"Mike Bandor" wrote:

Do we have any LCACs supporting the relief efforts? I would think that the
LCACs would be suited very well to handle part of the task of getting
supplies on-shore (no need for an airstrip or port deep enough -- or still
functioning).

Just curious.

First reaction would be that you're talking mixed blessing here.
Fine, if all of the supplies needed are transported
in/crossdecked to LHAs/LHDs/LPDs/LSDs for loading onto the LCACs
in their well-decks. Otherwise, use of LCACs would require the
supplies to be offloaded by crane as they lay alongside the cargo
ship bringing the supplies. [Which also begs the question of how
many break bulk cargo ships are left in this container era? And
how many standard containers can an LCAC carry? Will the onshore
relief effort have the capability/manpower needed to handle and
unload containers brought in by LCAC instead of unloaded at a
port? Will they be able to handle even break bulk cargo brought
in by LCACs?]

This is not to gainsay the benefits the availability of some
LCACs may offer in the relief efforts, but to warn against
overestimating their ultimate value. LCACs work best/most
efficiently coupled with the gator navy ships they were designed
to be deployed aboard/from.
--
OJ III
[Email to Yahoo address may be burned before reading.
Lower and crunch the sig and you'll net me at comcast.]