Designed by ST Maritime, the STM Landing Craft, Assault (LCA) is a class of fast assault boats designed for use in the Singaporean navy. The LCA is an exceptionally fast and agile boat that can execute extremely sharp turns at high speed, decelerate from top speed to a full stop in 2.5 boat lengths, and adjust both its pitch and roll angle while under way. Its lightweight, shallow draught, and twin water jets allow it to operate at speeds of up to 40 knots in shallow coastal waters. The water jets are partially ducted, which, along with underwater control surfaces similar to a submarine's diving planes, gives the LCA its manoeuvrability.

Design

The bridge with two crew workstations and controls has armour protection of classes 5 and 5A, the windows are made of bullet-resistant glass 39 mm thick. The troop compartment is located behind the wheelhouse. For disembarkation and landing, the upper and rear hatches of the troop compartment or the passage from the bow ramp through the wheelhouse are used. Also, a bow ramp can be used for landing troops. In case of possible flooding of one of the compartments, it is blocked by a water-gas-tight door, which prevents water from entering other compartments and subsequent flooding of the boat. The boats have a crew of 3, and a landing capacity of 20.

SIMBAD-RC In action

Role

The boats are designed for patrolling, search and rescue operations, and the transfer of troops in the coastal zone of the seas, straits and river estuaries at a maximum distance of up to 160 kilometres from the base. They can also be part of a large amphibious assault ship or a universal amphibious assault ship, located in the well deck or on specialised davits.

Dockside

Operators

Republic of Singapore Navy - 41
Singapore Police Force - 12
Singapore Civil Defence Force - 14

General Characteristics

Type: Assault Craft
Cost: 2.2 Million USD
Displacement: 19 tons
Length: 16.2 m overall
Beam: 4.3 m
Height: 5.3 m overall
Draught: 1.2 m max
Propulsion: 2 × × 625 bhp Scania DSI14 V8 Diesel
2 × Kamewa 36A3 HS waterjets
Speed: 48 knots full speed
Range: 560 km at 20 knots
Troops: 20 marines
Crew: 3
Armament
1 × Singapore Technologies Kinetics 20mm Autocannon on a Type 26 RWCS
Either:
Mistral SIMBAD-RC MANPAD systems
Rafael SPIKE NAVAL ATGM system
Fitted for but not with:
2 Miniguns
4 Singapore Technologies Kinetics 50MG 50.cal Machine Guns

Just Training

Credit to ALRX/Monofox for the pictures