Words by Dave McMillan, former CEO of Vard Marine Inc. (1989-2020)


It was 1991, and after completing the two U.S. Coast Guard bids with Bollinger Shipyards in Louisiana, the shipyard decided to bid on a new, very different, program for the U.S. Army called the LAMP-H (Lighter Amphibian – Heavy). The requirement was for a slow speed (10-12 knot) air cushion vehicle (ACV) designed to transport two M1A1 battle tanks equivalent to 140 short tons to/from near shore floating assets to the shore.
At that time, the company had access to an extensive library of air cushion vehicles designed and built at the parent company, Wartsila Shipyards, in Finland (see first image), and we used this database to develop a new diesel-powered option for the proposal. The overall platform was approximately 95 ft long x 65 ft wide x 6 ft in depth with forward and aft access to the drive through deck. With the weight limitations of an ACV, it was determined that the optimum solution would be to use all aluminum structure except in way of the vehicle deck. This was constructed of HT steel to provide higher resistance to the abrasion from the tanks and other vehicles loading on/off the craft. A bi-metallic strip was used the interface between the steels and aluminum structure.
A more radical choice at the time was to select diesel propulsion instead of the expected gas turbine option that was currently used on the higher speed U.S. Navy LCAC. Ultimately, the design had an installed power of almost 14,000 HP consisting of six Caterpillar air-cooled diesel engines, one for each propulsor and two for the lift fans. The arrangement consisted of three engines mounted in each superstructure located either aside of the vehicle deck area.
Extensive calculations were undertaken to confirm the four ducted propulsors could propel the craft at the desired speed on water and land, but also provide sufficient thrust to maintain effective control under all scenarios. A unique solution that was incorporated into the design was the addition of two free rotating wheels at the transom that were mounted in hinged arms. The idea being that these wheels would provide grip on smoother surfaces such as sandy beach or on an ice surface and therefore make the vehicle more directionally stable. This had been used on parent designs built in Finland and proven highly effective.
During the evaluation of the Bollinger bid, it was quite clear the Army did not believe the proposal using diesel propulsion would work. However, after months of providing solid technical answers to all questions from the review team, it was finally acknowledged that our design would work. Unfortunately, the program was shelved and none of this unique design was ever built.