Expanding Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) Survivability via Cost-effective Up-armoring
Authors
Didoszak, Jarema M.
Kwon, Young W.
Subjects
Armor hardening
Stabilized Crew Served Weapons
RHIBs
Stabilized Crew Served Weapons
RHIBs
Advisors
Date of Issue
2022
Date
2022
Publisher
Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Small boat crews operating Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) during Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), are often left exposed to adversaries' hostile actions. In conducting Vessel Boarding Search and Seizure (VBSS) and other close-in surface actions boarding teams are prone to gunfire from above, placing them and their small craft at significant risk. While the RHIB is well known for being swift, lightweight, highly maneuverable, and multifunctional, it suffers from an unshielded distant approach, a need for demanding boat handling skills, assumes generally inferior positioning and full exposure while laying alongside larger vessels. To reduce crew casualties and increase RHIB critical component survivability without negatively impacting operational mission success, a cost-effective, lightweight, unencumbering, and easily installable retrofit is needed. This study will investigate appropriate material solutions to protect against small arms, and blast fragmentation effects, while not deterring from the vessel's mission. Additionally, impacts on buoyancy, stability, and other ship's performance characteristics will be studied. Finally, cost and maintenance considerations will be explored as part of the recommended outcomes.
Type
Poster
Description
NPS NRP Project Poster
Series/Report No
Department
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)
Organization
Naval Research Program (NRP)
Naval Research Program (NRP)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
N9 - Warfare Systems
Funder
This research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrp
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO)
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO)
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.