Ship-to-Shore Connector
| Ship-to-Shore Connector | |
|---|---|
 Ship-to-Shore Connector concept image |
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| Type | Landing Craft |
| Place of origin |  United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | In development |
| Specifications | |
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| Payload capacity | 74 tons[2] |
| Speed | Over 35 knots[1] |
The Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC) is a system proposed by the US Navy as a replacement for the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC).[3] It will offer increased capacity, to cope with the growing weight of equipment used by the army and marines.[1]
Contents |
History [edit]
Several proposals have been made to replace the LCAC. In 2003, the Navy Transformation Roadmap set out plans to start R&D on a "Heavy Lift LCAC" project in 2005, but this was superseded by the LCAC(X) "LCAC Replacement Tactical Assault Connector".[4] In August 2010, the US Navy issued a Request For Proposals for a contract to design and build 72 SSCs.[5] The contract would be worth up to US$4 billion.[6] A contract for detailed design work, and construction of the first test and training craft, was expected to be awarded in 2011.[3]
Proposals [edit]
- A team comprising Marinette Marine, Boeing, and Griffon Hoverwork[7]
- A team comprising Textron Marine & Land Systems, Alcoa Defense, and L-3 Communications[6]
- VT Halter[8]
On July 6, 2012, the US Navy awarded Textron, Inc of New Orleans, LA a $212,722,820 fixed-priced incentive-fee contract for the detail design and construction of a Ship-to-Shore Connector test and training craft. The contract also includes the option for the production of eight additional craft; this option would increase total value of the contract to $570,451,044.[9]
Design [edit]
Although the design will be broadly similar to the LCAC, there will be several significant differences:
- Two-person fly-by-wire cockpit[5]
- More powerful, more efficient engines
- Extensive use of composites and aluminum[1]
The four MT7 gas turbines that will be used to power each Ship-to-Shore Connector are a derived design of the Rolls-Royce T406 used in the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey.[10] The cores of the two engines types are identical, which should provide some relief in spare parts storage to those ships that will operate both the aircraft and the hovercraft.[11]
The SSC has a designed lifetime of 30 years.[12]
See also [edit]
- Air-cushioned landing craft
- Zubr class LCAC
- Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC}
- Engin de débarquement amphibie rapide
References [edit]
- ^ a b c "SSC Requirements". 2010-05-04. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ^ "Navy To Seek Bids in June for LCAC Replacement". 2010-05-07. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ^ a b "Textron Marine & Land Systems, L-3 Communications add Alcoa Defense to SSC Team - MarketWatch". Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ^ "Heavy Lift Landing Craft Air Cushioned (HLCAC)". Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ^ a b "Seabasing Counters Area Denial". Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ^ a b "Alcoa Joins Forces with Textron - Zacks.com". 2010-09-14. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ^ "Marinette Marine to build ship-to-shore connector". 2010-09-15. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
- ^ "Rugged Hovercraft Seeks Aggressive Engine: The GE38 Gas Turbine Engine".
- ^ U.S. Navy Announces Textron was rewarded in July 2012.
- ^ Benbow, Dana Hunsinger. "Rolls-Royce to produce engines for Navy's new hovercraft fleet." Indianapolis Star, 22 October 2012.
- ^ Thisdell, Dan. "Rolls-Royce Osprey engines to go directly to hovercraft application." Flight International, 23 October 2012.
- ^ "Defense Dept. Contracts for Dec. 19, 2012."
