Vigor Industries launched the US Army’s first Maneuver Support Vessel Light (MSV-L) at its Vancouver, Washington, yard on October 10.
After two years of construction, Vigor will now start builder’s trials before transferring the vessel to the Army for operational testing in 2023.
The vessel that was launched this week is the first of more than 30 MSV-Ls Vigor is building for the US Army under a $1 billion contract from 2017.
The contract included one prototype vessel, four vessels under low rate production, and up to thirty two additional vessels over ten years. The company laid the keel for the first unit in September 2019.
The new design, developed in partnership with BMT, improves the capabilities of the current LCM-8 (Mike Boats) which has been in service since the 1960s.
Based on BMT’s Caimen-90 design, the MSV-L has a tribow monohull that provides maneuverability and stability in high sea states, through the littorals and within inland waterways.
With a length of 35.6 meters and a maximum capacity of 82 tons, the craft can land one main battle tank or two armored vehicles ashore. It has a top speed of 21 knots while laden and a range of around 360 nautical miles.
