NAVY ADVANCED SHIP PROGRAMS

The paper starts by defining advanced ship programs to include both totally new concepts such as hydrofoils and hovercraft as well as some more conventional ship forms employing advanced technologies. The major emphasis is on the advanced concepts and the unusual features which make them attractive for Naval purposes. The combination of speed, seakeeping and maneuverability of small hydrofoils; the truly amphibious capabilities of the air cushion vehicle; the combination of speed and low cost of the planing craft, are discussed. The paper also includes a discussion of some interesting hybrid concepts such as the Small Waterplane Area Twin-Hull (SWATH) ship. In each case, the background and rationale for Navy interest is provided as a basis for discussing the status and direction of ongoing developments. Particular subsystems such as struts, foils, automatic control, lift systems and flexible understructures are described. The Navy is currently conducting an Advanced Naval Vehicle Concept Evaluation (ANVCE). The assumptions, approach, and status of this study are described. The ANVCE Study is an extensive two-year effort to define the "state-of-the-art," quantify the financial and operational benefits of these concepts, and derive recommendations for future Research and Development. The paper concludes by noting some implications for commercial marine transportation systems. Some issues related to the transfer of technology among military and commercial activities, both foreign and domestic, are also addressed.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceedings of Second International Waterborne Transportation Conference, October 5-7, 1977, New York City. Available April, 1978, approximately 750 pages, Cost: to ASCE members $15.00; non-members $30.00.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Ellsworth, W M
• Publication Date: 1977

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air cushion vehicles; Automatic control; Foil; Hydrofoil boats; Hydroplanes; Maneuverability; Marine transit; Seakeeping; State of the art; Struts; SWATH ships; Technology transfer; Water transportation
• Old TRIS Terms: Hydrofoil craft
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Marine Transportation; Materials; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00170271
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Society of Civil Engineers
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 14 1978 12:00AM