Edited by David Little
Primary function: | Inland and coastal waterway patrol craft |
Length: | 10.66 meters |
Beam: | 2.79 meters |
Draft: | 66.04 cm |
Displacement: | empty 6,174 kg |
Displacement: | full load 7,455 kg |
Speed: | up to 68.8 kph |
Acceleration from Cruise to 65 kph: |
10 sec |
Range: | 640 kilometers |
Fuel Capacity: | 560 liters |
Fuel Endurance: | 8 hours |
Power: | Twin 300 hp Cummins diesel engines driving Hamilton 271 waterjets |
Crew: | 4 to 5 |
Troop Lift: | Combat loaded Marine rifle squad (10 - 15 passengers) |
Communications: | Military HF/VHF/UHF RAY-90 Marine band transceiver |
Navigation: | R40X Radar V820 Depth Finder Raystar 920 GPS RayNav 780 LORAN-C Fluxgate Compass Magnetic Compass |
Armor: | 100 |
Weapons: Fore and aft gun tubs capable of mounting 7.62 mm, .50 cal or 40mm automatic weapons. Port and starboard pintle mounts for 7.62 mm machine guns.
Transportability: Amphibious Ship/CH-53 (external), C-130, C-141, C-5A. M-923 5 ton truck prime mover.
Mission: The missions that can be assigned to the RAC's include: armed escort; command, control, and communications; transport; armed reconnaissance; and pursuit/interception.
Features: The RAC is a riverine platform that provides speed, maneuverability, and survivability to conduct command/control, armed escort, direct fire support, electronic warfare, pursuit/intercept, and scout/patrol missions during riverine operations. It is capable of employing a variety of military and commercial communications/electronic and crew-served weapons systems. The RAC is a high-speed, aluminum- hulled craft powered by twin inboard 300 horsepower Cummins turbo diesels connected to Hamilton water jets. Fore and aft gun tubs may mount either the M2 .50 caliber Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) or the Mk19 40mm Grenade Machine Gun. Medium machine guns may be mounted on pintles fixed to the port and starboard gunwales.
Background: The RAC has been fielded in the Small Craft Company of Headquarters Battalion, Second Marine Division to meet the requirement for Marines to perform high speed riverine operations in support of CINC South. The RAC has a crew of four Marines and can transport 10-15 combat-loaded Marines in up to Sea State Condition 2. It has a shallow draft and can operate in eight inches of water while on plane and thirty inches of water while moving slowly or stopped. The RAC's trailer may be towed by the five-ton cargo truck.