Maneuver Support Vessel (Light)

Maneuver Support Vessel (Light) or MSV(L) is the US Army's replacement for the Vietnam-era Landing Craft Mechanized 8 (LCM-8 or “Mike Boat”) that had been in service since 1959.

The USAV SSG Elroy F. Wells, 2022.

Characteristics

• Length: 100 feet (30 m)
• Top speed: 18 knots (33 km/h)
• Range: 360 nautical miles (670 km)^[1][2]

The MSL(V) will be able to carry either one M1A2 Abrams tank, two Stryker armored vehicles with slat armor, or four Joint Light Tactical Vehicles with trailers.^[1]

Contract

In September 2017, the U.S. Army Contracting Command entered into a contract with Vigor Industrial to produce the MSV(L) at its facility in Vancouver, Washington. It is a firm fix-price contract for US$979,794,011 with an estimated completion date in 2027.^[2]

It was initially planned that a prototype would be available in FY2019, then four in FY21 and FY22. Assuming full production is authorized, 32 will be built between FY23–27, for a total purchase of 36 MSV(L).^[1] The first MSV(L) prototype was launched in October 2022 at Vigor Industrial's marine fabrication facility in Vancouver.^[3]

Vigor began low-rate initial production work in June 2024. 180 were designated to work on this program for five years.^[4]

Ships in class

Name	Hull no.	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Home Port	Status
SSG Elroy F. Wells		17 September 2019	October 2022			Fitting Out