General Frank S. Besson, Jr. class Logistics Support Vessel

The General Frank S. Besson class Logistics Support Vessels (LSV) are the largest powered watercraft in the United States Army, and are designed to give the Army a global strategic capability to deliver its vehicles and cargo. [FAS.org - Army Watercraft [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/army.htm] ] These ships have bow and stern ramps and the ability to beach themselves, giving them the ability to discharge 900 short tons of vehicles and cargo over the shore in as little as four feet of water, or 2,000 short tons as an intra-theater line haul roll-on/roll-off cargo ship. [Naval Technology - Frank S. Besson Class - LSV Logistics Support Vessel [http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/lsv/] ] The vessel's cargo deck is designed to handle any vehicle in the US Army inventory and can carry up to 15 M1 Abrams main battle tanks or 82 ISO standard containers.The United States Army News | New Army Vessel Arrives in Hawaii [http://www.army.mil/-news/2006/10/13/326-new-army-vessel-arrives-in-hawaii/] ]

The Robert T. Kuroda is the lead vessel of a new subclass of the Frank S. Besson class. The Kuroda and its sister ship, the Robert Smalls, are generally similar to the rest of the class except that the ships are 42 feet longer than the other ships of the class. This is due to a more streamlined "visor" bow that hides the front ramp and allows for the vessels to move through rough water easier. While these ships have the same main deck area as the rest of the class (10,500 square feet), they displace 6,000 tons, and have more than twice the horsepower. In addition, the new ships can deliver 1,000 short tons over the shore at a range of 5,500 nautical miles at 12 knots.The United States Army News | New Army Vessel Arrives in Hawaii [http://www.army.mil/-news/2006/10/13/326-new-army-vessel-arrives-in-hawaii/] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/lsv-a.htm LSVs at globalsecurity.org]
* [http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Aug/11/ln/ship.html Photo gallery: Family tour aboard the LSV-7 Kuroda | The Honolulu Advertiser]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/pby5a/sets/72157602036943941/ LSV-8 USAV MG Roberts Smalls - a set on Flickr]