Analysis of operational manning requirements and deployment procedures for unmanned surface vehicles aboard US Navy ships

Abstract

This research was conducted per a Navy Warfare Development Center request that the Naval Postgraduate School update the Navy's TACMEMO: Integration of UVs into Maritime Missions TM 3-22-5-W. Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) are expected to becoming an integral part of the Navy's maritime mission. To incorporate USVs into the fleet, manpower issues must be identified and resolved, i.e., manning requirements supporting USV operations; and analysis of the rate/rating, skill sets, training and procedures required to operate and maintain USVs. The methodology included Navy lessons learned, operation evaluation reports, and technical documentations from past and ongoing fleet employment of USVs to identify manning issues. Research findings included: current USV launch-and-recovery systems on host ships are personnel intensive compared to other available systems; knowledge, skills and abilities required of USV support personnel are identified within the BM, EM, EN, ET (Surface), GM, IT, OS, STG (Surface) rating occupational standards, and it would be easier to train personnel from these ratings for USV support; and a formal training path should be established for USV operators. In consonance with Navy Human Capital direction, naval platforms must operate with reduced manning, however, unmanned systems definitely require trained and specialized personnel to operate and maintain.