Small boats are used for a variety of tasks including river operations, special operations craft, patrol boats,
rigid hull inflatable boats, survey boats and landing craft.
Landing Craft Air Cushion
Landing craft air cushion boats are used to take Marines and cargo from the ship to shore. These boats can carry a tank, 145 combat ready Marines or 60 tons of cargo. They are capable of moving onto shore to facilitate offloading on dry land.
Landing Craft
Conventional landing craft designed to take Marines ashore during an assault.
MK V SEAL Craft
The MK V craft is used to carry SEAL teams to their mission. It carries 4 rubber boats for the SEALs to use to get ashore and can be carried by C-5 transport plane for rapid insertion world-wide.
Riverine Assault Craft
Riverine assault craft are used to carry small teams up rivers for missions. These craft include machine guns for defense and have shallow draft and operate at high speeds. There are craft designed for both Special Forces and Marines.
Riverine Patrol Boats
Patrol boats are used to monitor and secure rivers and support other river operations.
Tactical Craft
The Oswald class tactical craft is a 25 foot long boat similar to a speed boat but designed to provide patrol and security functions. Sea Ark Dauntless is a 34 foot boat used like the Oswald class boats.
Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boats
Rigid-hull inflatable boats are small boats used for a variety of missions and tasks.
Survey Boats
Survey boats obtain underwater data such as hazards and ocean floor mapping in low depth, unchartered waters.
Small boats provide river and close to shore operations in a variety of circumstances. Many are carried by larger ships to get to their destination.
