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 Author  Topic: The Navy just announced these new Boats Very similar to PT Boats
  Jerry Gilmartin

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Gilmartin   Send Email To Jerry Gilmartin Posted on: May 28, 2012 - 1:12am
I just thought this was an interesting article in the Navy Times Magazine. Look at the similarities between this and the Motor Torpedo Boats of 1941! Jerry

Navy places order for new class of patrol boats


By Christopher P. Cavas - Staff writer Navy Times
Posted : Thursday May 24, 2012 16:20:37 EDT

SAFE Boats International has won a competition to build a new class of patrol boats for the Navy’s Naval Expeditionary Combat Command, the company announced Thursday.

The 85-foot-long Mark VI patrol boat is intended to expand the operating area of Navy patrol craft farther off shore, supplanting and replacing existing craft such as the 68-foot Mark IV and 34-foot Sea Ark patrol boats.

The $30.5 million SAFE Boat contract award is for five new patrol boats, with an option for a sixth — which, if exercised, would add another $6 million to the contract’s value.

Ultimately, the Navy intends to buy 48 Mark VIs.

The government solicitation was made via the General Services Administration’s eBuy website. Three bids were submitted, said Chris Johnson, a spokesman for the Naval Sea Systems Command.

The Mark VI boats will be built at a newly leased Large Craft Production Facility in Tacoma, Wash., SAFE Boats said in announcing the contract.

The company normally builds small craft at its facility in Bremerton, Wash., but the length of the Mark VI exceeds the capacity of the older yard.

The Tacoma facility will be able to build up to six Mark VIs at a time, the company said.

SAFE Boats’ Mark VI design, a variant of the company’s Archangel self-righting life boat, will have a waterline length of 78 feet. Powered by twin diesels and waterjets, it will have a range in excess of 600 nautical miles and be able to burn both marine grade diesel and JP-5 fuel. A Mark 38 25mm gun can be mounted forward.

In an interview earlier this month, Capt. James Hamblet, commodore of NECC’s new Coastal Riverine Force, said the boats would operate at speeds in excess of 35 knots with sprint speeds of 41 knots.

The Mark VI will have berthing and galley facilities to allow for extended missions, and shock mitigating seats will be fitted at crew work stations. The main cabin is reconfigurable to accommodate remotely operated vehicles, a medical triage area, or provide more shock-mitigated seating.

SAFE Boats also builds 25-foot Response Boat-Small and 33-foot Special Purpose Craft-Law Enforcement craft for the Coast Guard.

The first Mark VI boats are to be delivered in fiscal 2014.




Jerry Gilmartin

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David Waples

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of David Waples  Posted on: May 28, 2012 - 6:13am
Thanks for sharing that with us Jerry. It will be interesting to hear more about the mission and how they're going to deploy these boats. She looks well armed with the two Mk. 38 MOD 2 25mm guns fore and aft. However that .50 cal on the top of the deck cabin sure looks exposed, especially with no railing. I have to imagine that would be quite a challenge to be up there at speed. You have to wonder why they don't put a turret, something with some protection, similar to what they've done with the Humvees and other armored vehicles. This does look like a boat that has the potential to get in close.
Thanks again!
Dave

David Waples

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TED WALTHER

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of TED WALTHER   Send Email To TED WALTHER Posted on: May 28, 2012 - 7:06am
Jerry;
This is a step back. The MK V is 82 feet, and since I was on one for over a year and a half, I know it can sure do more than 41 knots. To me, the MK38 25mm has always been a tempermental weapons system, I have even seen rounds go through the barrel,on more than a few occassions. It also looks to have a Flir targeting system, for them. who really knows, I am sure it will change.
What is that low part of the deck for? To allow boarding parties to exit CRRC(Zodiac F-470)? They can just use the ramp in the back to unload.
It is not for swimmer casting, because of the jet drives.


David;
Keep in mind this is an artists conception, those .50's will probably have a stanchons with lifelines, as the MKV has. If this follows the MKV's idea of weapons mounting those .50's will be upgraded to twin mounts. Turrets, I doubt it. these designs are really weight conscious.
take care,
TED


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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: May 28, 2012 - 11:18am
It doesn't seem to me that they put much thought into the weapons systems for this boat. I am sure the speed and the way she handles will be more then fine. I would think they might have something with a bit more stopping power for weapons. Funny how we don't learn from past lesson's. The PT BOATS of WWII found out quickly we needed more fire-power to deal with small coastal boats and barges. Spending this much money on a small boat, more homework and thought should be used. The enclosed helm area is wonderful, but that low opening amidships is kind of dumb, and at least one electronically operated turret might with twin caliber guns could be tried.


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TED WALTHER

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of TED WALTHER   Send Email To TED WALTHER Posted on: May 28, 2012 - 1:40pm
Jerry;
Now I see what is going on, they also have the contract for NECC/RIVERINE force with the RIVERINE COMMAND BOAT(RCB), A design we adopted from the Swedish, that I first saw in Denmark in 2005, the Riverine Patrol Boat (RPB) , the Mobile Security Force (MSF) boats, and the Force Protection-Medium patrol craft.
I really think the new boat is a waste of money. It is NOT a replacement for the MK lll and MKVl PB's(I was a crewmember on both models), we were slower but our weapons capabilty was off the chain. Plus the MKlll and MK lV's were operated by Naval Special Warfare, the current Riverine units are NOT part of NSW(NSW boat teams work exclusively with SEAL Teams and they are:SBT 12, Coastal Warfare West Coast, SBT 22 Riverine Warfare,Stennis MS, and SBT 20 Coastal Warfare East Coast). The 3 Riverine Squadrons which use the SAFE Boats are part of Naval Expeditionary Combat Command(NECC), which is a completely different "animal".
Take care,
TED


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PeterTareBuilder

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of PeterTareBuilder  Posted on: May 28, 2012 - 8:05pm
I can only imagine what would happen if any fast moving water or alarge wave were to catch that step in the starboard side. I wonr if the port side has the same thing?

Cheers

"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!"

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  Jerry Gilmartin

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Gilmartin   Send Email To Jerry Gilmartin Posted on: May 28, 2012 - 8:46pm
Hello shipmates,
Hey hey hey dont shoot the messenger! I agree with the sentiment and observation about the step in the side. It seems like a bad design choice to me. I also agree with Teds experience with the weapons systems. It seems like the artist rendition may leave us all a little bit short. I hope the final design will rectify these seemingly obvious shortcomings. I just thought it was an interesting tidbit that was related to PT Boats and their legacy. You would think that modern day naval designers would heed the hard fought lessons learned from not so long ago in the PT Boat Navy! I guess those who dont learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Or somethiong like that! Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

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