Maneuver Support Vessel (Light)

Maneuver Support Vessel (Light) or MSV(L) is the US Army’s replacement for the Vietnam-era Landing Craft Mechanized 8 (LCM-8 or “Mike Boat”) that had been in service since 1959.

Characteristics

 * Length: 100 ft
 * Top speed: 18 kn
 * Range: 360 nmi

The MSL(V) will be able to carry either one M1A2 Abrams tank, two Stryker armored vehicles with slat armor, or four Joint Light Tactical Vehicles with trailers.

Contract
In September 2017, the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan entered into a contract with Vigor Shipyards for its Vancouver, Washington shipyard to produce the MSV(L). It is a firm fix-price contract for US$979,794,011 with an estimated completion date in 2027.

It was initially planned that a prototype would be available in FY2019, then four in FY21 and FY22. Assuming full production is authorized, 32 will be built between FY23–27, for a total purchase of 36 MSV(L). The first prototype of the Maneuver Support Vessel (Light) was launched in October 2022 at a marine fabrication facility in Vancouver.