Australia has selected a new landing craft by ADI Limited to replace the old LMC-8s it has been using. The new landing craft are 25m long and can carry 60 metric tons of troops, vehicles, equipment, and supplies. They have both stern and bow ramps for faster loading and unloading, and are wide enough for "two lanes of traffic". Each can carry five LAV armored cars while the LCM-8 can only carry two. Each of the two Australian landing ships will carry two of these new craft. Each craft has a speed of 14 knots and carries two 12.7mm (50-caliber) machineguns for self-defense.Stephen V Cole