Maneuver Support Vessel (Light) or MSV(L) is the US Army’s replacement for the Vietnam-era Landing Craft Mechanized 8 (LCM-8 or “Mike Boat”) that had been in service since 1959.
Characteristics edit
The MSL(V) will be able to carry either one M1A2 Abrams tank, two Stryker armored vehicles with slat armor, or four Joint Light Tactical Vehicles with trailers.[1]
Contract edit
In September 2017, the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan entered into a contract with Vigor Shipyards for its Vancouver, Washington shipyard to produce the MSV(L). It is a firm fix-price contract for US$979,794,011 with an estimated completion date in 2027.[2]
It was initially planned that a prototype would be available in FY2019, then four in FY21 and FY22. Assuming full production is authorized, 32 will be built between FY23–27, for a total purchase of 36 MSV(L).[1] The first prototype of the Maneuver Support Vessel (Light) was launched in October 2022 at a marine fabrication facility in Vancouver.[3]
Ships in class edit
| Name | Hull no. | Laid down | Launched | Commisioned | Home Port | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSG Elroy F. Wells | 17 September 2019 | October 2022 | Fitting Out |
References edit
- ^ a b c Vigor wins $980 million Army contract, MarineLog.com, 2017-09-28
- ^ a b Army awards billion-dollar contract for 100-foot landing ships, David B. Larter, DefenseNews.com, 2017-09-29
- ^ Staff, Naval News (2022-10-15). "Vigor launches MSV(L) prototype for the U.S. Army". Naval News. Retrieved 2023-06-26.