(LC-AC) - Landing Craft Air Cushion class hovercraft.

LCAC is a US Navy hull classification symbol for the Landing Craft Air Cushion class hovercraft. The Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC), is a heavy lift, high speed landing craft which floats on a layer of air. Where conventional landing craft have a maximum speed of 8 knots and had to move to within two miles before loading and landing troops ashore, the LCAC can load and assault from 50 miles out and deliver its payload at 35 knots or more. In addition, where conventional landing craft are limited to less than 17% of the world's beach area, the LCAC can ignore the effects of tides, ocean depth, sand bars and underwater obstacles, ice, marshes, wetlands, and can clear above ground obstacles up to 4 feet high, giving it access to over 80% of the world's beaches. Lastly, where conventional landing craft are of limited value in transporting troops and equipment in other than assault conditions, the LCAC is capable of delivering payloads far inland, using existing road networks or accessible terrain, to prevent the dangerous buildup of equipment and supplies on the beach, or rapidly shuttling troops and equipment up and down the beach to meet critical tactical needs. The LCAC achieves its performance by floating four feet above the ground or ocean. Where conventional landing craft and surface effect ships have at least some portion of their hull in the water, the LCAC hovers above it. The air cushion is formed by a flexible, rubberized canvas skirt which surrounds the bottom of the LCAC and filled by four centrifugal fans driven by two of the craft's Avco-Lycoming gas turbine engines, each of which generates 12,280 brake horsepower. Each LCAC is capable of transporting up to 60 tons of payload (75 tons in approved overload situations) or up to 180 combat soldiers, and has front and rear loading ramps fro rapid transfer of cargo. The LCAC is compatible with all existing Amphibious Warfare transports and carriers, and can be driven directly into the loading area (forgoing the need for a lengthy recovery operation) for rapid reloading and combat turn around.