Courtesy Photo | The New York Naval Militia's LC-350, a landing craft made by Munson, cruises the...... read more read more
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The New York Naval Militia’s newest boat can cut through the water at 44 miles per hour and deposit a small vehicle or 27 personnel onto any shoreline necessary.
The boat "LC-350" – LC for "landing craft" and 350 for the 35-foot length of the boat-was accepted into service during a short ceremony at Albany's Jennings Landing park on the Hudson River on August 7.
LC-350 is designed to deliver three tons of emergency supplies, a vehicle, or 27 personnel to beaches or shorelines along Long Island or the Hudson River during flooding or other emergency situations.
The boat's bow is a ramp which can be dropped to allow access to the shore by people, or vehicles.
The LC-350 provides a new level of capability to New York's Military Forces, said Naval Militia Rear Admiral Timothy J. Zakriski, the commander of the Naval Militia. Naval Militia forces can now deliver cargo and people directly to a shoreline during flooding or if roadways are unusable, he said.
The boat, constructed by the William E. Munson Co. of Burlington, Washington, can also serve as a patrol vessel when necessary.
The New York Naval Militia is composed of 2,800 current and former Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard members who agree to serve on state active duty when called by the state of New York. They put the skills they've honed in federal military service to work for New York.
The boat was christened by New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs employee Lisa Bogardus.
Bogardus was selected because she played a key role in applying for the federal port security grant which pays for three-quarters of the boat's $317,000 cost, according to Naval Militia Commander Don McKnight, the commander of the Military Emergency Boat Service which operates New York's ten patrol boats.
The ritual of christening a ship or boat dates back to the Greeks and Romans when an offering was given to Poseidon, the god of the sea, in order to ensure the ship's safety, McKnight explained.
The New York Naval Militia began seeking to acquire a landing craft style vessel six years ago after Superstorm Sandy hit New York, McKnight said.
It became clear that there was a need for a boat that could be used to deliver relief supplies and personnel along New York's 127 miles of coastline and the 150 miles of Hudson River from New York City to Troy, N.Y.
On August 17 the New York Naval Militia and the 2nd Civil Support Team (CST), which is trained to identify chemical, biological and radiological threats, tested the ability of the craft to load and unload one of the 2nd CST’s survey team vehicles along the Hudson River shoreline in Rensselaer.
The Naval Militia crew and CST members worked together to figure out the best way to load and unload the ATV from the boat and tested the stability of the boat with a load on board.
The goal, according to McKnight, is to provide new capabilities for the New York Military Forces.
The New York Naval Militia will initially base the vessel in Albany and then relocate it for mission support down the Hudson River this fall near Indian Point.
The boat can also be trailered to any location in the state when needed.
An application for a federal Port Security Grant was approved in 2016 to add the Munson Boat to the Naval Militia Emergency Boat Service.
The 35 foot vessel weighs 15,000 pounds and has a draft of 30 inches which allows it to work close to shore. The crew of three personnel can beach the boat at unimproved landing sites to load or off-load personnel, vehicles or supplies over the bow ramp to otherwise inaccessible locations.
It is powered by twin Mercury Optimax 250HP outboard engines. The landing craft can deliver up to 3 tons of equipment or supplies with a 7.5 foot wide bow door and 17 foot length of cargo area forward of the wheel house.
The LC-350 has a catamaran twin- hull design which increases stability. It also has the ability to pivot 360 degrees when needed.
| Date Taken: | 08.17.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.21.2018 11:41 |
| Story ID: | 289642 |
| Location: | ALBANY , NY, US |
| Web Views: | 210 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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