Inland waterways: force projection technologies
In collaboration with the University of Louisiana, Swiftships is developing an unmanned version of its Anaconda SOC-R river amphibious assault boat; on the bottom photo of the boat of the previous series
The possibility of waging a river war seems to be becoming a significant factor in the strategic calculations of many fleets, as the military began to pay great attention to the projection of force deep in the coast during their operations. Consider some of the developments in this area.
In the modern and future operational space of the naval forces, greater emphasis is most likely being made and will be placed on operations in coastal zones and lake-river areas. Operations on the sea and inland waters are becoming a single continuous environment, rather than just separate sets of combat missions, fleets around the world are increasingly receiving orders to conduct patrol and counterinsurgency operations in coastal waters, river deltas and on inland waterways.
Milan Vego, a professor at the US Higher Naval College, claims that navies are currently "facing significantly more serious and more diverse threats in the coastal zone than before." According to him, this problem is particularly noticeable in closed and semi-enclosed waters, such as the Persian Gulf, and international straits, such as the Hormuz and Malacca, where the weaker defending side may already have a multi-level defense consisting of integrated air and coastal systems, land and marine facilities and special operations forces (SSO).
In light of this trend, the US Navy in 2006 re-focused on operations in inland waters, starting with the formation of river divisions (RIVRON) under the flag of the newly created Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (US Naval Expeditionary Force Support Command). Each division is equipped with specially designed ships that are capable of providing almost uninterrupted operations in a hostile environment and which simultaneously serve as delivery vehicles and fire support for small tactical units.
In 2012, military river forces and expeditionary naval forces were combined to create a formation for operations in coastal and lake-river areas. The created flexible general purpose unit, designated CRF (Coastal Riverine Force), is capable of carrying out combat missions both at sea, on the coast, and deep in the coast.
"CRF provides control of the coastline and lake-river areas, actually performing operations in the open sea and deep in the coast, preventing enemy forces from entering these areas," said Lieutenant Commander Jennifer Cragg, public relations officer at NECC. - There are many combat missions that CRF performs, such as the protection of critical units; ensuring the safety of seaports of disembarkation and landing aerodromes; patrols for the purpose of surveillance, intelligence and information gathering; VBSS tasks (visit, board, search and seizure - visit, disembark, search and seizure) to detect and detain vessels conducting illegal activities at sea; and ensuring the safety of landing sites and aircraft. ”
“CRF units deployed in 2015 throughout the world in all areas of responsibility of all combat commanders, ensuring the safety of aircraft carriers and submarines in ports, on the high seas and on limited waterways. They served as attached security teams aboard ships of the Military Sea Lift Command, including high-speed transport ships and other critical merchant ships, ”added Cragg.
Special operations
For special combat units performing tasks in coastal and lake-river areas, the ability to interact with marine fleets and ground units remains one of the most important factors affecting their successful implementation. The range of these tasks is very wide: from offensive operations, reconnaissance and surveillance to rescue hostages / rescuing people and evacuating civilians. This diversity determines the need for watercraft capable of effectively casting, evacuating and supporting special forces.
According to one of the special divisions of NATO, since military campaigns are by their nature less durable than those conducted in Afghanistan and Iraq, the special forces of many countries are seeking to improve compatibility with the navies, above all this concerns the uniformity of systems, increased observation capabilities and intelligence, as well as the quality of operational management.
For naval special forces who want to parachute into the area of operations, any number of threats can reduce the set of commanders available to the commanders necessary to deploy units. However, there are several options that have changed little over time. They range from larger floating means, such as rigid hull inflatable boats (boats) RHIB, capable of carrying installed heavy weapons and more personnel, automatic surface vehicles and to less visible platforms, such as collapsible military inflatable boats MIB (military inflatable boat) , jet skis and surface boards with jet propulsion systems, you should also not disregard the basic introduction tactics - on foot or by swimming / under water.
According to the US command of special operations forces USSOCOM, the RHIB platform must be able to perform near-deployment and evacuation of special forces, limited coastal patrols, reconnaissance operations, and tasks to isolate the battlefield. It must be transported and paratrooped by the C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster and C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft.
Perhaps the most recognizable RHIB-type vehicle currently used by special operations forces is the US Marine Special Operations Craft-Riverine SOC-R with a crew of three specially trained personnel capable of carrying a group of eight fully equipped special forces.
The SOG-R boat, 10 meters in length and 9 tonnes in displacement, is driven by two Yanmar 6LY2AM-STP diesel engines connected to Hamilton Jet HJ292 water cannons.
According to the Marine Corps (ILC), these boats are used for amphibious operations in lake-river areas; intelligence; force coercion; protection of zones, perimeters and tangible property; surveillance, water sampling and emergency response.
In addition to infrared searchlights and flashing lights, the boat is equipped with a powerful steel structure with various equipment installed on it, including a compass, an electronic navigation kit, and a communication kit including tactical radio stations AN / PRC-117G and a GPS DAGR receiver.
During its development, the SOC-R boat underwent performance tests at air temperatures up to 50 ° C; it has a maximum speed of 40 knots and has a maximum cruising range of 125 nautical miles (231,5 km).
SOC-R boats, which are in service with the special operations team SBT (Special Boat Team) of the USSOCOM command, can secretly deploy special forces in a given area, provide mutual support, communication and, if necessary, respond quickly, providing significant fire support during evacuation .
The boat can be transported on the CH-47D Chinook helicopter's suspension (photo below), the crew and the landing force descend along the cables down into the boat before it is lowered into the water. For evacuation for the return of the crew and paratroopers used stairs. This allows you to maintain a high level of interaction between offshore platforms and advanced operational bases, which have a helipad.
The boat itself has a total of five installations for weapons, as a rule, they are mounted on 7,62-mm Gatling machine guns of the М134 series; 12,7 mm heavy machine guns; 40-mm automatic grenade launchers and 7,62-mm twin machine guns. All together, this weapon provides a circular zone of fire.
Other RHIB options include the FRISC (Fast Raiding Interception and Special Forces Craft) special technology boat from Marine Specialized Technology, first tested by the Belgian special forces at the NATO Cold Exercise in March 2015 of the year in Norway.
Special forces boat FRISC; bottom two photos - model FRISC-1200
This vessel is able to carry out sea and coastal interception and VBSS operations, as well as perform various tasks in inland waters, including the introduction, evacuation and supply of special forces groups, and, if necessary, provide significant fire support with its weapon systems.
On the FRISC boat with a length of 12 meters, there are two engines with an 370 horsepower each, providing a maximum speed of 80 km / h and a maximum cruising range of 450 km. FRISC, being a large enough vessel, is capable of transporting various small MIB inflatable boats, which allows special groups to load onto smaller boats for introduction into areas not accessible to larger vessels of the RHIB type. The Belgian task force is already using an unbreakable number of these vessels in counterterrorism operations, in the fight against pirates and smugglers.
The Canadian MTR command wants to purchase RHIB 9 meters in length with 10 meters capacity for coastal and river operations. This purchase is part of the Canadian MTR requirement, which also includes the purchase of tactical ground vehicles.
The combat boat Combatboat 90 built Dockstavarvet enjoyed success with a number of naval forces as a coast guard boat and military transport. Small draft and precise control system allows the boat to be involved in river operations.
Gear systems
Swiftships, an international shipbuilding company with headquarters in Washington, is developing an unmanaged version of its Anaconda SOC-R aluminum boat. The company is currently working with the University of Louisiana, developing a prototype for demonstrating technology. The Anaconda SOC-R base platform has a length of 11 meters, a width of 2,43 meter and is distinguished by a sharp-looking V-shaped hull that allows it to operate in fresh and saline waters, it is fully operational at wave heights up to 0,5 meters and retains its vitality at wave heights up to 2,5 meters. The twin jet propulsion allows the boat to reach a maximum speed over 50 knots.
“Anaconda SOC-R has a low profile, suitable for covert movement along river banks and for masking in foliage and mangroves,” said Shiftships head of the company Shah. “All masts, yards, remote devices, antennas are folded to hold and facilitate transportation, and the vessel can be prepared for transportation within 30 minutes.”
“Ships operating in lake-river areas may be subject to an unexpected attack or be confronted with an underwater obstacle or a floating object,” Shah added. “To reduce such risks, the Anaconda boat is filled with foam and remains afloat even with holes .... This provides excellent opportunities for conducting near actions, which are often found in river areas, as well as the ability to withstand combat damage and perform assigned tasks.”
Improvements to the Anaconda-2 unmanned ship will also allow him to choose his own route in the coastal zone or lake-river region through remotely controlled or autonomous systems. In order to expand the communication and intelligence capabilities of the platform, additional sensors are integrated. It is clear that the purpose of the Anaconda-2 initiative program is to develop a stand-alone device that could carry out reconnaissance, observation and interception tasks lasting more than 8 hours.
“Swiftships, in collaboration with the University of Louisiana and other organizations, added the Cajun Bot remote control technology to the Anaconda SOC-R platform and developed a completely autonomous vessel,” Shah explained. “However, due to its cost, advanced electronics for remote control is not part of the standard kit, but is available as an option at the request of the client.”
The Cajun Bot remote controlled car was developed at the University of Louisiana
Nevertheless, it is necessary to solve a number of unique problems arising from the operation of autonomous vessels in lake-river conditions. For example, such vessels should be able to determine the difference between wake and jets and the effects of tides, the difference between river and sea shores, as well as determine floating objects, especially when traveling at high speed.
The boat of the American fleet Riverine Command Boat length 49 feet built SAFE Boats International shipyard based on the Swedish project Combatboat 90. Also in the foreground we see the RPB boat
Small boats
A more modest option available for MTR river operations is the MIB — a smaller, soft-bottom and collapsible version of the RHIB.
These boats, providing quick deployment when performing deployment and assault tasks, can be hidden under water during covert missions, as well as transported inside the CH-47D helicopter and C-130 aircraft.
The representative of the NATO MTR said that the C-130 military transport aircraft could perform similar tasks when using the MCADS (Maritime Craft Aerial Delivery System) airborne delivery system, that is, “the MTR group parachutes onto the coast and collects its MIB boat for further introduction to the area of operation. "
The MCADS system, developed by Airborne Systems North America, includes platforms for delivering boats and boats in non-stop type PRIBAD (Platform Rigid Inflatable Boat Aerial Delivery) and PURIBAD (Platform Universal Inflatable Boat Aerial Delivery), equipped with an exhaust parachute for pulling cargo out of the cargo compartment the aircraft.
MCADS Marine Shipping System
“The boat and the platform are separated immediately after separation from the carrier aircraft: the platform is lowered separately on a two-dome system, and the boat is on its four-dome parachute system. Further, the crew, following the platform, are parachuted from the aircraft on individual parachutes and lands near the finished boat waiting on the water. ”
Inflatable boat Futura Commando (FC) 470 MIB production Zodiac Milpro is one of the popular models, it is in service with not called MTR of different countries. The boat is available in different sizes, which provides combat flexibility for deployable groups.
"The shape of the hull is especially important because it allows you to place a large load on the plane, and also improves maneuverability in various, often dangerous conditions," said a representative of the company Zodiac.
A multifuel outboard engine is installed on the FC 470 MIB family boats, with a flexible fuel tank and waterproof bags for safe storage of equipment. The newest model in the company's lineup, FC 470 Evol 7, features a modified hull shape and a new high-pressure inflatable bottom, reinforced with a sleeve made of unique Duratane material, which makes the boat easier and more comfortable for passengers.
Inflatable boat Futura Commando (FC) 470 MIB production Zodiac Milpro
A boat with a length of 4,7 meters can carry up to 10 people, has a maximum carrying capacity of 1250 kg and a useful bottom area of 3 м2, although it is limited in the basic configuration with an HP 55 engine. However, the optional hard bottom allows you to install the engine power 60 hp
When performing covert tasks, the special groups, having reached the area of operations, can either blow off and hide the MIB under water, or simply disguise it on the shore. However, throughout the operation, it is necessary to carry gas cylinders behind you, which are necessary for inflating the boat and subsequent evacuation after completing the task.
Special NATO units are still conducting evaluation tests of the Proteum company’s USB board (Unmanned Surface Board), which can be transported in the MIB and RHIB for covert penetration to the target. The light and maneuverable board is virtually silent, has autonomous options for sea and river landing of troops.
The board weighs 35 kg and can take the load 180 kg, driven by an electric motor with minimal magnetic and acoustic signs of visibility, its operation time is at least an hour. The USB can operate at speeds from 3 to 25 nodes (5,5 - 46,5 km / h), has a maximum cruising range up to 150 nautical miles at a speed of three knots. The board has several gripping devices for control, allowing for various types of operator placement, as well as fixing it weapons.
According to the company, the Swedish group of special operations is one of the possible customers considering the possibility of using a surface board.
The command of the expeditionary forces of the US Navy receives new larger patrol boats, the Mk VI Patrol Boat, which have a longer range and duration of sailing, heavier armament and an expanded set of reconnaissance equipment and information gathering compared to existing boats.
Larger ships
At the other end of the spectrum of hostilities in the lake-river regions, the Combatboat 90 (CB 90) platform with a mass of 19 tons of Swedish manufacturer of boats Dockstavarvet, completely made of aluminum, is presented. The boat was adopted by a number of foreign fleets and the coast guard, including Greece, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway and Sweden, as a high-speed combat boat and a landing force carrier in coastal areas. The SV 90 boat successfully demonstrated its capabilities on rivers and other inland waterways.
According to IHS Jane's “Combat Ships” directory, the SV 90 boat has an 15,9 meter length, an 3,8 meter width, and a total 0,8 meter draft. Its partially canalized Rolls-Royce Kamewa FF dual water cannons and underwater control surfaces, which significantly increase maneuverability, allow high-speed operations to be performed even in shallow waters with many natural and artificial obstacles. The crew in the wheelhouse of the SV 90 boat, as a rule, is three people, in its middle part it is placed up to 20 of fully equipped paratroopers or 2,8 tons of cargo.
The base platform SV 90 has a sharp body with a reverse saddle of the stern and a landing ramp in the bow. The engines and engine room of the vessel are located in an isolated and waterproof compartment in the aft quarter of the hull.
The ship’s weapon set includes, as a rule, a 12,7-mm machine gun or an 40-mm grenade launcher mounted on a support ring at the rear of the cabin; two fixed 12,7-mm machine guns are also installed in front of the helmsman’s workplace. Instead of a turret weapon serviced by the crew, a remotely controlled combat module (SDM) can be installed.
Since the start of production in 1991, several variants of this boat have been commissioned. For example, the SV 90HNE model, built for the Malaysian fleet, is equipped with two Caterpillar CAT 3406 diesel engines with a total power of 1605 hp; also installed a Onn 230 Volt generator and air conditioning system.
As for the SV version 90HS, designed for the Swedish Navy's landing corps, it is distinguished by the protection of the wheelhouse, the landing gear and the engine room, corresponding to the NATO level STANAG 4569 4, which can withstand a bullet hit to 7,62 mm. The SV 90HS is also equipped with cab overpressure systems for protection against weapons of mass destruction.
The SV 90 boat was manufactured under license from the American company SAFE Boats International for the NECC CRF forces as a commander RCB (Riverine Command Boat) riverboat. This option is optimized for operational management tasks in the river division, which also includes other boats, such as the 11-meter patrol boat RPB (Riverine Patrol Boat) and the 10-meter landing craft RAC (Riverine Assault Craft).
The RCB boat is distinguished by increased firepower, since it has four sets of electric weapons with which you can install the 7,62-mm machine gun М240, the 12,7-mm machine gun М2НВ or the 12,7-mm machine gun Gatling GAU-19 / B. Depending on the task, the support ring can be replaced by an anti-theft gun 49 MK armed with an 12,7-mm M2HB machine gun.
According to the company, she built nine RCB boats and a total of RPN 43 boats for the US Navy and Marine Corps.
It is also building a new generation coastal patrol boats for the American fleet, which will be operated by CRF. The vessel, which received the designation MK VI Patrol Boat (RV), has an aluminum hull, 25 meters in length and the stated range of 600 nautical miles. It was also designed to perform long-term tasks and therefore there are places for rest, convenience, a galley and a shower. With two diesel engines, MTU 16V2000M94 with power 5200 hp. A ship can reach a maximum speed of more than 30 nodes.
The vessel Mk VI RV is armed with an anti-squeak gun with two 25-mm guns Mk 38 Mod 2, as well as six weapon systems capable of receiving the same weaponry as the RCB cutter. From his stern you can launch and return unmanned aerial vehicles or remotely operated underwater vehicles.
"Boats of the Mk VI RV can be launched from the slipways of landing ships and other advanced means, they can cooperate with the Allied fleets at a new more effective level than it was before in the newest stories, “Cragg said, adding that the two vessels were deployed in the area of responsibility of the fifth US Navy fleet in the middle of 2016, and at the end of the same year, two more vessels were deployed in the area of the seventh fleet.
“These combat ships will allow coastal patrols in addition to sheltered harbors and bays to protect their forces, allied and coalition forces, and critical infrastructure,” added Cragg. “Some of the tasks of the boat Mk VI RV include assistance to the security forces, cooperation in the field of security, anti-mine security with the help of uninhabited underwater vehicles and the escort of especially important sea vessels, as well as a number of other areas.”
River monitor
The Indonesian shipyard is promoting the concept of its catamaran X18 Tank Boat as a high-speed and unobtrusive armament platform specifically designed to provide near and far fire support in coastal and river zones. The X18 vessel, first presented at the 2014 Indodefence in Jakarta as a Fire Support Vessel (FSV) fire support vessel concept, is distinguished by a hydrofoil catamaran-type hull, designed primarily from a vinyl carbon composite material; it has a length of 18 meters, a width of 6,6 meter and a draft of 1 meter.
The vessel can take a crew of 4 people and up to 20 paratroopers, as well as a boat type RHIB on its nasal deck. On the X18 vessel, capable of developing the maximum speed of 40 knots, two MAN V8 engines of 1200 hp each are installed, connected to water-jet systems MJP450, as well as a fuel tank of 6000 liters. The maximum cruising range of the vessel is declared in 350 nautical miles with 30 knots and up to 900 nautical miles with an economical cruising speed of 9 knots.
The owner of the North Sea Boats shipyard, John Lundin, said that the X18 is a concept inspired by the monitor class vessels that were exploited during the Vietnam War. (A monitor is a class of low-profile ships or boats with powerful artillery weapons, mainly coastal or river, to suppress coastal batteries and coastal objects). These vessels are mainly used in inland water operations such as deltas, estuaries, lakes and rivers.
“Our concept is aimed at archipelagic countries consisting of thousands of islands. From a logistical point of view, it is difficult to transport and deploy heavy weapons, such as large-caliber artillery and Tanks on such islands. "
American riverboat (monitor) waters the Vietnamese river with napalm
The X18 Tank Boat, armed with stabilized 105-mm fur, will provide direct and indirect fire support in inland waters.
Lundin added that the physical features of the terrain on these islands, especially near the coast, create unfavorable conditions for the actions of artillery and armored vehicles, since these are, as a rule, swampy places. This adversely affects the capabilities of vehicles, their ability to maneuver and support military operations.
“With its small draft, X18 can act very close to the coast or river banks and support it with fire without the restrictions mentioned,” Lundin explained. - We also chose the design of the catamaran instead of the single hull, as we were convinced that in this case the ship could be made very short so that it could operate in such cramped conditions. Our calculations have shown that this is the smallest length that allows you to install an 105-mm cannon without degrading stability. "
A key feature of the X18 is the ability of a gyro-stabilized tower installed on the roof to receive various large-caliber weapons for direct fire.
The company collaborates with the Belgian company CMI Defense on the installation of its X-NUMX-mm CT-CV rifled gun and turret system, as the main armament of the vessel. According to IHS Jane's reference to Ground Battle Platforms, this twin turret weighs 105 kg in a standard configuration with the STANAG 4500 Level 4569 ballistic protection level, although its weight can be reduced by removing the reservation system.
The tower is equipped with an automatic loader installed in its stern niche, and can fire 105-mm projectiles of the NATO standard, as well as the Falarick anti-tank guided missile, which is capable of hitting armored targets at a maximum range of 5 km. The vertical guidance angle is 42 °, while the range in indirect fire mode is up to 10 km. The fire power at short distances can be enhanced by installing the MUSD.
The company still has to find a launch customer for the X18 boat, although it is clear that the Indonesian Ministry of Defense was interested in this concept. Saab proposes to supply its OAK Trackfire and the version of the 9LV battle management system to meet Indonesian needs, although the formal contract is still far away.
For the military, seeking to project power in coastal areas, inland waterways appear to become strategically significant, as countries in the Asia-Pacific region are beginning to understand the transport potential of the vast network of rivers and canals prevailing there. According to the Asian Development Bank, this type of transportation is increasingly recognized as a clean and energy efficient method of moving people and goods compared to traditional land transport networks.
The organization notes that they have already provided technical assistance and loans for inland waterway development projects in China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam. As the understanding of the importance of such programs and interest in them in the region grows, such waterways will even allow for organizing new transport routes that will pass through several countries. This strategic value of such transport networks can also be taken into account when planning future military operations.
For example, in an archipelago country like the Philippines, consisting of more than 7000 islands and islets, they admit that forces and means capable of operating in coastal waters play a prominent role in internal security operations. In a long-term conflict with separatist groups, effective small-size vessels and watercrafts allow the introduction and evacuation of armed forces in a complex network of inland and coastal transport routes inside and around this archipelago.
Along with the United States, Australia has also begun to revive its ability to conduct military operations in lake-river areas. According to the official report of the Australian Ministry of Defense, released last year, there is a need for river patrols, consisting of "a certain number of light and small armed patrol boats," which should be implemented around the year of 2022.
Materials used:
www.shephardmedia.com
www.swiftships.com
www.mstltd.com
www.usmi.com
www.dockstavarvet.se
www.zodiacmilpro.com
www.safeboats.com
www.northseaboats.com
www.adb.org
www.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org
Information