A Royal Marine LCVP Landing Craft MOD 45150169

The Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) is a versatile amphibious landing craft designed to transport troops or armoured vehicles from ship to shore during

amphibious landing Amphibious warfare is a type of offensive military operation that today uses naval ships to project ground and air power onto a hostile or potentially hostile shore at a designated landing beach. Through history the operations were conducte ...

s. The designation was first used in British service for the LCVP Mk2s introduced with the two ''Fearless'' class amphibious transport docks, the role having previously been carried out by the Landing Craft Assault developed during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

. They are manned and operated by

1 Assault Group Royal Marines 47 Commando (Raiding Group) Royal Marines, formerly 1 Assault Group Royal Marines (2001-2019), provides the Royal Marines expertise and training in small boat operations, both amphibious and riverine. In addition, it trains and parents the Assaul ...

.Royal Marines - Landing Craft
royalnavy.mod.uk, Retrieved 15 June 2014.

LCVP Mk2

The LCVP Mk2 was built by the Dorset Yacht Company at

Poole Poole () is a large coastal town and seaport in Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester and adjoins Bournemouth to the east. Since 1 April 2019, the local authority is Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Counc ...

during the 1960s. The craft was powered by two Foden diesel engines and could carry 35 fully equipped Royal Marines Commandos or two

Land Rover Land Rover is a British brand of predominantly four-wheel drive, off-road capable vehicles, owned by multinational car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), since 2008 a subsidiary of India's Tata Motors. JLR currently builds Land Rove ...

s. Foxtrot 7, one of four carried by HMS ''Fearless'' (L10), rescued 41 crew members from the burning HMS ''Antelope'' (F170) on 24 May 1982 during the Falklands War. It is preserved ashore at the

Royal Marines Museum The Royal Marines Museum is a museum on the history of the Royal Marines from their beginnings in 1664 through to the present day. A registered charity, it is also a designated service museum under the terms of the National Heritage Act 198 ...

Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port and city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. The city of Portsmouth has been a unitary authority since 1 April 1997 and is administered by Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth is the most d ...

. Foxtrot 8 is located in Boathouse 4 of the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard who have just been awarded funding (Nov 2015) to restore her back to sea-going condition. Tango 5, one of HMS Intrepid's (L11) LCVPs is currently the "

Gate Guardian A gate guardian or gate guard is a withdrawn piece of equipment, often an aircraft, armoured vehicle, artillery piece, or locomotive, mounted on a plinth and used as a static display near to and forming a symbolic display of "guarding" the main ...

" at RM Chivenor. The LCVP Mk2 is no longer in service.

LCVP Mk4

The LCVP Mk4 came into service in 1986 replacing the older LCVP Mk2. Throughout their service they were mostly used in independent Royal Marine amphibious formations. They had a draught of 75 cm at the stern and were powered by twin Perkins 6 cylinder turbo diesel engines Four were used by the British Army's

Royal Logistic Corps The Royal Logistic Corps provides logistic support functions to the British Army. It is the largest Corps in the Army. History The Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) was formed on 5 April 1993, by the union of five British Army corps: * Royal Engine ...

. As of 2012, the LCVP Mk4 has been withdrawn from service."The Military Balance 2012",

International Institute for Strategic Studies The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) is a British research institute or think tank in the area of international affairs. Since 1997, its headquarters have been Arundel House in London, England. The 2017 Global Go To Think ...

, pp. 170-171

LCVP Mk5

The LCVP Mk5 was built by Vosper Thornycroft and FBM Babcock Marine, with the first entering service in 1996. They represent a significant improvement in capability over the preceding Mk4s. Four Mk5s together can transport a full Royal Marine company (around 140 troops).The Royal Navy Handbook, p. 108 Presently, the Mk5s operate from the amphibious warfare ships HMS ''Albion'' (L14) and HMS ''Bulwark'' (L15).Royal Marines website
/ref> In 2012, a total of 23 Mk5s were in service with pennants 9473, 9673 to 9676 and 9707 to 9724. However, by 2014, LCVPs 9473, 9673, 9674 and 9708 had been withdrawn from service.

Specifications

The LCVP Mk5 has the following specifications:LCVP (Landing Craft Vehicle/Personnel)
eliteukforces.info, Retrieved 15 June 2014 *Weight (full): 24,000 kg (24 tonnes) *Length: *Width : *Speed (full): *Endurance: In excess of *Troops: 38 Royal Marines (3 crew, 35 fully equipped troops) *Cost: £1,000,000

References

External links