Repairs on the U.S. Army’s new Maneuver Support Vessel-Light (MSV-L) are ongoing and expected to continue through the end of the year, with hopes of completing possibly into early 2025. Despite the delay caused by mechanical issues, the vessel is scheduled to journey to Hawaii for extensive testing with the 8th Theater Sustainment Command.

Maj. Gen. Jered Helwig, who is set to depart from his current role in July and has been nominated for a third star and the deputy commander position at US Transportation Command, provided an outline of the tentative test plans that will be influential for fleet advancements.

The prototype’s anticipated arrival in Hawaii signifies a crucial phase in the development of the MSV-L, which is set to replace the outdated Landing Craft Mechanized-8 (LCM-8). With capabilities for greater speed and heavier payloads, including M1 Abrams, Stryker, and Bradley fighting vehicles, the new watercraft is a significant upgrade for the Army’s operations in the Indo-Pacific region.

The MSV-L is not just a transport vessel for military vehicles; it’s also designed to ferry food and medical supplies, reflecting its versatility and importance for logistic missions.

Once in Hawaii, soldiers will assess the watercraft over a nine-month to a year period to confirm its performance in the operational environment. “Everything that we can knock off that list we will do in the archipelago … because that allows us to do the tests in the environment that the vessel will operate in ultimately,” said Helwig.

The MSV-L will also participate in a Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC) exercise in late 2025, further testing its capabilities before it moves to the east coast of the mainland United States for additional training.

Budgetary considerations have also been at the forefront of the MSV-L’s development, with Army acquisition head Doug Bush stating in October 2023 that the projected MSV-L price point had risen but was now in a “much better place.”

Fiscal documents revealed the estimated per-vessel cost ranging from $31 million to $48 million, with the FY25 request proposing $66.5 million to purchase one MSV-L. The first four vessels may be pricier, but subsequent units are expected to cost less, a reflection of the service’s effort to balance capability with affordability.

In the interim, Helwig’s command has adapted by leasing a US-flagged commercial vessel approximately the size of an LSV to maintain support capacity in the region.

This stopgap solution allows the Army to evaluate the pros and cons of such leasing arrangements for future operations.

Moreover, the Army is exploring teaming options with manned and unmanned maritime vehicles. Interest has been piqued by the Marine Corps’ work on the Autonomous Low-Profile Vessel concept, with one such vessel slated to participate in Valiant Shield 2024.

The Army is keen on understanding the performance of these autonomous platforms and their potential integration into future operations.

The MSV-L’s journey began back in October when the prototype was launched at Vigor, LLC’s marine fabrication facility in Vancouver, marking a significant milestone as the first of a new class of Army Watercraft. The MSV-L represents a modernized landing craft aimed at improving the speed and effectiveness of the Army’s dynamic force repositioning.

With the capacity to transport a combat-configured M1 Abrams tank or multiple other payload configurations, the MSV(L) is a versatile addition to the fleet. The vessel’s launch, despite supply chain challenges, was a testament to the commitment to modernizing Army watercraft.

A low-rate initial production decision for the MSV(L) is targeted for early 2023, and the prototype’s delivery to the Army Mariner community at Joint Base Langley-Eustis is expected in early 2024. The advancements in military watercraft technology embodied by the MSV(L) will enhance the Army’s operational capabilities in various environments, a critical aspect of maintaining readiness and flexibility in response to potential threats.

Relevant articles:
– Aloha: Fixes ongoing, then Army’s new watercraft prototype is Hawaii bound for testing, Breaking Defense
– Aloha: Fixes ongoing, then Army’s new watercraft prototype is Hawaii bound for testing, newsbreak.com
– New vessel class enters Army watercraft fleet with prototype launch, Army.mil