Navy Christens X-craft

Navy NewsStand ^ | 02/08/05 | Journalist 1st Class Daniel Sanford, Naval Station Everett Public Affairs

[SandRat]

NAVAL STATION EVERETT, Wash. (NNS) -- The Navy unveiled its future as it officially christened its revolutionary new Littoral Surface Craft - Experimental, commonly referred to as "X-Craft," Feb. 5.

Developed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), this high-speed, aluminum catamaran is designed to test a variety of technologies that could allow the Navy to operate more effectively in littoral, or shallow, waters.

Officially, the ship's been named Sea Fighter and has been assigned hull number FSF 1, which stands for fast sea frame. X-Craft marks the first time a catamaran was designed and built specifically for the Navy.

"The United States Navy has been at the forefront of employing catamaran technology for advanced naval vehicles," said Sea Fighter's designer, Nigel Gee. "The difference here is that ONR came out with some very challenging new requirements which required some new technology in order to address that.

"We've been working with ONR and The Titan Corporation to produce something that would satisfy those demands," he said. "They include achieving speeds of more than 50 knots with a full payload; being able to travel 4,000 nautical miles across the ocean without being refueled; being able to land helicopters in sea states four or five; being able to recover watercraft in sea state four at reasonable speeds over the stern ramp; and ensuring the vessel be habitable at sea states four and five for long periods."

Sea Fighter is powered by a combined diesel or gas turbine (CODOG) engine plant outfitted with two MTU 595 diesel engines and two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines. The diesels will primarily power the ship during long-range cruising speeds, while the gas turbines will enable the sea fighter to travel at least 50 knots in calm seas and more than 40 knots in sea state four.

"There is a tremendous capability in this vessel to move people, equipment, mission modules, and can help with humanitarian assistance," said Capt. David Comis, initial X-craft project manager from Feb. 2002 to July 2004. "I think this vessel would have been perfect for the recent Indonesian mission. It can get to its destination very quickly and has the capability to take part in a large variety of missions."

Thanks to its large mission bay, which can hold up to a dozen 20-foot mission modules, Sea Fighter remains mission flexible. It can take part in various undertakings, including battle force protection, mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, amphibious assault support, and assistance with humanitarian aid.

A multipurpose stern ramp, with direct access to the mission bay, allows Sea Fighter to launch and recover manned and unmanned surface and sub-surface vehicles while underway. Its flight deck has dual landing spots that can fit two H-60 helicopters or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

Perhaps most revolutionary is that this 262-foot catamaran is outfitted with a crew of 26, 16 of which are Navy while the other 10 are Coast Guard.

The plankowning crew is made up of five officers and 21 enlisted. While all of them are male, that doesn't mean men will always man the ship.

"This vessel was designed with a mixed-gender crew in mind," said Comis. "There are a large number of restroom facilities on board, so there's the capability of having separate small bunkrooms for women."

Sea Fighter is designed with three-man staterooms for its crew, a decidedly more personal setting than the vast berthing compartments of most naval ships. But with minimal manning, each crew member will have to become very knowledgeable of his ship very quickly.

"The thing that's really unique about this crew is that since there's only 26 of us, the engineers can't concentrate just on engineering and the navigators can't just concentrate on navigation," said Lt. Cmdr. Brandon Bryan. "Everyone has to know everyone else's business. So my engineers know how to drive the ship, my guys who drive the ship know how to go down and start the diesel. Everyone knows everybody else's job, and that's just the way it has to be with a ship this large and complex."

And another intricacy to work out is the joint crew of both Navy and Coast Guard.

"I could be wrong, but I don't think it's ever happened before," said Sea Fighter Executive Officer, Coast Guard Lt. Simon Maple.

But crew members say they look forward to working and learning from each other's chosen service.

"I think the Navy brings their vast experience of operating in a Department of Defense environment," said Coast Guard Chief Operations Specialist John Leary. "And the Coast Guard will bring its unique international boarding authority that we have for international activities. Plus, we have more experience manning ships with smaller crews."

Following the christening, Sea Fighter, which only took 20 months to construct, will be put into the water early morning, Feb. 9. The ship will moor at the civilian port of Everett and April 30, Nichols Ship Builders will officially hand the ship over to the Navy.

In July, the ship intends to head south to its homeport of San Diego where it'll begin its testing process.

[SandRat]

The Littoral Surface Craft-Experimental (X-Craft), christened Sea Fighter (FSF 1), at Nichols Bros. Boat Builders in Freeland, Whidbey Island, Wash., will be used to evaluate the hydrodynamic performance, structural behavior, mission flexibility, and propulsion system of high-speed vessels. The X-Craft is a high-speed aluminum catamaran that will test a variety of technologies, which will allow the Navy to operate more effectively in littoral or near-shore waters. U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams (RELEASED)

[SandRat]

Anchors aweigh!

[writer33]

Neat. Thanks for the post, SR.

[MarineBrat]

Wow... looks like an automobile ferry with a Patriot Missile battery! :)

[GeronL]

USNF '97, a computer game had those.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Oztrich Boy]

OK they've more crew comforts, but from the pictures, I doubt they can match the dive depth of X-craft of 60 years ago.

[SandRat]

so at 50 knots how long would it take to make a run from Darwin to Sydney in this thing?

[endthematrix]

From the Titan Corp. Website:

"The keel for the X-Craft was laid on June 5, 2003, and the craft is expected to begin sea trials in the summer of 2004.

Constructed of aluminum, the X-Craft will be powered by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) power configuration that will give it both highspeed capabilities, in excess of 50 knots, while maintaining good endurance and range. The primary power is two LM-2500 gas turbine engines rated at 33,600 horsepower each.

In addition to the gas turbines, the X-Craft will be equipped with two MTU 595 series V-16 marine diesel engines. The craft will use the gas turbine engines for high-speed operations, and the diesels for sustained range and endurance regimes. On
diesel power, the X-Craft will be able to travel 4000 nautical miles at 20 knots.

The X-Craft will be propelled through the water by four Rolls Royce water jet units (two per hull of the catamaran), which will provide exceptional maneuver control and facilitate operations in relatively shallow waters. The gearbox will allow automatic clutching between the LM-2500 and the MTU diesel."

SPEED: 50 KNOTS
LENGTH: 265 FEET
BEAM: 73 FEET
RANGE: 4000 NM
PROPULSION CONFIGURATION:
CODOG (COMBINED DIESEL OR
GAS) 4 WATER JETS
POWER PLANTS:
2 LM 2500 GAS TURBINES AND
LM-2500 GAS TURBINE (33,600 HP)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

That is moving out, 50 knots is over 60 mph , right?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

050205-N-8497H-004 Whidbey Island, Wash. (Feb. 5, 2005) – Ship Sponsor, Lynne Hunter christens the Navy's newest ship, the Littoral Surface Craft-Experimental (X-Craft), Sea Fighter (FSF 1), at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders in Freeland, Wash. Sea Fighter will be used to evaluate the hydrodynamic performance, structural behavior, mission flexibility, and propulsion system of high-speed vessels. The X-Craft is a high-speed aluminum catamaran that will test a variety of technologies, which will allow the Navy to operate more effectively in littoral or near-shore waters. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Lewis S. Hunsaker (RELEASED)

[NormsRevenge]

Not quite,, closer to 56 or so

Knots ,,Miles per hour,, Kilometers per hour
10 ...... 11.51 ..........18.52
20 ...... 23.02 ..........37.04
26 ...... 29.92 ..........48.15

[endthematrix]

This ship seems less than what the USN has learned with our Aussie friends. Incat Corp built catamarans floored the US Navy in East Timor.

http://www.incat.com.au/defence_fs.html

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks, found this:

[Dark Wing]

Check this out.

[noexcuses]

Nichols shipyard is about 6 miles south of me, and my son and I often drive by to monitor the progress.

[Calpernia]

The Navy unveiled its future as it officially christened its revolutionary new Littoral Surface Craft - Experimental, commonly referred to as "X-Craft," Feb. 5.

Developed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), this high-speed, aluminum catamaran is designed to test a variety of technologies that could allow the Navy to operate more effectively in littoral, or shallow, waters.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Dead Dog]

Didn't they design and build this thing in less then 19 months. Pretty amazing.

[Dead Dog]

Funny,

Propritary Infromation usually means, not on the web. Stil, pretty cool.