DCNS Develops New Landing Craft to Complement Mistral

DCNS has developed in partnership with STX France a new landing craft to increase the operational capabilities of the Mistral amphibious assault vessel.

The landing craft called CTM NG has been designed as an integrated amphibious force organized system around the Mistral of assault vessels, the Mer et marine reported on its website today.

The CTM NG has two ramps one in front and the other at the rear, to facilitate loading and unloading in the direction of travel. It can go close to land troops and supplies on a beach but also dock with the Mistral.

Operated by a crew of three, the landing craft can carry two 12.7mm machine guns. It measures 26.5 meters long and 6.5 meters wide. The Mistral can accommodate four vessels of this type and forms the amphibious component of the Mistral assault ship, the report said.

The carrying capacity of a CTM NG is 65 tonnes. It can accommodate a tank or two heavy armoured vehicles and troops. With three diesel engines the CTM NG can progress at a speed of 12.3 knots.  These results in a reduction in transit time and the number of rotations, with a higher volume transported between the ship and the landing zone.