Armored Troop Carrier (LCM)

Armored Troop Carrier (ATC)
	An Armored Troop Carrier of River Assault Division 112
Class overview
Name	Armored Troop Carrier (ATC)
Operators	United States Navy; Republic of Vietnam Navy; Khmer National Navy;
General characteristics
Type	armored riverine transport ship
Displacement	66 short tons (60 t)
Length	56 ft (17 m)
Beam	17.5 feet (5.3 m)
Installed power	2×225 hp (168 kW)
Propulsion	two Gray Marine 6-71 diesel engines
Speed	8 knots (15 km/h)
Range	110 nautical miles (200 km; 130 mi)
Complement	7
Armament	one 20mm cannon; two .50-caliber machine guns; four .30-caliber machine guns; two Mk 18 grenade launchers;
Armor	XAR-30-type steel and bar armor

Armored Troop Carriers (ATC), often called Tangos from the

LCM-6 landing craft modified for riverine patrol missions. They were used by the Mobile Riverine Force (MRF) of the United States Army and Navy in the Vietnam War. They were also used by Republic of Vietnam Navy (RVNN) and Khmer National Navy

.

History

The MRF began to be organised in late 1966 with the arrival of the 2nd Brigade,

Vung Tau on 19 December 1966. The Navy contribution would be RIVFLOT 1, comprising two river assault squadrons (RAS 9 and RAS 11), each with two river assault divisions under them. The basic mission of RIVFLOT 1 was to transport Army troops to battle zones and support them in battle. The craft the Navy acquired for this task was the ATC, a modified LCM-6. Like its World War II ancestor, it had a large well deck for transporting troops and a drop-down ramp for landing soldiers on a hostile beach. The RVNN had been using LCM variants in its river assault groups for many years, so the craft had a proven track record on the rivers. The U.S. Army, however, wanted more than a simple landing craft; it desired a craft capable of patrolling rivers, providing fire support for troops and minesweeping. The boat ultimately developed was equal parts assault craft and troop transporter.^[1]

^: 175

The Tango was 56 feet (17 m) long with a 17.5 feet (5.3 m) beam and a 3.3 ft (1.0 m) draft. Displacing 66 short tons (60 t), it could achieve a top speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) knots with its twin

high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds up to 57mm. Below-waterline hull blisters provided added hull protection, minimized draft, and increased stability. The Tango’s armor, however, generally could not withstand the full force of a B40 HEAT grenade.^[1]

^: 175

Armament on the Tango usually consisted of one

M16 Rifles, shotguns and M79 grenade launchers). The ATC carried a Navy crew of seven and could accommodate a platoon of 40 soldiers, an M113 armored personnel carrier, or a 105mm howitzer with a prime mover.^[1]

^: 176

By the end of 1967 each river assault squadron contained 26 ATCs, 16 Assault Support Patrol Boats (ASPBs), five Monitors, two command and control boats (CCBs) and one refueller (a modified LCM).^[1]^: 174