Posted on 05/31/2014 12:17:22 PM PDT by null and void
• For more than a decade there have been sightings of unusual high-speed watercraft patrolling up and down the Columbia River
• It isn't clear if Sealion ll has ever even become semi-operational, but the program remains active because new boats keep appearing on the river
The Navy's intention was to use the craft as a medium-range method of transporting SEALs without being appearing on the enemy's radar
Known simply as Sealion, it measured 71 feet and required a crew of one or two sailors to operate. It was capable of 40 knots under normal conditions and no less than 30 knots in sea states as high as level five.
A rear opening garage-like door would allow for deployment and recovery of these craft with relative ease and without compromising the boat's stealth capabilities for more than a short period of time
It appears to have been a refinement of the original design and is rumored to have offered an even lower radar cross section than its predecessor, but was also big enough to carry an unspecified number of SEALs and a modular mission payload.
The state-of-the-art electronics suite included a retractable FLIR turret, communications array and radar, along with a highly automated command and control system.
Another supposed benefit of the Sealion ll was that it could be used to sneak up on a moving target, such as a large ship.
Even boaters who have spotted a Sealion visually as it is semi-submerged say that it does not show up on their commercial grade radars, which is at least some proof to the Sealion's cloaking capabilities
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Heavily edited to fit the 300 word limit.
It’s too bad they didn’t call it the Virginia. Just needs a rebel
Battle ensign or a Naval Jack
To really make it kewl!!
I’m surprised Øbozo didn’t order them painted bright red - so as to display a better target to our enemies.
VERY, VERY, VERY cool water craft!!
Is the author Russian?
If the boats are on the water in the open they're obsolete and no one cares if you see it.
Ping.
All they needed was to call Reggie Fountain and he could have built this stuff cheap. And better.
Thank you for that drawing. I never knew the ship was that big - I just thought it was pretty much the part you see from the surface with a few guys scrunched together!
Have the drug cartels ordered any yet?
Optimally, you would think that such a craft would also be capable of submerging just enough, at a much slower speed, of course, to be much like a whale, not very visible unless you are right on top of it.
Note the water line on the left half of this drawing:
When will Obama sell the plans to China?
Loose lips sink ships
The Columbia River does not go between between Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, B.C.
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