Shipbuilding History

LCAC

In 1983, following an extended period of prototype testing, the Navy contracted with Bell-Halter for the first three of a revolutionary new class of surface-effect craft designated the Landing Craft, Air-Cushion, or LCAC. The initial plan was to build 108 of them, so it was decided to utilize two contractors and in 1987, two 15-boat contracts were awarded, one to Bell-Halter, in East New Orleans LA, the other to Lockheed Marine, which had built a special-purpose facility in Gulfport MS. In 1986, Bell Halter became Textron Marine and in 1988, Lockheed's Gulfport facility became Avondale Gulfport Marine. In the subsequent competition for a sole-source contractor, Textron was selected to build all the remaining boats, which ultimately numbered 91 in total. of this fleet, 72 are in active service, 7 have been disassembled for potential transfer overseas, 10 are being held in Reduced Operation Status (ROS) and 2 are being used for R&D. In 2000, a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) was started, designed to add 10 years to the 20-year design life of the 72 active-duty boats and this is still going on. A replacement program, originally called the Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC) program, has now started, with the first of 73 boats delivered in early 2020.