Swiftships receives contract for five more Land Craft Utility 1700 Class for US Navy.

According to information published by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) on May 7, 2021, Swiftships LLC,* Morgan City, Louisiana, is awarded a $59,283,807 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract to exercise an option for the construction of five Landing Craft, Utility 1700 class (1707-1711).
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Drawing of future LCU 1700 Class Landing Craft Utility for U.S. Navy. (Picture source Swiftiships)

The LCU, the displacement craft component of the U.S. Navy’s landing craft fleet, complements the LCAC by transporting the heaviest loads of equipment and supplies ashore while providing the ability to operate independently in support of intra-theater transport, security cooperation, non-combatant evacuation, foreign humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief operations.

The LCU 1700 class is a replacement for the USN LCU 1650 with upgraded and modernized systems and capabilities. The craft has a Roll On/Roll Off configuration with hydraulically controlled bow and stern ramps that allow multiple vessels to mate up to establish a causeway/bridge to access extremely shallow unimproved landing areas.

The LCU 1700 craft will enter, exit and be transported in well decks of current and programmed U.S. Navy amphibious warfare ships, for design purposes defined by the dimensions of LHD, LPD, LSD and LHA classes without ship alterations, while transporting loads up to 11 feet high above the craft’s vehicle deck.

The LCU Class 1700 has a length of 42.3 m, a beam of 9.4 m, and a draft of 1.6 m. The ship is powered by Two CAT C18 Diesel engines providing 600bhp each @1800rpm. She can reach a maximum speed of 11 knots (20 km/h) with a maximum cruising range of 1,200 nautical miles (1,931 km).

The Landing Craft Utility Class 1700 has a payload of 170 tons of cargo and can carry two 2 M1 Abrams main battle tanks or 350 combat troops. She has a crew of 14 people including two officers and 12 enlisted.