Marines Test the Ultra Heavy-Lift Amphibious Connector – UHAC
That ugly duckling coming out the water here is just a ½ scale model of a developmental landing craft with the potential to revolutionize disaster relief as well as military ship-to-shore operations. If successful, this new vehicle could allow civilian ships to deliver up to 190 tons of emergency supplies to a disaster zone without requiring a deep-water harbor or cranes, thus freeing up military resources for more critical missions. In a wartime situation though, this system shines the brightest and would radically change how the Marines do business.
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Technically, the UHAC is a tracked amphibious transporter, much like the Marine’s current AAV 7, but with a twist. The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory has added a second set of air-filled tracks over the steel ones, earning this experimental vehicle the nickname “combat paddleboat.” The 42’ long and 26’ wide demonstrator in the video paddled from the USS Rushmore (the large vessel in the distance) at 5 knots through the waves. The air-impregnated foam blocks keep the track buoyant, literally letting the vehicle drive across the water.
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On shore, the incredible weight distribution lowered the ground pressure of this 38-ton craft to just 1 PSI, far less than the 9.7 PSI applied by the Marine’s current amphibious assault vehicle. With so little pressure, the UHAC would have no trouble cruising across sand dunes or seawalls up to 10 feet (3 meters) in height. Not to mention easily overcoming swamps, battlefield debris, anti-tank obstacles and even some types of pressure-activated land mines.
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The full-sized production UHAC is planned to be 84â long and reach water speeds as high as 20 knots. The UHAC is intended to replace the iconic Landing Craft Air Cushion hove
The full-sized production UHAC is planned to be 84’ long and reach water speeds as high as 20 knots. The UHAC is intended to replace the iconic Landing Craft Air Cushion hovercraft.
Compared to the LCAC, the UHAC would have a heavier payload of 150 tons (combat load) to 190 tons (emergencies), far exceeding the LCAC’s maximum 65-ton capacity. The new lander should also have an unrefueled range of 370 kilometers versus the hovercraft’s short legs of just 159 kilometers.
UHAC Costs and Capabilities
The Marine Corps even estimates the UHAC could cost half as much to build and maintain as current landing craft. While the LCAC is still much faster, with 30 knots max speed across water, and would have a larger cargo deck (2,500 sq. ft. versus 1,800 sq. ft.), the UHAC still has an incredible advantage in overall cargo weight. In ship-to-shore operations, that capability is the most important consideration. The UHAC would be the only way for the military to land heavy, oversized equipment without seizing a port first, or risking a large and vulnerable roll-on/roll-off landing ship to dock right on the beach. In fact, this new lander could theoretically carry three M1 Abrams main battle tanks in just one trip.
There are many details still to be worked out, as well as funding issues, so the Marines haven’t even reached the point of outfitting their prototypes with armor or weapons. Still, when (and if) the military finalizes the design and enters full-scale production, the UHAC will be one of the most powerful and revolutionary tools in the Corps’ entire arsenal.
The CAAT
Developing in tandem with the UHAC is a similar project by DARPA. Their even larger version, dubbed the CAAT, would primarily be used for humanitarian relief, rescue operations and various logistical support work in littoral waters. In a striking example from one of DARPA’s rare press releases, a typical civilian freighter carrying 100,000 tons of supplies could anchor at a safe distance from a disaster area and quickly unload their full cargo, even standard 40-foot shipping containers, to those in need without having to unpack them for transport by small craft or require any shore support facilities.
Though naturally, if the equipment works as planned, there could be many additional military applications. Combat engineers alone should find these heavy-lift swamp buggies invaluable. Perhaps it’s only a matter a time before the Navy SEAL’s get their very own “combat paddleboat.”
