WEBVTT

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- [Narrator] Amphibious war ships are designed to

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support the Marine Corps in Operational Maneuver

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From the Sea and Ship-to-Objective.

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The must be capable of sailing in harms way

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and enable rapid combat power build up

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in the face of opposition.

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The Landing Craft Air Cushion, or LCAC,

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is a fully amphibious landing craft

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capable of transporting the weapon systems,

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equipment and personnel of the assault elements

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of the Marine Air Ground Task Force

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from ship-to-shore and across the beach.

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The LCACs are 91 feet in length

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^and weigh about 95 metric tons.

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^Depending on the mission, they can carry crew of five

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^including a 60-75 ton payload.

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^It is armed with M2HB .50 caliber machine guns,

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^M240 7.62 millimeter machine guns

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^and a MK19 MOD3 40 millimeter grenade launcher.

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Landing Ship Dock, or LSDs, were designed specifically

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to transport and launch LCACs.

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It has the largest capacity for LCACs of

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any US Navy amphibious ship.

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It will also provide docking and

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repair services for LCACs

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and for conventional landing crafts.

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It has a length of 609 feet

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^and weigh about 16,194 metric tons.

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^Depending on the mission, it can carry upwards of

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^1,000 marines, sailors and 4 LCACs.

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^They are armed with 25 millimeter MK38 machine guns,

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^20 millimeter Phalanx Close-In Weapon System mounts,

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^.50 caliber machine guns

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^and two Rolling Airframe Missile mounts.

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Landing Platform Docks, or LPDs, are used to transport

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as well as land marines and their equipment

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by embarked landing craft,

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LCACs and amphibious assault vehicles.

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They also augment helicopters or

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vertical take-off and landing air craft.

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These ships support amphibious assault,

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special operations or expeditionary warfair missions

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and can serve as aviation platforms

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for amphibious ready groups.

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They are 684 feet in length

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and weigh about 25,300 metric tons.

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Depending on the mission,

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^they can carry a crew of 400 marines and sailors

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^and embarking landing force upwards of 700 troops,

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^2 LCACs and 14 amphibious assault vehicles.

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^They are armed with MK46 30 millimeter close-in guns,

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^Rolling Airframe Missile Launchers,

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^and .50 caliber machine guns.

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The America Class Landing Helicopter Assault, or LHAs,

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and Wasp-Class Landing Helicopter Dock, or LHDs,

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provide the Marines Corps with a means of ship-to-shore

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movement by helicopter as well as movement by landing craft.

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LHAs and LHDs have been in major humanitarian assistance,

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occupation and combat operations

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in which the United States has been involved.

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Although both are amphibious assault ships,

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they differ in some ways.

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The majority of the LHDs are 844 feet in length

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and weigh about 42,442 metric tons.

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^Depending on the mission, they can carry around 30 aircraft,

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^1,000 crew members, 1,687 troops

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^and about 3 LCACS.

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^They are armed with Rolling Airframe Missile Launchers,

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^NATO Sea Sparrow launchers,

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^20 millimeter Phalanx Close-In Weapon System mounts,

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^.50 caliber machine guns,

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^and 25 millimeter MK38 machine guns.

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LHAs are 855 feet in length,

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and weigh about 44,449 metric tons.

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^Depending on the mission,

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^they can carry around 30 aircraft,

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^1,204 crew members,

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^1,687 troops,

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^and 1 LCAC.

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^They are armed with Rolling Airframe Missile Launchers,

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^NATO Sea Sparrow Launchers,

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^20 millimeter Phalanx Close-In Weapon System mounts,

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^and twin .50 caliber machine guns.

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Hospital ships may not be amphibious war ships

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but they also play a huge role in the Marine Corps.

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The USNS Mercy in USNS Comfort are some of the only ships

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that do not have combat capabilities.

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Instead, they act as hospital ships

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providing humanitarian assistance and medical care

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wherever they may go.

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^They are 894 feet in length

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^and weigh about 70,000 metric tons.

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^Each ship has about 1,000 beds

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^and provides 12 operating rooms

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^with specialized trauma centers and

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^post care unit beds included.

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It's amazing what can be accomplished medically

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on these ships both for military personnel and civilians.

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