The LCM-1E is a class of amphibious mechanized landing craft manufactured by Navantia

Navantia

Navantia, formerly Bazán or IZAR, is a Spanish shipbuilding firm, which offers its services to both military and civil sector. It is the fifth largest shipbuilder in Europe, and the ninth largest in the world with shipyards all over Spain....

 at their factory in San Fernando. These craft are intended to deliver troops and equipment onshore from amphibious assault ships during amphibious assaults.

Project history and design

In 1999, a contract for the construction of two prototypes landing craft (L-601 and L-602), for evaluation and testing in different conditions was signed. These craft would replace the LCM-8

LCM-8

The LCM-8 is a river boat and mechanized landing craft used by the United States Navy and Army during the Vietnam War and subsequent operations. They are currently used by governments and private organizations throughout the world. The acronym stands for "Landing Craft Mechanized, Mark 8...

s in Spanish Navy

Spanish Navy

The Spanish Navy is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces, one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Armada is responsible for notable achievements in world history such as the discovery of Americas, the first world circumnavigation, and the discovery of a maritime path...

 service. After undergoing trials, 12 additional units were ordered to service the two Galicia class landing platform dock

Galicia class landing platform dock

The Galicia class is a class of two 13,900 t landing platform dock ships, belonging to the Spanish Navy. Built in Ferrol, their mission is to carry amphibious warfare by transporting the bulk of the Infantería de Marina....

 ships (Galicia and Castilla) and amphibious assault ship Juan Carlos I.

The landing craft have the ability to operate over-the-horizon, as they are equipped with radar navigation, GPS, gyro needle/magnetic and HF communications equipment, VHF and UHF. This allows them to operate up to 20 nautical miles (37 km) from their mothership. Propulsion is supplied by two MAN D-2842 LE 402X diesel engines, which supply 809 kW each to the two waterjets, allowing the craft to reach 22 knots (12 m/s) unladen, and 13.5 knots (7.3 m/s) loaded. Maximum range at economical speeds is 190 nautical miles (351.9 km).

The LCM-1E incorporates a stern gate, facilitating the loading/unloading of rolling stock within the flood levee, not necessary the output of the front two boats to load / unload the rear, with a limit of 12 tons maximum for the transfer of vehicles a barge to another.

Spanish Navy

They are assigned to Naval Beach Group, based at Naval Station Props. Since joining the Navy, four of the twelve units built in the shipyards of San Fernando and Puerto Real and have been involved in a mission abroad, developed by the Spanish forces in Lebanon, where they came into action for the beach landing of Marines.

Foreign orders

Sweden has shown some interest in acquiring the LCM-1E.

In May 2009, the Australian Defence Minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, announced the approval of the contract for the purchase of a number of landing craft for the two Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) currently under construction by Navantia and BAE Systems Australia

BAE Systems Australia

BAE Systems Australia, a subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, is the largest defence contractor in Australia. It was formed by the merger of British Aerospace Australia and GEC-Marconi Systems and expanded by the acquisitions of Armor Holdings in 2007 and Tenix Defence in June 2008.-History:BAE Systems'...

. On 27 September 2011, it was announced that 12 units will be purchased.