LCM-8

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General characteristics (MOD 1)

Introduction of class:	1959
Displacement:	57.8 long tons (58.7 t) light, 111.4 long tons (113.2 t) loaded
Capacity:	53.5 long tons (54.4 t)
Length:	74 ft (22.6 m)
Beam:	21 ft 5/8 in (6.4 m)
Draft:	4 ft 6 in (1 m) light, 5 ft 3 in (1.6 m)
Speed:	11 knots (20 km/h) light, 9 knots (7 km/h) loaded
Propulsion:	(original) 4, 2-twin-pak GMC6-71 or Gray Marine 6-71 diesel paired to 2 hydrostatic transmissions Detroit 12V-71 diesel engines, twin screws
Complement:	4 - 6 enlisted
Armament:	2 x 12.7mm machine guns

The LCM-8 ("Mike Boat") is a river boat and mechanized landing craft used by the United States Navy and Army during the Vietnam War. They also saw use during Operation Just Cause in Panama as well as Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Three Army LCM-8s served in the 1992-1993 US mission to Somalia (fictionalized in Christian Bauman's 2002 novel The Ice Beneath You, which is set in part on a US Army LCM-8 near Kismaayo, Somalia), and a platoon of LCM-8s from the 1098th Trans Co. deployed to Port-au-Prince for the Haitian invasion (1994). The United States Army Reserve's 464th Transportation Company assisted the United States Coast Guard in patrolling the Potomac River after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. In addition, they are currently used by governments and private organizations throughout the world.

The vessel weighs 135,000 pounds (61,200 kg) and has a crew of four: a boatswainmate petty officer, an enginerman petty officer, a nonrate fireman, and a seaman. US Army specifications call for a crew of six: two coxswains, two seaman and two enginemen. The LCM-8s are welded steel and powered by two 12 V-71 diesel engines, twin screws, and rudders. The ship can carry 60 short tons of cargo.

A modified version, the Zippo boat, carries flamethrowers.^[1]

Another modified version, the LCM-8 Mod 2 was used to fulfill command, personnel, salvage, and firefighting functions.

There is also another version with an aluminium hull. This version is mostly carried by Pre-Positioned Ships.

[edit] Australian service

A heavily modified version is in service with the Australian Army, crewed (4) and administered by the Royal Australian Corps of Transport and one engineer from the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME). The modifications of the vessels includes an extended enclosed wheelhouse that included full galley facilities, chart table and storage space to aid in extended operations beyond the original design parameters. A water purification system allows the vessels to be somewhat independent for longer periods of time. A fully functioning toilet (head) and shower are also installed as part of the wheelhouse extensions, external provision for bedding is also include for the full crew complement.

The extension of the wheelhouse increased rigidity of the craft leading to excessive vibration and cavitation with the original 3 blade propeller. Further development included a more balanced and expensive five blade propeller negating the vibration and cavitation of the original. The prop change found a few negative effects in the beaching performance of the vessel but over time tactics have been changed to suit the new system.

The vessels are also installed with a full suite of electronics allowing the craft to navigate in all weather, day or night in military operations anywhere in the world with little to no special training requirements for an indefinite period.

During the mid-1990s, the Army LCM-8 received a life of type extension with a re-engine program to help extend the life of the existing fleet. The original twin-pac 6-71 2-stroke Detroit Diesel engines and Allison mechanical transmissions were replaced with 8v-92 Silver Series Detroit Diesel engines and Allison Hydraulic Transmissions thus extending the life of the craft for another 20 years.

Two craft were utilised during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, patrolling the shallow waters of the Khawr Abd Allah estuary using HMAS Kanimbla as its base of opertaions. They were extensively used in East Timor for logistic operations in direct support to multinational peacekeepers. Other deployments include peacekeeping and peace monitoring operations in Bougainville and the Solomon Islands. They are to be replaced in Australian service by waterjet propelled vessels still currently in development.