About Us

 

Sailor's Creed

I am a United States Sailor.

I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and I will obey the orders of those appointed over me.

I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy and all who have gone before me to defend freedom and democracy around the world.

I proudly serve my country’s Navy combat team with Honor, Courage and Commitment.

I am committed to excellence and the fair treatment of all.
 
Command Mission
To provide the operational commander with fully manned, trained, maintained and properly supported Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) ready to conduct prompt, sustained combat and non-combat operations.
 
Command History
Assault Craft Unit FIVE was commissioned on October 1, 1983 and encompasses 114 acres, 28 landing craft, and over 600 civilians and military personnel. The first craft, LCAC 01, was delivered to the Navy on December 15, 1984.

The first operational LCAC deployment was in 1987, marking the first overseas LCAC landing in Okinawa, Japan, in support of amphibious operations. A detachment of maintenance personnel was deployed to Japan on a permanent basis to support LCAC operations in the Western Pacific.  The largest deployment of LCAC occurred in 1991, where 11 craft were stationed in the Persian Gulf in support of OPERATION DESERT STORM.

In October 1992, three LCAC deployed to Sasebo, Japan, as detachment WESTPAC ALPHA, now NAVAL BEACH UNIT SEVEN, establishing a permanent forward presence which remains to this day.

The command regularly deploys LCAC with the amphibious readiness groups (ARGs) of the Pacific Fleet, conducting operations and exercises throughout the Persian Gulf, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.  Closer to home, operations have included participation in Exercise PACIFIC BLITZ; the largest amphibious exercise on the west coast. LCAC have also been employed as an emergency contingency transport vehicle, delivering fire engines and resources in support of Santa Catalina wildfires.  The agreement was put to use in July, 1999 when ACU-5 was called upon to help combat a 100-acre brush fire on the Island.
 
Landing Craft, Air Cushioned - LCAC

Description
Air cushioned vehicle for transporting, ship-to-shore and across the beach, personnel, weapons, equipment, and cargo of the assault elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force.

Features
The Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) is a high-speed, over-the-beach fully amphibious landing craft, capable of carrying a 60-75 ton payload. It is used to transport the weapons systems, equipment, cargo and personnel of the assault elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force from ship to shore and across the beach. LCAC can carry heavy payloads, such as an M-1 tank, at high speeds. The LCAC payload capability and speed combine to significantly increase the ability of the Marine Ground Element to reach the shore. Air cushion technology allows this vehicle to reach more than 70 percent of the world's coastline, while only about 15 percent of that coastline is accessible by conventional landing craft.


General Characteristics 
Builder: Textron Marine and Land Systems
Date Deployed: 1982
Propulsion: Four Vericor Power Systems ETF-40B marine gas turbines with Full Authority Digital Engine Control; 17,600 hp ; 2 shrouded reversible pitch propellers; 4 double-entry, centrifugal lift fans
Length: 91 feet 9.5 inches
Beam: 49 feet  2 inches
Displacement: 87.2 tons light; 170-182 tons with load
Speed: 50 knots (60 mph) with load
Range: 200 nautical miles
Crew: Five
Load: 60 tons / 75 ton overload
Armament: Two 12.7mm Gun mounts will support: M-2HB .50 cal. machine gun; Mk-19 Mod3 40mm grenade launcher; M-60 machine gun; M-240B 7.62mm machine gun
Electronics: Radars, Navigation: P80 BridgeMaster E Radar; Embedded GPS/Inertial (EGI) Navigation System