Estes: 28 June 2009 - 1538 PM

[shep854]

It looks like the conceptual parent of the LCAC; a vehicle to move large loads from ship to across the beach.

[FlyingCanOpener]

Hmm... Lockport's only a little over an hour from here; Anyone have a spare quarter of a million bucks? :D

[Colin]

shep854, on Sun 28 Jun 2009 2040, said:

It looks like the conceptual parent of the LCAC; a vehicle to move large loads from ship to across the beach.

I think that is what killed them, the LCAC was faster, able to go over many obstacles.

[KingSargent]

Colin, on Tue 30 Jun 2009 0349, said:

I think that is what killed them, the LCAC was faster, able to go over many obstacles.

Speaking of going over obstacles, does anyone know if the ground pressure of an LCAC (or other hovercraft) will detonate land mines if it passes over them?

[DougRichards]

shep854, on Sun 28 Jun 2009 2040, said:

It looks like the conceptual parent of the LCAC; a vehicle to move large loads from ship to across the beach.

The LCAC was a Naval hovercraft designed to replace various LCM, not LARCs, which were an Army vehicle rather than a naval one. The LARCs were meant to be replaced by the Army with the Bell Model 7467 LACV-30 hovercraft.

See

http://www.globalsec...hip/lacv-30.htm

and quoting from that site:

"The Army purchased a total of 26 LACV-30s. The Army operated the LACV-30s up until the mid 1990s. Most of these were ultimately turned over to a Native Alaskan corporation that continues to lease them to meet requirements in Alaska. The 331st Floating Causeway Company was part of the 6th Transportation Battalion (Truck). It was inactivated at Fort Story as a LACV-30 company in 1995 because the Army no longer needed air cushion vehicles. "

[shep854]

Doug, thanks for the link. This is the first I've ever heard of the LACV. I had wondered why LARCs were taken from service.

[DougRichards]

shep854, on Tue 30 Jun 2009 1252, said:

Doug, thanks for the link. This is the first I've ever heard of the LACV. I had wondered why LARCs were taken from service.

Well, there were only 26 of them, and they only lasted 10 years in service, which is a fairly short time for post 1960 equipment. They would have been overshadowed, and perhaps even mistaken by casual observers for, LCAC, of which there were considerably larger numbers.

I also wonder whther, even though the LACV was not intended for assault, whether it was similar enough to the LCAC in general concept and capacity (actually being able to carry more than the 'advertised' 30 tons) so that it was in sufficient competition with the LCAC to be a threat to that program, whereas no LARC would ever be mistaken for a LCM.

One last point, and I don't know the answer, whereas a LARC, particularly a LARC 60, could come alongside an 'Army' supply ship to be loaded via crane, the LACV would appear to need either considerable floating dock support, and I wonder whether the USN would have been loath to let LACV operate from its amphibious assault ships.

And anyway, does the US Army still have an interest in amphibious assault and supply post the Cold War?

[Richard Lindquist]

Memories, memories

In April 1962, my platoon, the 4th DS Platoon of the 94th Ordnance Company (Direct Support) was supporting the 2nd Squadron of the 150th Armored Cavalry Regiment (WVNG on active duty for the Berlin Crisis) in Operation WETHORSE II at Fort Miles, Delware. In addition to a lot of LCU, there were several of these LARC LX there for the exercise. At the time, it was called the BARC and the LARC V was called the LARC. The 150th rotated each of its squadrons through the exercise and each squadron made an amphib landing on the beach the M100 trailer behind my M38 jeep banged down on the LCU ramp as my platoon rolled off and needed some work from the metal body shop after the exercise.

In 1988, the CINCLANT reserve augmentation element took a ride in a LARC LX at Fort Story, VA deuring one of our weekend drills.


The Army marine craft fleet was more for lighterage in over-the-shore operations as opposed to assault landings.

[BP]

Hmmm, various cities have DUKW tours. A LARC could fit the tourists and a cash bar. Recommission a BARC and you can have tourists, bar, party band and dance floor.

I took a class next door to Little Creek back in '02, and didn't realize those LARC's wern't Army.

[Paul G.]

BP, on Tue 30 Jun 2009 1105, said:

Hmmm, various cities have DUKW tours. A LARC could fit the tourists and a cash bar. Recommission a BARC and you can have tourists, bar, party band and dance floor.

I took a class next door to Little Creek back in '02, and didn't realize those LARC's wern't Army.

http://www.mobyduck.com/images/mduck5.jpg

http://www.mobyduck....lem/groups.html

[Richard Lindquist]

BP, on Tue 30 Jun 2009 1505, said:

Hmmm, various cities have DUKW tours. A LARC could fit the tourists and a cash bar. Recommission a BARC and you can have tourists, bar, party band and dance floor.

I took a class next door to Little Creek back in '02, and didn't realize those LARC's wern't Army.

Not much of a view from the well deck of a BARC/LARC LX. The sides are higher than the sides on a LCU.

[BP]

Richard Lindquist, on Tue 30 Jun 2009 1858, said:

Not much of a view from the well deck of a BARC/LARC LX. The sides are higher than the sides on a LCU.

Raise the dance floor and plenty of room for a disco ball.

[chino]

Here's my account of my LARC 5 ride.

19 years old, mid-1980 and serving 2 years' full-time conscription in SAF infantry brigade S2 Branch.

The mission was a night recce of coastline, river mouth etc. Can't reveal actual nature.

I remember the wheel was almost as tall as me (1.7m). And IIRC, the wheels spun during traverse at sea, but I could be wrong.


In the sea - which was calm that night, moon-less - the LARC 5 was a beautifully smooth ride. Probably because it is so heavy? It was going at a stately speed though I don't kow if it can go any faster.

But the beast of an engine was loud as hell. We could barely hear each other talk. Up front was better, but only slightly.

We nearly rammed a sampan (small wooded boat) as the guy was fishing without lights on. Luckily our spotlight caught him in time and the driver took immediate action. Since we're not police, we moved on after the driver scolded him.

After a couple of hours, we reached a beach where the driver tried to land. It turned out that the shape of the sand bar meant that the craft couldn't overcome. He tried several other spots and similar result. I was quite astonished as I thought having wheels meant you could go anywhere, but apparently NOT.

Finally the driver moved further down and we proceeded to land at another stretch of beach that happened to be one of Singapore's few recreational beaches.

A small crowd of people gathered at the beach watching this "boat" with a spotlight fumbling around. And then to their astonishment, the "boat" proceeded to shore. They scattered as most had never seen an amphibious craft before. (Nor I until that night.) Then we traversed along the length of the beach looking for a way out to the main road. Couples were jumping out of bushes etc.

On the roads, the LARC 5 was not a comfortable ride and rocked left to right even though out roads were in perfect condition.

I don't know what purpose the LARC 5 served in SAF other than they were given FOC by the US. They are too noisy for any kind of work that requires any degree of stealth.

[TomasCTT]

I recall seeing a few LARC Vs (I think, judging from the Globalsecurity pix) at the Naval/Marine portion of Ft Bonifacio back in, oh 1997 when we had an ROTC session there one day. I dunno if it's still being used, I reckon it still is.