The Light SEAL Support Craft (LSSC), was a fast riverine assault boat developed by the United States Navy for use by the United States Navy SEALs in the Vietnam War in 1968.
 Navy SEALs board an LSSC in 1968
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | LSSC (Light SEAL Support Craft) |
| Builders | Grafton Boatworks |
| Operators |  United States Navy |
| Completed | 16 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | riverine assault boat |
| Length | 24 ft (7.3 m) |
| Beam | 9.5 ft (2.9 m) |
| Draft | 1.5 ft (0.46 m) |
| Propulsion | 2 × 350hp Ford 427 inboard gasoline engines each driving a water pump-jet |
| Speed | 30+ knots |
| Complement | 6 |
| Crew | 3 |
| Armament |
|
| Armor | ceramic armor/woven nylon |
History
editIn July 1968 the LSSC began replacing the Patrol Boat, River as the primary vessel for SEAL team riverine operations.[1][2]
The LSSC was later developed into the Strike Assault Boat which entered service in 1970.[3]
References
edit- ^ Swartztrauber, S.A. (May 1970). "River Patrol Relearned" (PDF). U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings: 143.
- ^ Young, Darryl (2011). "The Element of Surprise: Navy SEALS in Vietnam". Random House. ISBN 9780307784506.
- ^ Friedman, Norman (1987). U.S. Small Combatants, Including PT-boats, Subchasers, and the Brown-water Navy: An Illustrated Design History. Naval Institute Press. p. 369. ISBN 9780870217135.