LACV-30 increased payload study

This report summarizes the results of a six-month study directed at investigating a number of potential improvements to the U.S. Army's LACV-30. The objective of this program has been to examine and evaluate various ways of increasing the LACV-30's payload, without incurring a large increase in cost, or penalizing its performance, either over land or over water, in varying sea state conditions. The work performed identified several potential improvements which could be beneficial to the LACV-30, giving it greater load-carrying capacity. These include: (1) A reduction in the exit area of the stern seal cones; (2) Reversal of the direction of rotation of the LACV-30's port side lift fan, with a corresponding adjustment of the volutes to direct the flow of the air from the fan to the stern and side bags; and (3) Replacement of the LACV-30 lift fans, with new fans designed to operate at pressures and flow rates better matched with the seal system requirements.