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LCM-8 Landing Craft, Mechanised, Mark 8 (LCM-8)

The LCM 8 is a medium size landing craft, designed for the landing in a Logistic Over The Shore (LOTS) operation of troops, wheeled and tracked vehicles or general cargo. The LCM-8 can transport 54.55 tonnes of cargo, 50 equipped troops or 200 personnel.

The LCMs are carried as deck cargo on the LPAs (or inside a welldock). Each LPA routinely embarked two Army LCM-8 watercraft on the front deck. On HMAS Tobruk, the Vehicle Deck has been reinforced to enable the transportation of two Landing Craft Mechanical-8 (LCM-8) on specially designed cradles. The LCM 8 is ideally suited to port logistical movement (excluding movement of Naval shipping), inland waterways, limited costal logistic support and loading or unloading of merchant shipping in undeveloped ports.

The ADF's landing craft fleet comprises 15 Army Landing Craft, Mechanised, Mark 8 (LCM-8s) (of which only nine were in service as of 2007), each of which are able to carry 54 tonnes of cargo. They are able to operate independently for extended periods of time, thanks to the inclusion of full galleys, bathrooms and water purification systems. LCM-8s, however, are not considered a sea-going vessel, and are thus constrained to coastal, inshore and 'riverine' operations.

A heavily modified version of the LCM-8 is in service with the Australian Army, crewed (4) and administered by the Royal Australian Corps of Transport and one engineer from the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME). The modifications of the vessels includes an extended enclosed wheelhouse that included full galley facilities, chart table and storage space to aid in extended operations beyond the original design parameters. A water purification system allows the vessels to be somewhat independent for longer periods of time. A fully functioning toilet (head) and shower are also installed as part of the wheelhouse extensions, external provision for bedding is also include for the full crew complement.

The extension of the wheelhouse increased rigidity of the craft leading to excessive vibration and cavitation with the original three-blade propeller. Further development included a more balanced and expensive five-blade propeller, negating the vibration and cavitation of the original. The prop change found a few negative effects in the beaching performance of the vessel but over time tactics have been changed to suit the new system.

Further, their life-of-type is expected to expire in the mid to late-2010s. The LCM-8 will be replaced by the LCM-1E when the Canberra Class LHD's are commissioned.