ASNE High Speed High Performance Ships and Craft Symposium

The X-Craft a 73m Experimental Platform for the US Navy

July 19th 2005
by Ed Dudson, Ship Design Director BMT Nigel Gee and Associates, Ltd

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Contents
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Introduction Project Timescale Hull Design X-Craft Features Launch & Trials X-Craft Program

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Introduction
l

Sea Fighter first fast littoral vessel purpose designed & built for the US Navy
Navy had specific requirement:
Unlimited operation in SS4 at 40 knots Transatlantic range 4000nm at 20 knots Two spot NAVAIR class 2A helicopter deck certification (Series 60 Helicopter) Capable of launch and recovery of 11m and 7m RIB Capable of movement / storage of 12 mission modules within the mission bays (mission modules for ASW, MCM and anti small boat swarming) Capable of lifting a 16 tonne mission module from mission deck to flight deck Build to commercial standards and commercial timescales

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X-Craft vs other High Speed US Navy vessels

X-Craft Length (m) 79.90 HSV-1 95.47 HSV-2 97.22 Westpac Express 101.00 TSV 97.22

Beam (m)

22.00

26.00

26.60

26.65

26.60

Draught (m)

3.60

3.67

3.43

4.20

3.43

Installed Power (kW)

8640 or 44760

28800

28800
(4xDiesels)

28800
(4xDiesels)

28800
(4xDiesels)

(2xDiesels) / (2xGT) (4xDiesels)

Max. Dwt (tonnes)

700

740

627

750

700

Max. Speed (knots)

50

38

38

36

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Introduction
l X-Craft was funded by the Office of Naval Research l Initially the vessel was purely an Science & Technology

(S&T) project to Accurately determine Sea Loads Demonstrate Mission Modularity Demonstrate Launch and Recovery of water craft
l The vessel was to be operated by a civilian crew l Vessel Life was expected to be 5 years

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Introduction
l During the build the direction of the project was changed l The US Navy decided to bring the X-Craft into the Fleet

It is the first of a new class of vessel FSF or Fast Sea Frame and named Sea Fighter The vessel is undergoing system upgrades to be Fleet Ready (Completion)
l Sea Fighter will be operated by a US Navy and US

Coastguard permanent Crew

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Project Team & Timescale

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The Shipbuilding Team

Definition of requirements

Prime contractor to US Government

Shipyard

Designers of vessel hull design, including detail design

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Timescale
l l l l l l l l

Hull development Contract Design Contract Signing Keel Laying

: 2001 2002 : August 2002 February 2003 : 28th March 2003 : 5th June 2003

Fleet Ready Specified : 2004 Christening of X-Craft : 5th February 2005 Launch of X-Craft Delivery to Navy : 12th February 2005 : 1st July 2005

Note: Keel laying to launch only 20 months Contract signing to delivery only 27 months
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Hull Development

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Hull Development
l The US Navy requirements necessitated a new hull design

in order to extend the operational envelope. ModCAT hull developed as a result

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

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Hull Development

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Hull Development Seakeeping Results

0.26 0.24 0.22 RMS Vertical Ac. g-force 0.20 0.18 0.16 0.14 0.12 0.10 0.08 0.06 0.04 0.02 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3.0 3.2 SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT, Hs [m]

Conventional

ModCAT

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Advanced Ride Control System

Pitch Heave and Roll Control Provide by :

2 x 3.75m2 Titanium TFoils

2 x Full Beam Transom Interceptors

Supplied by Island Engineering

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Advanced Ride Control System

4

Yaw Control
LEFT

BOW SWINGING RIGHT

Vessel Dynamic Stability improved with an active Titanium Flapped Skeg.

0 YAW RATE, DEG/SEC -1 6 - 12 -8 -4 -1 BOW SWINGING LEFT

L- R

8 RIGHT

12

16

-2

-3

R -L CDRL

-4 STEERING ANGLE, DEG

Spiral Test at 40 knots

Supplied by Island Engineering

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Seakeeping Tests

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Launch
February 12th 2005

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X-Craft Features
X-Craft is a Multi-Mission Vessel with a high deadweight Re-configurable Air Conditioned Mission Bay Deck Stowage for up to 12 Mission Modules (at 16 tonnes each) XY Crane for movement of cargo and mission modules Stern Ramp for Boat Launch and RoRo Operations Elevator for Flight Deck Mission Deck Cargo Transfer Advanced Data Measurement Suite Demonstrator for NVD compatible Flight Deck Lighting
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Arrangement

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Mission Bay

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Stern Ramp
Custom Dual Purpose Ramp Capable of Launch and Recovery 11m NSW RIB 7m RIB Ro Ro Operations for loading of HUMMWV and other vehicles

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Stern Ramp

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Flight Deck
NAVAIR Approved Class 2A Flight Deck
l Twin Spot Landing l Series 60 Helicopters l Hot Refuelling l NVD Compatible Flight Deck Lighting l NVD Compatible Visual Landing Aids

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Scientific Payload
l The X-Craft is installed with what is probably the most

complex suite of data measurement systems on board a high speed vessel of this size. The suite includes 105 Strain Gauges 11 Accelerometers 15 Pressure Transducers 30 Ship System Measurement Channels

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Fleet Ready Upgrades

X-Craft is undergoing system upgrades to ensure Naval Certification Including Installation of Secure Communications Centre Installation of CIC Installation of a new communication mast above the helicopter control station. Upgrades to AFFF Firefighting

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X-Craft Schedule
Navy took ownership July 1st 2005

Vessel arrives at home port San Diego August 2005

Vessel undergoes extensive demonstrations and Navy trials throughout the remainder of 2005.

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X-Craft Trials
l

XCraft successfully completed sea trials

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Any Questions ?

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