Shipshape has a new meaning

the sun link ^ | dec-10-2002 | BY Chris Barron

[green team 1999]

NEXT GENERATION NAVY Shipshape has a new meaning • The futuristic-looking Sea Shadow arrives today at PSNS for three months of work.

BY Chris Barron

December 5, 2002

No, Batman isn't at the helm. And James Bond's not the captain, either. Sea Shadow, the futuristic ship with the mysterious name, will appear in local waters today and enter Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for a three-month maintenance period.

Sea Shadow, based in San Diego, is a stealthy Navy test platform capable of handling many advanced technologies. It demonstrates ship control, automation for reduced manning, propulsion concepts and surface ship stealth.

With its hard angles and black surface, Sea Shadow resembles a floating version of the Air Force F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter jet.

Because the shipyard had dry dock space availability, Navy officials opted to bring in Sea Shadow for routine repairs, planned modifications and painting.

PSNS officials said they can't comment on Sea Shadow, except to acknowledge that it will enter an extended maintenance period in the shipyard.

The existence of Sea Shadow, built in secrecy in the mid-1980s, wasn't even acknowledged by the Navy until April 1993, when it was declassified. Before then, the black ship operated only at night.

It performed daylight missions the next year before being pulled out of service for five years in 1994. The ship was reactivated in 1999 so Navy contractors could research future ship engineering concepts. Sea Shadow also participated in two Navy warfare exercises.

Much like a stealth fighter, Sea Shadow is not easily detectable, if at all, by radar. It was designed to avoid sonar and infrared sensors as well.

Two thin struts support the Sea Shadow's main structure. On the bottom of each strut is a submerged, submarine-like pontoon, known to provide exceptional stability in heavy seas.

With its sides sloped inward at an extreme angle, radar echoes off the ship are dulled even further.

The new class of Navy destroyer is employing many of Sea Shadow's characteristics, such as stealthy-angle designs and reduced-manning capabilities. Sea Shadow has allowed the Navy and shipbuilder Northrop Grumman to test its advanced technologies in a realistic at-sea environment.

Sea Shadow has a sustained cruising speed of 13 knots, propelled by a diesel electric engine. It can hold up to 12 people.

Reach reporter Chris Barron at (360) 792-9228 or at cbarron@thesunlink.com.

•••

Sea Shadow Length: 164 feet

Beam: 68 feet

Propulsion: Diesel electric

Speed: 13 knots

Berthing: 12 people

for information and discusion only,not for profit etc,etc.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[green team 1999]

[r9etb]

See? See? Right Here! This is our Stealth Ship! This one! Right Here! This is what Stealt Ships look like! Just like this one! And it's coming to a shipyard near you -- this Stealth Ship of Ours That Looks Like This!!!!

LOL! One has to conclude there's better stuff on the books and in the water....

[Gunrunner2]

And exactly what is it mission? To "hide," fight or to deliver weapons and/or troops.

It certainly isn't big enougn for shipping significant numbers of men and material. But, it may be able to deliver a box of Marines somewhere. But weapons. . .what about weapons? I see none. Is it like the F-22 with internal weapons that come out when shooting?

[green team 1999]

The ship was reactivated in 1999 so Navy contractors could research future ship engineering concepts.

is for testing the technology,the final product will be bigger,faster and loaded with weapons.

[Orangedog]

Kinda looks like the CSS Virgina from the Civil War...

[Salgak]

This is a test-bed ship. They use it to try out new technologies. Some work, some don't.

[HardStarboard]

Unnnnh - maybe rethink the design; with no superstructure on the deck those sailors standing in the open are gonna get pretty chilly - and or "gone" when the first big wave comes along....(;>)

[Gunrunner2]

Thanks. . .I was wondering if they had a specific mission in mind when exploring the technology.