Naval Special Warfare tests new fast boat design that is being used as a technology demonstration craft. The boat refines lessons learned regarding hull form and littoral warfare.
The Navy has accepted delivery of a technology demonstration craft designed by Carderock Division, a division of Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Naval Sea Systems Command, and built by Oregon Iron Works, a metals manufacturing company headquartered in Clackamas, OR. The craft, called SEALION (SEAL Insertion, Observation and Neutralization) is about 71 feet in length and was delivered in January 2003.
SEALION is an example of a successful integrated product team (IPT) effort. The IPT involved representatives from the government, boat builder and special warfare combatant craft users throughout the design, construction and acceptance. SEALION falls under a program called Ship and Force Architecture Concepts (S&FAC) managed by Michael Bosworth. The SEALION assistant program managers included Lieutenant Commander Leo Carling, Lieutenant Commander Skip Vollweiler, and Mike Anslow.
“SEALION is part of an overall multi-sponsor program that is run out of Naval Sea Systems Command,” said Bosworth. “One of our key areas is experimentation and prototyping and SEALION is a main effort within that area. In some areas, we do a lot of paper and quick concept studies, which we make great use of computer tools. Within experimentation and prototyping, we get into actually building hardware and testing the theories and concepts. This provides decision makers with scientific data to support in equipment choices.”
SEALION was designed by Carderock’s Combatant Craft Division of NSWC. The design team included Rich Wilson, Jenny Speirs, Mike Anslow, Dave Fox, Dick Wilkie, Bill Stavenger, Gordon Hatchell, Bob Hamilton and Larry Wiley.
SEALION has hosted many officials interested in its unique technologies including General Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Vice Admiral Eric Olson, deputy commander of USSOCOM; Vice Admiral Yedidia Yaari, Israeli CNO; Rear Admiral Paul Sullivan, deputy commander for Ship Design Integration and Engineering; and Vice Admiral Gary Roughead, commander U.S. Second Fleet.
The craft refines the Navy’s knowledge of advanced hull forms, offering excellent seakeeping capabilities and improved readiness to crew and passengers. Throughout the design process Combatant Craft optimized SEALION for human interfaces and human systems engineering to significantly reduce the potential adverse affects on the crew through the use of shock mitigation techniques. The design incorporates innovative construction techniques for craft that will operate in the littorals.
As SEALION is a technology demonstrator, it is not necessarily headed for a particular acquisition program or even a particular sponsor, although we work very closely with special operations command and some applicability in the deployable vehicle area for surface warfare. And both of those are sponsors of SFAC.
The technologies under review would have applications to a number of programs within Naval Surface Warfare and USSOCOM. Bosworth explained, “There are several things we want to examine in this project. One is seakeeping. In other words, the ability of a fast planning craft to be in rough seas and not harm the occupants. Second, there is a degree of wave piercing that occurs due to the low, sharp bow; this also helps with seakeeping. Third, we were also examining enclosing the personnel aboard. Some of the current craft have open operating stations and there are potential benefits to the warfighters in being on the boat for a long time and being enclosed—they should be better prepared to perform their mission. We are also examining overall size—in particular we kept the craft sized so that it could be loaded onto a C-17. We are going to look at what capabilities we would gain by relieving the C-17 size restriction and making the craft a bit larger. And finally, we are looking at modularity.”
The SEALION program has identified three distinct levels of modularity and is in the process of designing a mid-range level of a modular SEALION. The first defined level of modularity, essentially a reconfigurable space, was built into the first SEALION craft. The third level of modularity was demonstrated by a mockup of the SEALION, which incorporates the removal of the aft third of a SEALION craft.
Because of their familiarity with small craft operations, Navy Special Warfare Group 4 is putting SEALION through limited operational evaluation trials. The craft continues to undergo various testing to fully assess each of its technical aspects.
“SEALION 2 is in the midst of design and the program is assembling materials. The program has funding to build a second craft and we will start construction this year,” said Bosworth. SEALION 2 is expected to test specific technologies such as antennas and radars.
Following completion of testing, Combatant Craft will maintain SEALION as a test bed for future littoral warfare concepts and equipment. SEALION will be operated by Carderock Division and will be based in Norfolk, VA.
“The teaming with Oregon Iron Works, the program office and the multi-sponsor structure of the program really makes things like this project move rapidly, inexpensively and successfully,” said Bosworth.
