{"id":65305,"date":"2023-09-07T17:38:53","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T17:38:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2023\/09\/07\/marines-to-test-out-first-stern-landing-vessel-at-project-convergence\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:57:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:57:51","slug":"marines-to-test-out-first-stern-landing-vessel-at-project-convergence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2023\/09\/07\/marines-to-test-out-first-stern-landing-vessel-at-project-convergence\/","title":{"rendered":"Marines to test out first stern landing vessel at Project Convergence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ARLINGTON, Va. \u2014 The U.S. Marine Corps will test out its first stern landing vessel at an Army event this spring, a top general said Wednesday, as the service prepares to create a fleet of shore-to-shore connectors to support Marines operating in the Pacific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service announced its idea for this type of craft \u2014 smaller than a traditional amphibious ship, but larger than the ship-to-shore connectors it currently uses \u2014 in 2020 as part of its Force Design 2030 modernization effort. The program of record was delayed several times but is now planned to go on contract in fiscal 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even as the Corps works on requirements for this formal program, called the Landing Ship Medium, it\u2019s also pursuing prototypes that can more quickly enter the fleet<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A first prototype \u2014 a leased offshore support vessel from Hornbeck Offshore Services \u2014 underwent modifications to turn it into a stern landing vessel, including the addition of a large ramp, landing legs, and protection for the propellers and rudders. This vessel has been undergoing Marine Corps tests and evaluations since March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, the deputy commandant of the Marine Corps for combat development and integration, said Sept. 6 at the Defense News Conference<\/a> that Marines will bring this vessel to the Army\u2019s Project Convergence Capstone 4 event slated for spring 2024<\/a>, and use it to support Marine expeditionary force operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Marine Corps modified a Hornbeck Offshore Services’ offshore support vessel to create a Landing Ship Medium prototype for experimentation. (U.S. Marine Corps)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Corps said earlier this year it had money for two additional stern landing vessel prototypes but had not yet sought out potential vessels. Now, Heckl said at the conference, the second may be a purpose-built vessel with slightly different features than the modified Hornbeck ship, to allow for comparison of capabilities. The third may come from Australian company Sea Transport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The general said Marines went through a foreign comparative testing process with the Australian company to determine if it could lease a vessel for experimentation. Heckl called Sea Transport an \u201cAustralian company that knows the Indo-Pacific really, really well, and knows how to operate in the Indo-Pacific really, really well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following his on-stage remarks, he told reporters that \u201cthey gave an impressive pitch to me. I have a pretty good poker face, but it was like, \u2018Wow, that\u2019s good stuff.\u2019 And again, it\u2019s a company that lives in the Indo-Pacific; they know the area, they know the needs and requirements, they\u2019ve built these before, so we\u2019re excited.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After working with all three prototypes, the Marine Corps intends to identify what design and capability works best, and pursue it as a bridging solution until the Landing Ship Medium is available. Notably, the Corps may be able to lease a handful of vessels faster than it can take delivery of the Landing Ship Medium platforms it buys. The bridging solution could also augment the eventual Landing Ship Medium fleet in the longer term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heckl said he\u2019s \u201cpretty confident\u201d the Landing Ship Medium contract will be awarded in FY25 despite past delays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThings have slipped right, but I think for all the right reasons. We\u2019re just simply trying to get the requirement right while still trying to move at pace. If you start moving too quickly, you might end up jumping to a conclusion that you probably should have taken a little more time to look at,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five companies are building competitive prototypes, and the Marines will select one to fulfill the Landing Ship Medium program within the next two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is going to be primarily, 99% of the time, a deterrence tool. It\u2019s going to be day-to-day competition, working with allies and partners, so we\u2019re trying to find the most cost-effective way\u201d to get Marines from shore to shore across a range of terrain in the Pacific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current concept for the Landing Ship Medium, previously called the Light Amphibious Warship, is mostly unchanged from its 2020 creation, though Heckl said recent debates over the vessel and its requirements are largely focused on its ability to operate inside China\u2019s weapons engagement zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think we\u2019ve really found some really good middle ground on survivability, recoverability \u2014 not going all the full way to being a full-blown warship, which, as you can imagine, adds up cost quite a bit,\u201d Heckl said, referring to negotiations between his team and the Navy\u2019s assistant secretary for research, development and acquisition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think we\u2019re in a really good place\u201d for an FY25 contract award, he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Five companies are building competitive prototypes, and the Marines will select one to fulfill the Landing Ship Medium program within the next two 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