Plan 8816 LCVP
 RJS-875-1 of the Plan 870 landing ship RHD-875
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Plan 8816 LCVP |
| Operators: | |
| Preceded by: | Plan 8813 LCVP |
| In service: | 2011-present |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 11.8 m o/a |
| Beam: | 4.1 m o/a |
| Draft: | 0.5 m (light) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: |
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| Range: | 100 nautical miles (180 km) at 12 knots |
| Complement: | 3 |
The Plan 8816 LCVP is a type of landing craft used by the Menghean Navy. It is carried by a number of larger amphibious warfare ships, including the Hwangtaesan-class amphibious transport docks and (since 2016) Plan 870 landing ships, and a large number are used independently by short-range landing formations based near Altagracia and Isla Diamante. It is able to transport a reinforced infantry platoon or a single light vehicle in the below-8-ton range.
Plan 8813 LCVP
The Plan 8816 was designed as a follow-on to the Plan 8813 LCVP, which was used from the 1970s until the early 2010s. The Plan 8813 LCVP was narrower and longer, measuring 13 meters by 3 meters. It could carry a reinforced infantry platoon (about 36 men) or one scout car, and it had a top speed of 18 knots.
Development
Design work on the Plan 8816 LCVP began in the late 2000s, following the Ummayan Civil War. The main design goal was an increase in capacity over the Plan 8813 design: the cargo compartment would be widened in order to accommodate the new generation of 4x4 logistics trucks and light utility vehicles used by the Menghean Marine Infantry. In addition, length constraints imposed by the design of new landing ships required a more compact layout, and an increased speed requirement aimed to shorten the travel time to shore, increasing the rate at which troops could be offloaded.
Characteristics
The Plan 8816 has a distinctly short, squat design when viewed from above, with a conventional troop and vehicle ramp in front. It combines a semi-hydroplaning hullform with high-power waterjet propulsion. Menghean military sources claim that when empty, it can reach a top speed of 40 knots, though top speed falls to 20 knots when the landing craft is fully loaded. Though still roughly half the speed of an air cushion landing craft, this is still a considerable improvement over previous Menghean LCVP classes.
The cargo compartment is 2.7 meters wide by 7 meters long, and the vessel can carry up to 8 tons of cargo. These specifications allow the loading of a single logistics truck or utility vehicle. With the introduction of the Plan 8816, all vehicles in a Mechanized Marine Battalion are either amphibious or can be loaded onto a landing craft, eliminating the need for landing ships to beach themselves when delivering the second wave of supply vehicles and supporting arms.
Alternatively, the cargo compartment can be loaded with infantry only. In this configuration the Plan 8816 LCVP has a claimed capacity of 40 troops, though actual loading may be slightly lower. This is enough to move one Marine Infantry Platoon and its headquarters element, meaning that four Plan 8816 LCVPs can move a full Marine Infantry Company. Normally the cargo bay is left open-topped, but five sets of mounting points along the sides and four additional tie-down points allow the installation of a metal frame and canvas cover on top, to provide shelter against the elements.
