A new item that may be carried by ships with well decks

[surfgun]

In addition to traditional landing craft, LCAC, zodiaks the random PWC. Here is a new addition to a well deck near you, the Coastal Command Boat. It may be used in concert with the PC's and perhaps the LCS when they may be finally deployed to the Persian Gulf?
http://www.navy.mil/management/photo...-HB951-044.JPG

[DonBelt]

Complete with a crank down mast! What ever are they going to tell new boots to do now that the mast really does crank down? :whome:

[surfgun]

A pair of 25mm's should give this boy some reach out and touch someone.
New coastal command patrol boat with increased capability delivered to US Navy

[Stitch]

Wonder if you could put a Bushmaster turret on the roof?

Also, what are the black pintle-mounts with the shields for? Are those for M240B's?

[Albany Rifles]

Yeah, the pintle-mounts shieds are for 240Bs/M2s/MK19s

A 25mm mount on the roof would cause it to be top heavy as hell.

And that first photo sure looks like a Swift boat!!!

[Gun Grape]

240G for the Navy. Its a different weapon. Lighter, faster, better and Marine Approved

[DonBelt]

You know, instead of wasting hundreds of millions of dollars on the LCS to provide a littoral capability it seems to me that an LPD loaded with a couple of patrol craft like this as well as the smaller armed rhibs could fulfill that role much better. The LPD has the legs to bring the vessels to the region where they would be needed, can provide the command and control facilities, support services, flight deck that could accommodate multiple helicopters for air support, search, and fast response. The helos could be armed with asm's to provide defense from larger combatants like corvettes or frigates.

[surfgun]

I bet a half a dozen of these could be packed into an LSD. This may become a forward basing concept?

[Albany Rifles]

240G for the Navy. Its a different weapon. Lighter, faster, better and Marine Approved

Meant 240G....240B is the coax on a Bradley....stuck in my company command days!

[Doktor]

Meant 240G....240B is the coax on a Bradley....stuck in my company command days!

Good think you didn't ordered Gs then

[surfgun]

Posted: July 9, 2014 12:10 PM

SAFE Boats Awarded Mk VI Patrol Boat Contract by U.S. Navy

TACOMA, Wash. — SAFE Boats International (SBI) has been awarded a $34.5 million contract to provide the U.S. Navy four additional Mk VI Patrol Boats (Mk VI PB), with options for an additional two boats.

The Mk VI PB is the Navy’s next-generation Patrol Boat and will become a part of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command’s (NECC) fleet of combatant craft. The Mk VI PBs mission, per the contract, is to provide operational commanders a capability to patrol shallow littoral areas beyond sheltered harbors and bays, and into less sheltered open water out to the Departure Sea Area for the purpose of force protection of friendly and coalition forces and critical infrastructure.

SAFE Boats designed the 85-foot Mk VI PB for optimal performance, fuel economy, and firepower. Systems are designed to reduce Total Ownership Cost, minimize manpower and improve reliability and maintainability. Powered by twin diesel engines and water jets, the Mk VI PB is capable of speeds in excess 30 knots at full load. It has a range in excess of 600 nautical miles. Berthing accommodations, galley and head/shower facilities allow for extended missions. Additionally, the boat is fitted with ballistic protection and can be armed with a variety of crew served and remotely operated weapons systems.

“SAFE Boats is proud to have been awarded this new contract for additional Mk VI Patrol Boats for the U.S. Navy,” said Dennis Morris, president and chief executive officer, SAFE Boats International. “The Mk VI Patrol Boat program represents a new level of size and sophistication for the SAFE Boats product portfolio; through the execution of this program, we have increased our boat design and manufacturing capabilities and capacity. We look forward to the future of the Mk VI Patrol Boat program and other similar large craft programs.”

SBI was awarded the initial contract for six Mk VI Patrol Boats in May 2012 and will be contractually delivering the first boat to the Navy later this fiscal year. SBI is producing the Mk VI Patrol Boats in its Large Craft Production Facility (LCPF) located in the Port of Tacoma, Wash.

Originally developed to build ships for the U.S. Navy during World War II, the size and configuration of the facility allows several Mk VI PB size craft to be under construction simultaneously. Located on the water, the LCPF provides SBI an ideal location to produce and support large craft.

[JRT]

I bet a half a dozen of these could be packed into an LSD. This may become a forward basing concept?

Your initial post references the 65-foot, 50-ton CCB, Coastal Command Boat, a one-off unnamed craft numbered 65PB1101. You could fit eight of those boats, or maybe ten, in the well deck of USS Whidbey Island (LSD-41), if more than one was available. My understanding is that they are not buying any more of those 65-foot CCBs, rather will be buying the 85-foot Mark VI PBs. Don posted good reference to fitting those in well decks in another thread, the post quoted below, showing eight of the longer 85-foot Mark VI PBs in the well deck of LSD-41.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]37360[/ATTACH]
...That's 8 Mk VI patrol craft, each one with a range of 600 nm+, numerous RHIB's, and the LSD 41 has the ability to provide air cover and support with USMC SuperCobras or Vipers, USA OH-58's (or their eventual replacements), armed SeaHawks or even Harriers, it has the range to deploy to any part of the globe. If you pair it with Cyclone class patrol ships or existing LCS, you have the anti-piracy, interdiction, 3rd world littoral environment pretty well covered. It can provide support, command and control and supply for all those vessels. If you are up against 4th or 5th gen aircraft, then you need a capital ship like a CG or CVN...

edit: Below is a video, early portion providing light overview description of the new 85-foot Mark VI PB, latter portion showing the one-off 65-foot CCB.

Link to some info at NAVSEA website:
http://www.navsea.navy.mil/teamships.../SS_MK_VI.aspx

[surfgun]

Posted: September 4, 2014 3:22 PM

Navy Accepts Delivery of First Mk VI Patrol Boat

WASHINGTON — The Navy accepted delivery of the first Mk VI patrol boat on Aug. 27, Naval Sea Systems Command announced in a Sept. 4 release.

The craft is the first of 10 patrol boats currently under contract with Safe Boats International in Tacoma, Wash. The patrol boats will be operated and maintained by Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC), supporting coastal riverine forces.

“This versatile platform leverages a proven, quality design and will provide enhanced capabilities to patrol and protect shallow coastal areas,” said Frank McCarthey, program manager for auxiliary ships, boats and craft in Program Executive Office, Ships. “This delivery is a significant achievement for the program and we look forward to delivering more of these flexible, capable craft in the next few years.”

The Mk VI patrol boat is an 85-foot craft arranged with ergonomically designed pilothouse, covered fly bridge, reconfigurable main deck cabin and below-deck accommodations. The vessel includes shock mitigating seating for up to 10 crewmen and eight passengers with a maximum sprint speed of more than 35 knots.

The first Mk VI successfully completed sea trials this summer and is undergoing testing and training evolutions before it will be transitioned to NECC for operational deployment in late spring 2015.

The Mk VI patrol boat is the Navy’s first patrol boat introduced since the mid-1980s, tracing its lineage to the Mk III and Mk IV patrol boats, with significantly more capabilities than its predecessors through improved performance, navigation, armament, survivability, and command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The Mk VI patrol boats are expected to patrol shallow littoral areas beyond sheltered harbors and bays for the purpose of force protection of friendly and coalition forces and critical infrastructure, providing high value unit shipping escort, supporting maritime intercept and Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure operations and supporting theater security cooperation and security force assistance operations.

Follow-on patrol boat deliveries are planned through fiscal year 2018.