Editing LCM-8 (section)

== U.S. usage ==
They were used by the [[United States Navy]] and [[United States Army|Army]] during the [[Vietnam War]]. During the Vietnam War, there were two new aluminum LCM-8s on Johnston Island, which carried trucks and cargo between islands, and one being used as a rescue boat. They had the newer fluid shift transmissions, and 2-671's paired up to two props.

In I Corps (the northernmost military district in Vietnam) boats based at Da Nang, Tan My and [[Cửa Việt Base|Cửa Việt]] had three man crews of various rates and ranks. On U.S. Navy boats, the senior rate was usually a third-class petty officer or above, and the two crewmen could be E-2, E-3 or E-4 ranks (i.e. seaman apprentice, seaman, or petty officer third class). One of the two crewmen was almost always an Engineman and could be an ENFA, ENFN, or an EN3 in rank. The LCM-8s there all had two sets of the twin 6-71 Detroits paired up to a hydro transmission. Two [[air compressor]]s, port and starboard of the engine sets, provided air pressure to operate the air cylinders that raised and lowered the bow ramp. The air cylinders were below deck in the eighth void from the bow and stretched cables attached to the ramp to raise it. Lowering the ramp was accomplished by releasing the air and allowing gravity to bring the ramp down.

They also saw use during [[Operation Just Cause]] in [[Panama]] as well as [[Gulf War#Operation Desert Shield|Operation Desert Shield]] and [[Operation Desert Storm]]. Three Army LCM-8s served in the 1992–1993 US mission to [[Somalia]] (fictionalized in [[Christian Bauman]]'s 2002 novel ''The Ice Beneath You'', which is set in part on a US Army LCM-8 near Kismaayo, Somalia), and a platoon of LCM-8s from the 1098th Trans Co. deployed to Port-au-Prince for the [[Operation Uphold Democracy|Haitian invasion (1994)]]. The [[United States Army Reserve]]'s 464th Transportation Company assisted the [[United States Coast Guard]] in patrolling the [[Potomac River]] after the terrorist attacks on [[September 11 attacks|September 11, 2001]].

Some are currently deployed aboard [[Maritime Prepositioning ships]] to facilitate their mission of being able to unload all their cargo while still offshore with no outside assistance.

===Replacement===
{{Main article|Maneuver Support Vessel (Light)}}

The U.S. Army plans to replace the LCM-8 with the Maneuver Support Vessel (Light) (MSV(L)).  Two dozen boats are planned that will be larger and faster, with a longer range and twice the capacity over Mike Boats.  The MSV(L) will be roughly {{convert|100|ft|m}} long, with a draft of less than four feet, a speed of 18 knots and the capacity to carry either an [[M1 Abrams]] tank, two [[Stryker]]s with add-on armor, or four [[Joint Light Tactical Vehicle]]s.  It also may be used in defended waters, being fitted with a subsurface surveillance device, protection from small arms fire, two [[Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station]]s, and mitigated detection through reduction of thermal and [[acoustic signature]].  Testing of the new vessel is to take place until 2019.<ref>[http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2015/08/26/us-army-choose-new-landing-craft-next-year/32424371/ US Army To Choose New Landing Craft Next Year] - Defensenews.com, 27 August 2015</ref> In September 2017, [[Vigor Shipyards]] was awarded a nearly $1 billion contract for the MSV(L), which is planned for completion in 2027.<ref>[https://www.defensenews.com/breaking-news/2017/09/28/army-awards-billion-dollar-contract-for-small-transportation-boats/ Army awards billion-dollar contract for 100-foot landing ships] - Defensenews.com, 29 September 2017</ref>