Making a sweep around the internet, the subject of Landing Craft peaked my interest. Who was the world's leader (what is the most popular model). I really expected to see Navantia's LCM-1E or CNIM L-Cat but they weren't even close.
By sheer numbers, of course it'll go to the US LCAC, but I was looking to see who had the most users of what I would label as modern landing craft (a big problem is that so many countries are using Vietnam or earlier era models...and to great effect in some cases...it really depends on how highly you rate amphibious warfare).
The Russians won going away. And they did it by designing vehicles that break the mold. The ZUBR is listed as a landing craft but I would consider it an LST due to its range and ability to land a Battalion (-) along with vehicles on distant shores. On to the pics...
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| ZUBR Landing Craft. Used by Russia, the Ukraine, China and Greece. Has extremely heavy lift, is heavily armed and has long legs. |
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| Lebed LCAC. Russia's version of a US Navy sized landing air cushion that entered service several years before the US boat. |
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Aist LCAC. First of the large Russian LCACs, 6 continue in service.
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The Russians have added a new dimension to what we commonly think of when we look at landing craft. Quite honestly we're lucky that they didn't think about deploying these type boats to the Pacific during the cold war (they focused on using them to counter US Marines in Northern Europe...and US Marines practiced repelling their attacks). In the Pacific such boats could easily and quickly move from island to island greatly complicating things. If the Chinese ever get smart and develop an amphibious concept different from the US then these type boats would prove a major headache for planners...as it is they're trying to duplicate US capabilities. In a strange way we're lucky that they are.
These along with WIGs would be a major headache.
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