"Review: Vietnam War-era LARC-V" Topic

"LARC-V (Lighter, Amphibious Resupply, Cargo, 5 ton), is an aluminium-hulled amphibious cargo vehicle capable of transporting 5 tons. It was developed in the United States during the 1950's and is still being used in a variety of auxiliary roles up until the present day.

The LARC-V was fielded in 1963 and were used extensively by the U.S. Army for over the beach supply during the Vietnam War. They supported the logistical and manpower build-up at the start of and during the Vietnam war. Two units arrived from Ft. Story, VA. in June 1965. The 344th Transportation Company (Light Amphibious) setup harbour operations in Qui Nhon and the 347th Transportation Company in Camh Ranh Bay. The companies had two platoons of 17 LARCVs each and a separate 3rd echelon maintenance detachment. About December 1965, one of the 344th's platoons moved to Da Nang and was attached to the Air Force wing…"

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Amicalement
Armand

Cool. Good subject for a scratch-build.

Nice find ! Now an STL file for this would be nice to do a version for land and sea travel

So like a DUKW

Or a Stalwart.

What has replaced these kind of vehicles? They'd be highly useful for military and humanitarian tasks.

I had forgotten the Stalwart. A better comparison.

I imagine wheeled amphibious vehicles are great for supporting beach landings, but hopeless at any other water crossing exercise. Certainly in Western Europe all rivers, and even streams, are managed and steeply banked nowadays. Anything other than a shelved exit ramp would be impassible (but then I guess that is why you have engineers, as in crossing the Suez Canal in 73)

I only ever saw a LARC at some Army museum or in front a unit HQ at Ft. Belvoir, VA. IIRC …

DUKWs are still being use as water taxis in some US towns and cities. But generally I've never seen them in their original OD. Usually white or yellow, IIRC …

I'm thinking more in times of flooding.

Getting in and out of rivers would be an issue for sure.

Happy you like it boys! (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

At one stage we all assumed hovercraft would replace such vehicles, but the same problem with anything but a ramped exit (and much more noise).

What has replaced these kind of vehicles?

Note these are not combat vehicles they like the DUKW were primarily be used in rear areas for transport of all types on cargo. From supplies to troops, as we see in one of the photos. These are not frontline vehicles, they are basically trucks that swim.

For flooding in the US, "High Water Vehicles" like the standard 5 ton cargo truck are used. As they are very "tall" and can navigate about 3-5ft. of water. Based on the situation, etc. Or the US ARMY 10 ton HEMTT. Which is very tall as well. link I've also seen USMC Amphtracks doing flood rescue. I'd think that would be the most effective in most cases.

all assumed hovercraft would replace such

Yes the ACV/GEV did live up to what was believed it could be. The US did use the PACV in Vietnam mostly in the Mekong Delta. There we few made, 4-6 ? link

But the most useful ACV is the USN's LCAC link … still in use AFAIK.

And didn't the UK have a civilian ACV from crossing the Channel at one time ?

Thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand

The SRN4 was a wonderful way to cross the Channel (so long as the weather held). Cars and passengers off the rail link and, if you dashed on you could sit right up front. After the first few pitches over waves you did need strong sealegs but the Tunnel finished in in 2005 (I thought it was much earlier than that, that ops ceased)

Airfix did a 1/144 scale model once upon a time

It thought they ended SRN4 ops. Was not sure.

Yes I remember the Airfix model. But I never got one.

The Channel Tunnel finished it of course. The surprise is how many old fashioned ship type ferries kept going…indeed, are still going. But if so, they are very different from the late 70s, in terms of passenger service.

The vehicle above is only as good as the approach angle from the water (i.e. a beach), if it is ever to get back onto a roadway. You can have 8 wheel drive and get nowhere against a vertical ramp, which is just three feet high.

Great posting though. I hope we hear more from the real experts, not just the theorists like me .

The vehicle above is only as good as the approach angle from the water (i.e. a beach),

That is true with many beach landing vehicles. E.g. I've see an LCM in rough tides get turned sideways and get "beached" in that position. An Amphtrack had to tow it out. But even that got little dicey at times.

Australia still uses these.
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Not counting this business, of course:
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Most riverbanks have little resemblance to a Western European one, you just have to pick the right place to cross, which is true of any vehicle:

If I had to do this, I would be thinking "this is not the right place to cross the river":
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Why?
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Tell me you wouldn't rather do that in a LARC.

Amphtrack

Amtrack, please.

chironex Cool ! Thanks for the intel and pic ! Looks like fun !

Amtrack, please.

Sorry Scott, I graduated from Basic Amph Training at Little Creek, back in '82 or '83 … When I was with the 101 doing some cross-training with the Corps ! But I'm still just an old US Army Dog Soldier !

No worries; this old former Marine has nothing but respect for those of you who jumped out of perfectly good planes.

(I was an Amtrac crewman myself.)

and you cast yourself upon the Briney in a sealed metal box weighing many tons, with nothing between you and the ocean bottom but Archimedes' Principle.

OK, better than a DD tank, but harder to get out of, if punctured by a jolly cross opponent. This all takes guts.

When did the 101 stop jumping and become Airmobile instead? (Still wonder why no-one sees a use for gliders in a silent assault by small teams)

No worries; this old former Marine has nothing but respect for those of you who jumped out of perfectly good planes.

(I was an Amtrac crewman myself.)

Thanks Scott ! And I do respect the USMC. They are good troops! Those Amtracs were a lot bigger inside then our M113s. After I rotated out of the 101 and was assigned to a Mech Bn.

When did the 101 stop jumping and become Airmobile instead? (Still wonder why no-one sees a use for gliders in a silent assault by small teams)

I forget when, but it was shortly after Vietnam. They became an Air Assault Div. with about 450 helicopters. I got to the 101 in '80. But many of us were both parachute and air assault qualified. And earned/wore both sets of wings. So if need be many of us could be deployed either way.

But it was highly unlikely we'd ever be deployed in anything other than a helicopter. Or a truck or on the back deck of MBT or APC. Just like many in any Mech unit, we were qualified with either set of wings or both. It is just another skill identifier … So you could be assigned to an Airborne or Air Assault or Infantry unit when you rotated out of Mech.

As far as gliders … IIRC the last glider training op was like '48 or '49. They are a bit fragile and more weather dependent then most other aircraft. And you need a pretty long clear landing zone. Remember Rommel's asparagus ?

The parachute proved itself in WWII. And the new helicopter tech was becoming more available … You can land & take off with a helicopter vertically in most cases. A glider can't do that … Of course the glider is much more quiet …