Tag Archives: LCU

CMC Berger Wants to Retool Kit for Leaner, Lethal Marine Corps

CMC Berger Wants to Retool Kit for Leaner, Lethal Marine Corps

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Gen. David H. Berger addresses an audience of senior enlisted Marines and Sailors about Force Design at the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Symposium in Quantico, Va. on Oct. 17, 2019. US Marine Corps Photo

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David Berger previewed a shift in focus for the Marine Corps soon after taking over the job this summer, with his Commandant’s Planning Guidance. Now, he’s previewing what that shift will mean for the gear the Marines use and how they spend their money, writing in an essay in War on the Rocks that the service is over-invested in gear to support traditional land wars and under-invested in naval expeditionary capabilities. Read More →

New Commandant Berger Sheds 38-Amphib Requirement in Quest to Modernize USMC for High-End Fight

New Commandant Berger Sheds 38-Amphib Requirement in Quest to Modernize USMC for High-End Fight

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U.S. Marine Corps AAV-P7/A1 assault amphibious vehicles assigned to Combat Assault Company, 3rd Marine Regiment, unload service members during an amphibious landing demonstration as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise at Pyramid Rock Beach on Marine Corps Base Hawaii July 29, 2018. US Marine Corps photo.

New Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David Berger outlined his largely naval priorities for the Marine Corps, and he’s willing to shed some key tenets of the Marines’ amphibious force planning in recent years – including the demand for 38 amphibious warships to support a 2 Marine Expeditionary Brigade-sized forcible entry force. Read More →

Training, Spares Already Hurt by Continuing Resolution; Longer CR Would Block Slew of Ship Buys in January

Training, Spares Already Hurt by Continuing Resolution; Longer CR Would Block Slew of Ship Buys in January

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The guided missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108) leads the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD-47) and San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD-23) in formation during a simulated strait transit as part of Dawn Blitz 2017. US Navy Photo

Lawmakers bought themselves two more weeks to pass a defense spending bill, after extending the continuing resolution that has funded the government since the start of the fiscal year, but the Navy is already seeing decreased readiness as a result of operating under a CR and would face severe procurement challenges if a defense budget isn’t passed by the end of the month. Read More →

Top Navy Procurement Programs Facing Slow Start In FY 2018 Due to Continuing Resolution

Top Navy Procurement Programs Facing Slow Start In FY 2018 Due to Continuing Resolution

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A crane moves the lower stern into place on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) at Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va. on June 22, 2017. HII Photo

The Navy is unable to start or ramp up a range of major programs under a continuing resolution, and Pentagon officials are urging the quick passage of a full FY 2018 budget. Read More →

Navy to Begin LCU Affordability Talks With Industry After Procurement Accelerated

Navy to Begin LCU Affordability Talks With Industry After Procurement Accelerated

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A Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1664 approaches the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) during a September 2015 exercise. US Navy photo.

A Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1664 approaches the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) during a September 2015 exercise. US Navy photo.

The Navy and industry will soon begin work on the Landing Craft Unit replacement program two years ahead of the original schedule, forcing some concurrent design and model testing but delivering a much-needed replacement sooner. Read More →

LCU Replacement in Preliminary Design, Anticipating 2022 Fleet Debut

LCU Replacement in Preliminary Design, Anticipating 2022 Fleet Debut

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Marines aboard Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1655 approach the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5) on Aug. 22, 2014. US Navy Photo

Marines aboard Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1655 approach the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5) on Aug. 22, 2014. US Navy Photo

The Navy is doing preliminary design work on its Landing Craft Utility (LCU) replacement now to begin construction within about three years, in time to support one-for-one replacement on the surface connectors in 2022. Read More →