BARC Amphibious Craft

The BARC (Barge Amphibious Resupply Cargo) is a 60-ton cargo capacity amphibious cargo carrier, the heaviest of the amphibious lighters. It was later designated as the Lighter, Amphibious Resupply Cargo, 60-ton (LARC-LX). The BARC / LARC-LX is a wheeled vehicle that drives from the ocean or waterway onto a beach. It was the only amphibian in the Army inventory capable of landing on a beach through breaking surf.

BARC was used in Vietnam to transport wheeled and tracked vehicles, including beach preparation equipment and general cargo, from ship to shore or to inland transfer points. Typical loads would be one of or a mixture of:

• 125 combat troops
• 2 wheeled vehicles
• 4 twenty-foot containers
• 2 forty-foot containers

The BARC was deck-loaded on a commercial vessel or heavy lift ship for transport overseas. The U.S. Army had a peak inventory of 12 BARC vehicles.

The LARC-LX tires are nine-feet high, each with a 220-horsepower engine powering it. The four engines power the wheels and ramp on shore. They convert to turn the twin propellers and rudders when afloat. Two 300-gallon fuel tanks supply the engines.

BARC / LARC-LX on Vietnam beach.

BARC / LARC-LX with cargo load including a 6x6 truck.

BARC / LARC-LX on the beach with ramp in loading position.

BARC / LARC-LX on display during the US Army logistics exposition PROLOG 85, Ft. Eustis, Newport News, VA, 13 May 1985.

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