Patrol Air Cushion Vehicle

"PACV" redirects here. For the airport in Alaska with that ICAO code, see Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport.

A Navy PACV in Vietnam
Class overview
NamePACV
BuildersBritish Hovercraft Corporation, Bell Aerosystems
Operators
Cost$1 million
Built1965
In commission1966–1970
Completed6
Lost3[a]
General characteristics
TypeHovercraft
Tonnage15,660 pounds (7.10 tonnes)
Length38 feet 10 inches (11.84 m)
Beam23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m)
Height16.5 feet (5.0 m) on cushion
Installed power900 horsepower (670 kW) (Navy PACV), 1,100 horsepower (820 kW) (Army ACV)
PropulsionGE 7LM100-PJ102 gas turbine
Speed
  • 60 knots (110 km/h; 69 mph)
  • 70 knots (130 km/h; 81 mph) in Coast Guard service
Range
  • 165 nautical miles (306 km; 190 mi)
  • 300 nautical miles (560 km; 350 mi) in Coast Guard service
Endurance7 hours
Troops12
Crew4
Sensors and
processing systems
Armamenttwin .50 cal M2 machine gun, 2x 7.62 mm M60 machine guns[b]
Armor
  • None (PACV)
  • 1,000 lbs. armor around crew cabin, engine, and fuel tanks (ACV only)[5]

The Patrol Air Cushion Vehicle (PACV), also known as the Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV) in Army and Coast Guard service, was a United States Navy and Army hovercraft used as a patrol boat in marshy and riverine areas during the Vietnam War between 1966 and 1970. Six hovercraft were built, three for the Army and three for the Navy.

The military developed the PACV because its lack of draft meant that it could operate unimpeded in the shallow and reed-choked waters widespread in South Vietnam, most notably in the Mekong Delta and Plain of Reeds.[6][7] The PACV was also found to be valuable because of its unusually high speed of 60 knots (110 km/h; 69 mph), faster than other watercraft in the conflict. However, it faced major drawbacks, including its high cost of $1 million (equivalent to 13 Patrol Boat, Rivers)[8][9] and unreliability. During the conflict, two of the Army's three hovercraft were destroyed by the Viet Cong. The PACVs in Vietnam were considered "unsuccessful" in evaluations and were withdrawn in 1970.[10] Following their service in Vietnam, the Navy PACVs returned to the United States where they were used by the Coast Guard,[11] where another sank in an accident.[12]

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  5. ^ Moore, David G. (15 August 1968). Trip Report - SK-5 Air Cushion Vehicle (PDF) (Technical report). US Army Combat Development Command. AD849055. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2017.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Armor was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  10. ^ "United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam: Command History 1970, Volume IV" (PDF). Defence Technical Information Center. 1970. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Periscope was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lutton was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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