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| Science & Technology |
| SOCOM's new waterplane |
| 2005-12-11 |
| SOCOM (Special Operations Command) is paying $56 million for an experimental special operations boat, the Stiletto. The 80 foot boat is made of carbon fiber, which is usually only found in aircraft, or much smaller boats. With a top speed of 90 kilometers an hour, and a range of 900 kilometers, the Stiletto is stealthy, and has a very small wake for a ship of its size and speed. In other words, it’s ideal for getting SEAL commandoes ashore, or for scouting missions. The ship is fully networked, so everyone on board is plugged into all information, and can use satellite communications to reach anyone on the planet. The boxy looking trimaran is 40 feet wide and has a draft of only three feet. It displaces 65 tons and can carry about 25 tons of weapons, troops or other material (like UAVs or USV, or Unmanned Sea Vehicles). It requires a crew of less than twelve (depending on the special equipment carried) and is designed to perform missions of less than 24 hours.) The Stiletto can use an amphibious ship, like an LSD, as a mother ship, and can, in turn, launch smaller inflatable boats for landing teams. SOCOM will test the first Stiletto over the next year, and based on the results, more may be built. Pictures: http://www.waterplane.com/design_m80.html |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |