Combat tests Experimental Ship High-speed vessel proven during war in Iraq

marine times ^ | 20 June 2003 | Christian Lowe

[Gabrielle Reilly]

"Speed. U.S. forces arrived in theater in less than half the time (three months, compared to seven in Desert Storm), shortening the preparatory phase of OIF and generating more velocity for military operations."


Thanks for the slide show. It is interesting seeing how the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. I guess they are meeting the US Defense Strategy with this little baby.


"Deter aggression and coercion forward by increasing capabilities for swift military action within and across critical regions."

In case you didn't see this on Wednesday...

http://www.defenselink.mil/speeches/2003/sp20030618-depsecdef0302.html

[sit-rep]

Looks pretty sweet. With an average speed of 35 knots, that sob will git up and go!

I remember refueling a spruance class destroyer(gas turbine) while I was in, the early 80's. The skipper, naturally needed to show off a bit, and after the fuel lines were detached, show off he did!!...

As they made preparations to disconnect fuel lines, you could hear the gas turbines increasing RPM. As the R's increased, the ship maintained it's speed(variable pitched propellers--computer controlled). As soon as they disconnected all lines, the old man gave word and they dumped the propeller blades to full forward. Harp, it was something to see. From 15 knots, this ship to two plunges into the oncoming swells and was gone! The water thrust out the rear of the ship(slippage) was almost as high as their bridge...totally awesome!

To see a ship with lines like a spruance, come out of the water past mid ship because of it's speed, has no equivalent rush… This is what a spruance looks like... similiar to th Arliegh(sp?) Burke Class.

[Squantos]

Had to swim home this evening.....we got a turd floater here in the Panhandle of Texas......water everywhere, 3 inches an hour here in my flat little farm town. Waiting for the tide to go out so my phones will work again.....:o) Flood warnings, Tornado watches and more rain on the way.

I'm gonna need that ship just to get out tomorrow if this keeps up. Gcruse...Mom says Pleasant Valley got a bunch too.........ya'll OK ???

Stay Safe !

[gcruse]

Today's storm was nothing like yesterday's. I never in my life saw anything like it. There was a modicum of lightning, but the thunder never ceased. It was a continual roar. I finally left the computer and stood at the door for a good fifteen minutes. At first I thought it was a large jet going over, but it didn't fade away. Just upper atmosphere thunder that continued with no silence for another half an hour. Damndest thing you ever saw.

[Squantos]

Weird Weather indeed........Stay High and Dry !!

[Quix]

MUCH appreciated the slide show. THANKS.

[river rat]

Don't forget...
You've got a high and dry LZ, here in SJ -- that is clear to approach...

Green smoke everywhere....

Semper Fi

[okie01]

"we got a turd floater here in the Panhandle of Texas......water everywhere, 3 inches an hour here in my flat little farm town."

Three inches an hour?! There ain't no way to handle that, up there on God's pool table.

[Squantos]

I know ....we have been having some really great drenching rains the past few days and water has been standing for a few days so this was the .....OK mother nature....can we stop for a few weeks please....thought. It's headed for ya'll so be careful.

Stay Safe !

[harpseal]

Problem with a spruance class destroyer is it is a little big for most of the harbors arround here and there is no swim platform. But it must have been a great sight.

[harpseal]

I guess the floods and the occaisional twister is what you have to put up with to live in Texas. But all in all it doesn't seem like a bad bargain.

[Valin]

High Speed Vessel (HSV)

---

The HSV is a leased commercial, high speed, aluminum catamaran hulled ocean-going vessel. The HSV is rapidly re-configurable and can perform a variety of missions, principal among them the ability to ferry up to 325 combat personnel and 400 tons of cargo up to 3000 miles one way at speeds in excess of 40 knots. Other potential capabilities of the HSV are not limited to but include:

Advanced logistics to replenish forces ashore quickly from a large ship offshore
Command and control
Amphibious operations
Special operations forces insertion/redeployment
Launch/Recover: Various SEAL platforms/craft
Support/Sustain: MK V's, Advanced SEAL Delivery System
Operate CH-46/MH-60/MH-6 helicopters
Objectives: The HSV will provide a theater based, long range, high speed, flexible SOF mobility platform which is capable of independent advance force operations. The HSV's 50% improvement in speed directly enhances the Rapid Decisive Operations (RDO) concept with regard to the transportation of men and materiel and the rapid establishment of advance force operations.


Concept of Operation and Employment: The HSV will be employed as a vessel capable of conducting true independent advance force operations.

During MC02, the HSV will serve as a maritime forward operations base (FOB) with reach-back conductivity to the Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF) and Joint Task Force (JTF) utilizing a robust C4I capability.

MC02 missions will include an airborne (H-60 Ops) and sea based SOF insertions to conduct Special Reconnaissance/Direct Action missions, deployment of a Semi-Autonomous Hydrographic Reconnaissance Vehicle (SAHRV) and the launch and recover of Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB), Seal Delivery Vehicles (SDV), and Special Operations Craft-Riverine (SOC-R).

Simulated missions will include support and sustainment of the Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) and MK V's. Navy Special Warfare Command's (NSWC) operational deployment package will be comprised of a Navy Special Warfare Task Unit (15 personnel), a SEAL Platoon (16 personnel) and a RIB Detachment (9 personnel).

[Squantos]

Yeah but next week it's supposed to be hotter than a snakes ass in a wagon rut and all this humidity is gonna make my normally dry and windy plains hot an muggy. All this hail has my old pickup looking like a titleist golf ball though. Dimples all over it......:o)

My whining aside it sure is pretty here this year. Green fields and tall crops.

Stay Safe Harpseal.....hope yer days are easy friend.

[sit-rep]

I realize the Spruance is not for amphib assualt, just parralleling the power of the propulsion systems. The American version of the jet propulsion system is made by a company called Arneson(sp?). The power it takes to propell a ship to current speeds is mind blowing...