What is a primary advantage of using LCAC over traditional landing crafts?

The primary advantage of using a Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) over traditional landing crafts lies in its greater maneuverability. This is due to the LCAC's unique ability to travel over various terrains, including shallow waters and beach zones, utilizing air cushion technology that allows it to "hover" above the surface. This capability enables it to navigate around obstacles and make quicker adjustments in direction, providing an operational advantage during amphibious operations.

In contrast, traditional landing crafts are often constrained by their draft and may have difficulty traversing certain types of terrain or shallow waters. Greater maneuverability allows the LCAC to carry out missions more efficiently, especially in dynamic environments where rapid positioning and responsiveness to changing conditions are critical.

Other options such as lower speed, higher cargo capacity, and smaller crew size do not capture the distinctive operational benefits that maneuverability provides, which is crucial in ensuring versatility and effectiveness in missions involving troop and equipment transport.