1. Overview of High-Performance Vehicles
as Naval Platforms
Volker Bertram

2. High-performance Marine Vehicles
Our definition:
no simple monohull form
weight supported by:
hydrostatic buoyancy
hydrodynamic lift
aerostatic lift
aerodynamic lift
hybrid
High-performance usually includes:
usually high speeds
good seakeeping characteristics
enhanced manoeuvrability
reduced signatures

3. MTG conducted study of HPMVs
SYTKA = System Technology for Future Combatants
compared displacement fast monohull to HPMVs
identifying as potential alternatives
SWATH
high-speed SWATH (HSS)
surface-effect ship (SES)
trimaran

4. HPMVs investigated in terms of 4 characteristics
Design characteristics:
platform stability
general arrangement (deck area and volume space)
maximum draft
...
Hydrodynamic characteristics:
range of operating speed
propulsion configuration
speed loss in waves
seakeeping, manoeuvrability
weight and trim sensitivity

5. HPMVs investigated in terms of 4 characteristics
Structural characteristics:
global strength, local strength
dynamic loads (slamming)
use of advanced materials
complex structures
...
Other characteristics:
acquisition and operating costs
state of development of the technology
survivability:
detectability or stealth characteristics
vulnerability

6. Classification follows sustention triangle
almost 100 different
concepts for hybrids
different stages
of development:
preliminary concept
prototypes
in operation

7. Displacement ships
SWATH
HSS
trimaran
wave piercer

8. Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull (SWATH)
superior seakeeping
large deck area
higher power requirement
weight and trim sensitive
large draft
acquisition and operating costs

9. Early SWATH demonstrators in USA and Japan
“Hibeki“
Japan
T-AGOS
US Navy

10. German SWATH development in 2001
Wehrforschungsschiff, TNSW

11. German SWATH development in 2001
SWATHs for pilots of Abeking+Rasmussen
A+R proposed also navy SWATH

12. German Navy project for mine-hunting SWATHs for Navy Applications
Cooperation: Luerssen Shipyard, A+R

13. SWATH “Sea Shadow” stealth technology demonstrator
source:

14. Lower resistance through wave system interaction
SWATH
SLICE
Lower resistance through wave system interaction
source: Lockheed Martin

15. High Speed SWATH (HSS) GTS Stena Explorer MTG HSS design
Stern planing
catamaran
SWATH
bow section
source:

16. Trimarans allow high speeds
Record-breaking “Adventurer”
Artist
vision
Reality

17. UK Navy: Trimaran demonstrator
Trimaran Demonstrator “Triton”
low power at high speed
reduced operating costs
better damage stability
good seakeeping
large deck area
efficient payload layout
good survivability ?
source:

18. Trimarans investigated by several navies
Concept study of MTG

19. Incat HSV-X1 “Joint Venture”
Wave Piercer
Incat 045, HMAS “Jervis Bay”
Incat HSV-X1 “Joint Venture”
source:

20. Incat HSV-X1 “Joint Venture” (US Army)
Wave Piercer
Incat HSV-X1 “Joint Venture” (US Army)
500 fully equipped
troops
40+ knots
up to 1000 nm

21. Paragon Mann: VSV Wave Piercer Patrol boat
source:

22. Stealth design“Sea Wraith”
Wave Piercer Projects
Stealth designDD 21 project
Stealth design“Sea Wraith”
MTG Frigate
source:

23. Only civilian applications built
Fast Monohull
Only civilian applications built
source: Blohm&Voss

24. Hydrofoils

25. Canadian Bras d‘Or Russian Mukha class PHM (Boeing)
Fully Submerged Hydrofoils
(FSH)
Surface Piercing Hydrofoils
(SPH)
Canadian Bras d‘Or
Russian
Mukha class
PHM (Boeing)
high cruising speed
improved seakeeping
limited payload capability
large draft
photo: Ehlers

26. Air-Cushion Vehicles

27. underwater explosions small draft and underwater signature
very high speed
low vulnerability to
underwater explosions
small draft and underwater signature
amphibious capability
affected by wind
trim sensitivity
high acquisition cost
high maintenance cost
source:

28. (Landing Craft Air Cushion)
USA employs ACV as LCAC
(Landing Craft Air Cushion)

29. Russian LCAC Pomornik class Largest ACV worldwide
150t payload, 63 knots
Russian LCAC
Aist Class
70 knots
photos: Ehlers

30. ACVs suitable for operation in ice
Finnish ACV “Tuuli”delivered in 2002
photos: Ehlers

31. SES (Surface Effect Ships)

32. Air Cushion Catamarans (SES)
No surface effect involved
operate at high speeds (> 40 knots)
reduced underwater signature
improved shock resistance
good platform stability
shallow draft and large deck area
speed loss in head seas
loss of amphibious capability
high acquisition and maintenance costs

33. Various SES built and operated by navies
AGNES 200 (FR)
Oksøy class minehunter (NO)
“Bora“ missile corvette (RU)

34. Stealth SES built in Scandinavia
Skjöld class patrol boat (NO)
“Smyge“ (SE)

35. SES Demonstrator “Corsair”
MEKAT concept
allows modular
conversion
Blohm&Voss

36. Air-Cavity Ship uses air-lubrification
% engine power for air film vs % in SES
Principle
Smerna
Ropax
Blohm&Voss

37. Hybrid Hydrofoils
Hysucat
HYSWAS

38. HYSWAS = Hydrofoil small waterplane area ship
+ extended range
+ good seakeeping
high cost
payload critical
Foil contribute 30-70% lift

39. German Concept study never realized
Design study for fast ferry by Bremer Vulkan
photos: EMIT

40. Japanese built prototype
TSL-F

41. Navy HYSWAS projected
US Projects ranging from patrol boat to 2400t frigate

42. HYSWAS demonstrator: “Quest”
Tested 1995, US Navy

43. Hysucat: Hydrofoil-supported catamaran
South-African development, Tandem foil arrangement
+ good seakeeping
+ low resistance
– foil tailored to design condition

44. Sustention Pyramid

45. Wing-in-Ground (WIG) = Ekranoplans
very high cruising speeds
good transport efficiency (vs aeroplanes)
no airports needed
safety concerns
low payload
take-off requires high power
Source: jpcolliat.free.fr/ekra/ekraA.html

46. Russian Navy used Ekranoplans
“Caspian Sea Monster”
550t weight (> )
500 km/h
Source: jpcolliat.free.fr/ekra/ekraA.html

47. Russian Navy used Ekranoplans “Lun” (missile launcher)
400t weight, 450 km/h
Source: jpcolliat.free.fr/ekra/ekraA.html

48. Russian Navy used Ekranoplans “Orlyonok” (troop transporter)
110t weight, 400 km/h
Source: jpcolliat.free.fr/ekra/ekraA.html

49. US Navy has studied WIGs as transporters

50. German Wing-in-Ground (WIG)
Flightship
Hoverwing

51. Many more concepts exist...
Deep-V monohull
Planing hulls
Semi-planing hulls
Weinblume (staggered hull cataramans)
...

52. And now it’s time to…