LCU-1665 Landing Craft Utility

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The LCU-1665 was built as Landing Craft Utility by Defoc Shipbuilding Co., Bay City, Mi for the USA Navy.
Launched as the LCU-1665.
Displacement 200 ton light, 375 ton full load, dim. 41.12 x 8.8 x 2.08m. (maximum draught).
Powered by two Detroit 12V-71 diesel engines, 680 shp., twin shafts, speed 12 knots sustained, Kort nozzles.
Bunker capacity 12,189 litre.
Range by a speed of 8 knots, 1,200 mile.
Armament 4 - .05 calibre MG., 2 M60 MG., 1 M203 grenade launcher, 12 M16 rifles and 2 9mm pistols.
Crew 14.
Loading capacity; 170 tons, military lift 3 M1A1 tanks, 10 LAVs or 400 troops and 125 ton cargo.
1971 Delivered.

The LCU 1610, 1627 and 1646 class vessels are operated by the United States Navy. They are a self-sustaining craft complete with living accommodations and messing facilities for a crew of thirteen. They have been adapted for many uses including salvage operations, ferry boats for vehicles and passengers, and underwater test platforms. Each LCU is assigned a non-commissioned-officer-in-charge (NCOIC) (Craft Master) who is either a Chief Petty Officer or Petty Officer First Class in the Boatswain’s Mate, Quartermaster or Operations Specialist rating. These vessels have bow ramps for onload/offload, and can be linked bow to stern gate to create a temporary pier-like structure. Its welded steel hull provides high durability with deck loads of 800 pounds per square foot. Arrangement of machinery and equipment has taken into account built-in redundancy in the event of battle damage. The craft features two engine rooms separated by a watertight bulkhead to permit limited operation in the event that one engine room is disabled. An anchor system is installed on the starboard side aft to assist in retracting from the beach. These vessels are normally transported to their areas of operation onboard larger amphibious vessels such as LHDs and LHAs. The 40-year-old craft will be replaced under the Surface Connector (X) Recapitalization, or SC(X)R, project starting in FY2017
2014 Still in service.

Tonga 2014 $2.35 sg?, scott? (On the photo the LCU-1665 is shown inside her dock on board the USS CLEVELAND.)
Source: Wikipedia http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/18/181665.htm