Maneuver Support Vessel (Light)

The USAV SSG Elroy F. Wells in 2025
The SSG Elroy F. Wells in 2022

Maneuver Support Vessel (Light) or MSV(L) is the US Army's replacement for the Vietnam-era Landing Craft Mechanized 8 (LCM-8 or “Mike Boat”) that had been in service since 1959.

Characteristics

  • Length: 117 feet (36 m)[1]
  • Top speed: 30 knots (56 km/h)[1]
  • Range: 360 nautical miles (670 km)[1]

The MSL(V) will be able to carry either one M1A2 Abrams tank, two Stryker armored vehicles with slat armor, or four Joint Light Tactical Vehicles with trailers.[2]

Contract

In September 2017, the U.S. Army Contracting Command entered into a contract with Vigor Industrial to produce the MSV(L) at its facility in Vancouver, Washington. It is a firm fix-price contract for US$979,794,011 with an estimated completion date in 2027.[3]

It was initially planned that a prototype would be available in FY2019, then four in FY21 and FY22. Assuming full production is authorized, 32 will be built between FY23–27, for a total purchase of 36 MSV(L).[2] The first MSV(L) prototype was launched in October 2022 at Vigor Industrial's marine fabrication facility in Vancouver.[4]

Vigor began low-rate initial production work in June 2024. 180 skilled workers were designated to work on this program for five years.[5]

Ships in class

Name Hull no. Laid down Launched Commissioned Home Port Status
SSG Elroy F. Wells 17 September 2019 October 2022 Fitting Out

References

  1. ^ a b c "Maneuver Support Vessel (Light)". Vigor Marine Group. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b Nick Blenkey (29 September 2017). "Vigor wins $980 million Army contract". MarineLog.com.
  3. ^ David B. Larter (28 September 2017). "Army awards billion-dollar contract for 100-foot landing ships". DefenseNews.com.
  4. ^ "Vigor launches MSV(L) prototype for the U.S. Army". NavalNews.com. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Vigor begins low rate initial production work on U.S. Army landing craft" (Press release). Vigor Industrial. Archived from the original on 2 July 2025.
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