LCAC Collision During Training Highlights Risks Faced By Sailors, Marines

The collision between two Landing Craft Air Cushions (LCACs) during a training exercise off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, on Wednesday, which injured 30 Sailors and Marines, has brought to light the risks faced by military personnel during routine training exercises. The incident occurred while the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit were conducting a routine exercise.

The U.S. Navy has launched an investigation into the cause of the collision, with Cmdr. Lara Bollinger, a Navy public information officer, confirmed that both LCACs remained afloat after the collision and have since returned to their respective ships, the USS Wasp and USS New York. The Navy plans to provide more information as it becomes available.

Five of the injured Sailors were airlifted to Savannah Memorial University Medical Center in Southern Georgia for advanced medical care, with four of them having been treated and released, while one remains under medical care at the hospital. The remaining injured personnel received medical attention aboard their ships, with most injuries considered minor and those Sailors and Marines returning to full duty.

“Our primary focus is on our Sailor’s health and well-being,” Bollinger emphasized, underscoring the Navy’s commitment to the safety and well-being of its personnel.

LCACs are high-speed, over-the-beach, amphibious landing hovercraft capable of carrying payloads of up to 75 tons, including heavy equipment such as M-1 tanks, to more than 70 percent of the world’s coastline. The Wasp Amphibious Ready Group and Marine Expeditionary Unit 24 are currently at sea as part of a composite training unit exercise.