According to the May issue of Marine News:
Horizon Shipbuilding, Inc. is in final negotiations for a two-boat contract for 180-ft multi-role security vessels. This vessel is based on Horizon’s 170-ft and 182-ft fast crew supply boats delivered in 2008 and 2009. The MRSV will be constructed of aluminum and is envisioned to be powered by four Cummins Q-60 diesel engines driving four Hamilton waterjets. Armed with machine guns and a 25mm bow mounted rapid-fire cannon, the MRSV will patrol the waters surrounding offshore oil fields, protecting them from terrorists, pirates and other threats. Armor plating will envelop the house as well as vital machinery spaces to protect the vessel from small arms fire. The MRSV will be capable of speeds in excess of 28 knots and will accommodate eight passengers in addition to the crew.I don't know who the negotiations are with, but I think this is an excellent idea (as you might learn from visiting here, Multi-Purpose Offshore Patrol Vessels, Department of Cheaper Pirate Fighting, Department of Crazy Ideas: How about a cheap inshore fleet? and all the links therein).
Top drawing is from Marine News article and shows armed vessel. Lower photos are from Horizon Shipbuilding and show their 175' and 182' fast crew supply vessels.
Looks like they would be perfect pirate and inshore patrol craft.
UPDATE: DJ Elliot notes in the comments a similarity to some Iraqi Navy OSVs allegedly to be built by RiverHawk Fast Sea Frames LLC. See here:
When Naval Sea Systems put out a solicitation for these vessels last year on behalf of the Iraqi Government, specifications included that they be a steel mono-hull design with a hull length overall at water line of at least 55 meters but not greater than 65 meters with a draft: not greater than 5-meters (planned depth of water at low tide of the Umm Qasr pier. Range was specified at not less than 1,500 nautical miles, speed as 16 knots and endurance: not less than 15 days.
The OSV was to be capable of launching, recovering, refueling, and maintaining three 9-meter FABs and be capable of mooring, refueling, and providing potable water to a 35-meter Patrol Boat (PB),
Capability requirements included high hover helicopter vertical replenishment during day time
Deck space was to be provided for one 30 mm gun and four .50 cal machine gun weapons stations.
Cool.
Finally. Now, a little tweaking. The guns should be in armored tubs, and there should be anti-RPG cages around the wheel house and the tubs. Also, I would like to see the return of the 0.50cal/81mm mortar mount aft. The mortar can fire illum and smoke, as well as HE.
ReplyDeleteI have come to a similar conclusion, using offshore PSV's but from a UK perspective, recently finishing a series of posts on the littoral and 'minor warship' roles/equipment choices
ReplyDeleteHave a look here
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2010/05/fdr-littoral-1/
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2010/05/fdr-littoral-2/
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2010/05/fdr-littoral-3/
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2010/06/fdr-littoral-4/
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2010/05/ship-to-shore-logistics/
The part 4 post looks in particular at options for using a 95m PSV
Would love to hear what you think
That discription fits the 2x IqN OSVs being built.
ReplyDeleteSo, these are for the Iraqi navy rather than for the US Navy?
ReplyDeleteNice boats!
ReplyDeleteToo bad we won't get any of them.
Too bad their design and marketing was funded by another company from which the whole concept was stolen. And Oh By the Way, the whole thing is the subject of a $50MM lawsuit in Chatham County GA CV09-2514-BR.
ReplyDeleteThe Riverhawk folks stole company trade secrets and used assets of another company to develop this concept. Stand by for the navy IG!
Interesting you can check the progress of the case at the Superior Court of Chatham County, Georgia case search here
ReplyDeleteAnd a word of caution, allegations made in civil complaints are not facts but must be proven to a trier of fact. The matter in question relates to the update in the post.
ReplyDeleteThis would appear to be the result of earmarks? No one in the Navy would use boats from this peculiar outfit? IMHO
ReplyDeleteA more recent prerel gives this info:
River Hawk Fast Sea Frames, LLC, Tampa, Fla., is being awarded a $70,140,000 contract for the detail, design, and construction of two offshore support vessels and associated equipment and services for the Iraqi Navy.
This contract involves Foreign Military Sales to Iraq.
Work will be performed in Houma, La., and is expected to be completed by December 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $47.6 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
This contract was not competitively procured based on the terms of a Foreign Military Sales case which the Government of Iraq specified RiverHawk Fast Sea Frames, LLC, as the source for this effort.