US Army to gradually eliminate maritime capability
The US Army is slated to begin deactivating a large portion of its watercraft and associated units within this year as part of a broader effort to completely divest itself of its maritime capability.
Eighteen of the army’s 35-strong fleet of Runnymede-class 53- by 13-metre landing craft utility (LCU) vessels, each one capable of transporting 500 tonnes of cargo, will be among the first assets to be deactivated from service.
The LCUs will be sold off or transferred to the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO), which is the US Department of Defense (DoD) sub-agency responsible for disposal of the military’s excess property.