Army Watercraft Types
All types of Army watercraft require appropriate crewing. Proper crew size and configuration for a given watercraft depend upon its type and designed function. Generally there are three types of Army watercraft which consist of the following vessels.
Self-propelled Vessels Designed for Continuous Operation are designed as Class A vessels. This class includes tugs, LSVs, and large landing crafts (LCU-1600 and LCU-2000). These vessels have numerous critical subsystems (such as propulsion, electrical power generation, environmental control, navigation/commo, and firefighting) which demand constant attendance. When a major subsystem on such a vessel fails, the vessel, though not mission capable, is still afloat and still subject to the common hazards of wind, tide, and sea state. The crew remains on board (they usually live on board) and repairs the subsystem to return the vessel to service. These vessels are capable of long duration, independent mission profiles; some of them are capable of independent ocean crossing voyages. These vessels must be crewed for 24 hour-per-day operations using watch standing techniques and procedures.
In January 1982 the Secretary of the Army approved a concept for naming Army seagoing vessels. The concept called for naming only self-deployable seagoing vessels in Active and Reserve component units. By October 1984, the naming process guidance was to name all self-deployable vessels, including those vessels with provisions for crew personnel living aboard. In August 1986 the Chief of Transportation (COT) approved the appointment of the Office of the Chief of Transportation (OCOT) as the manager for Army vessel naming, and the publishing of a worldwide Army vessel "Registry". In June 2002 the COT became the sole approving authority for the naming of US Army vessels.
The original concept guidance was to name "only self-deployable vessels in Active and Reserve Component units," i.e., Logistics Support Vessel (LSV), Freight Supply Ship (FS), Ocean Going Tug (LT), Beach Discharge Lighter (BDL) and Landing Craft Utility (LCU) class vessels. In October 1984, a HQDA message amended the requirement to include all "Army vessels that have provisions for crew personnel living aboard," which added the 65-foot Small Tug (ST), 100-ton Floating Crane (BD) and Floating Machine Shop (FMS) class vessels. The Logistics Support Vessel (LSV) was noted as the "replacement" for the BDL and FS.
There are two types of non-self-propelled watercraft that, except for lack of propulsion sub-systems, meet all the requirements for watch standing crew. They are the floating crane and the FMS. Although both these vessels are barges, they have substantial power generation, communications, environmental control, and firefighting subsystems requiring constant attendance. They also have live aboard capability for their crews. These vessels must be crewed for 24 hour-per-day operations using watch standing techniques and procedures. Masters and chief engineers on all Al vessels stand a normal underway watch and remain on call during off-duty hours. On class A2 vessels, the master and chief engineer are not part of the watch standing rotation, but remain on call 24 hours a day.
Self-propelled Vessels Designed for Intermittent Use or for Relatively Continuous Use in Localized Areas are designated as Class B vessels. This class includes smaller landing craft (LCM-8) and all amphibians. Because they generally operate in confined areas such as harbors or at LOTS sites, they typically have significant shoreside support capability available; amphibians (and their crews) berth ashore. Their crews are smaller and they do not have crew living accommodations. Their onboard subsystems are less complex than those of the larger vessels. Crewing for this type vessel generally is shift oriented and two separate crews are required for 24 hour operations.
Non-self-propelled Watercraft are designated as Class C vessels. This class includes all barges. The crew requirements vary widely with the purpose and design of the barge. Regardless of their specific function, they are always afloat and, therefore, subject to wind, tide, and, sea state. They have a constant requirement for tending, even when not being actively employed for their designed purpose. Except for the floating crane and FMS noted above, crewing for these vessels is generally shift oriented.
Watercraft are crewed regardless of the class type vessel. No watercraft can safely operate without a full crew. Generally, fractional crewmembers (such as one marine engineman for two vessels) will not work in watercraft units as the individual craft, even those operating in the same harbor do not necessarily operate in close proximity to each other. For vessels that are watch crewed, fractional crewmembers are entirely inappropriate.
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