Navy X Boat Catamaran

[REBrueckner]

I watched a one hour TV special on Navy X boats....new hull designs for near coastal operation, like fighting Somalia pirates.

Anybody who enjoys reading all the tech talk here would likely find the TV show on this boat interesting.....joy stick steering included.

The prototype is a 262 ft catamaran. I think they said it draws 11 ft. It's being jointly operated by US Navy and USCG personnel. A brand new Lt commander got the command, his first. Some admirals said they would like to have returned to command for this job.

The marine architect explained what they were trying to do and what was required: High speed (50 knots) means GE gas turbines, 4,000 miles without refueling means diesel engines in addition, speeds above 35 knots requires water jets, not props, while design stability requires new torpedo like shapes underwater, below the surface energy disturbances of waves. So they have their own set of limitations.

Nichols Bros built it, because of their expertise in Aluminum hulls, at Whitdby Island, Wash,...used a lot of commercially available technology, design to launch: 20 mos!!!!!


http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=16997

 

[SereneWarrior]

Rob, this was one of a number of prototype designs that included Lockheed Martin's Sea Slice, an "M-hull" design. Don't believe any of them will ever make it into production as they were really intended as experiments. Notably, the two somewhat larger Littoral Combatant Ship designs by GD/Austal and LM/Marinette Marine have made it to production contracts. Although General Dynamics has dropped out of their team, Austal has a contract to produce ten of their aluminum trimaran design ships in Alabama while Lockheed Martin/Marinette Marine has a contract to build ten more of their semi-planing steel monohull design in Wisconsin. The plan is to eventually build a combination of 55 of these shallow draft ships. At over 3000 tons, both designs can exceed 45 knots on the gas turbine powered water jets, but can extend the range considerably by using the diesels alone. It's pretty exciting stuff, even if the ships are very lightly armed!

 

[krush]

FYI, that documentary is a few years old.