Earlier, while I was working on CGN-42, something hit me about the PC replacement and the 11m RHIBs. The RHIBs on board USN ships are the standard USN 7m type. Then I realized there was a pretty big difference between the standard RHIBs and the 11m SWCC RHIBs. At 11m the SWCC RHIBs are about 1/5 the entire length of the PC. This struck a problem.
This is a standard USN 7m RHIB most US ships use:
After the PCs received their stern ramps, this is what they received:
They are the 30'/9meter RHIBs.
here is a picture of the sterns of the PCs
oldnavyguy wrote:For the Specops mission the rhib capability would be a must, but for interdiction and coastal patrol it could be desirable as well. Having the ability to board another vessel and still maintain stand off seems important to me. The ability to carry at least two rhibs would seem a minimum. (One to recover the other once it breaks.)
This explains my confusion. When I was aboard
Sirocco, their RHIB was configured just like an 11m SWCC RHIB, but it wasn't as big as a SWCC boat. It turns out that the Cyclone PCs are fitted for the 30' (9m) RHIBs. Standard, when SOF embark, they have to use what the ship has: 9m RHIBs instead of 11m. No big deal. These RHIBs are very useful. VBSS Teams and SEALs use these RHIBs all the time. Eleven meter RHIBs are 6+ feet longer and about 3'+ wider. A ship as small as the PC replacement probably could not accommodate 2 of those. Even having two 7m or 9m RHIBs will take the aft super structure to be shifted to one side so there is enough room. The 9m RHIBs will work beautifully while allowing good margins aboard the ship.
Here is the stern open while performing operations:
Since the 9m RHIB works so well for SOF and other small boat operations, I really don't see the need to try to expand the ship's capacity to accommodate an 11m RHIB. I will try to accommodate a second 9m RHIB on the starboard side of the aft super structure. This will require the aft super structure to be staggered to port.
Here's a fun gif from the fas guys.
The Harpoons will have to be approximately 5/32" tube cut 35mm long. Should be great fun when I get to her. Here are some thin wall Harpoons:
and thick wall:
Here are fleetscale's 1/72 scale thick wall Harpoons:
I think I will wind up going with thick wall Harpoons for simplicity.
Now...back to the aft SPY-3 deckhouse on CGN-42!
Earlier, while I was working on CGN-42, something hit me about the PC replacement and the 11m RHIBs. The RHIBs on board USN ships are the standard USN 7m type. Then I realized there was a pretty big difference between the standard RHIBs and the 11m SWCC RHIBs. At 11m the SWCC RHIBs are about 1/5 the entire length of the PC. This struck a problem.
This is a standard USN 7m RHIB most US ships use:
[img]http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/images/pc-4-DNST9401317.JPG[/img]
After the PCs received their stern ramps, this is what they received:
[img]http://www.warboats.org/images/jpg/StonerPics/stonerpc9.jpg[/img]
They are the 30'/9meter RHIBs.
here is a picture of the sterns of the PCs
[attachment=0]12031403.jpg[/attachment]
[quote="oldnavyguy"]For the Specops mission the rhib capability would be a must, but for interdiction and coastal patrol it could be desirable as well. Having the ability to board another vessel and still maintain stand off seems important to me. The ability to carry at least two rhibs would seem a minimum. (One to recover the other once it breaks.) [/quote]
This explains my confusion. When I was aboard [i]Sirocco[/i], their RHIB was configured just like an 11m SWCC RHIB, but it wasn't as big as a SWCC boat. It turns out that the Cyclone PCs are fitted for the 30' (9m) RHIBs. Standard, when SOF embark, they have to use what the ship has: 9m RHIBs instead of 11m. No big deal. These RHIBs are very useful. VBSS Teams and SEALs use these RHIBs all the time. Eleven meter RHIBs are 6+ feet longer and about 3'+ wider. A ship as small as the PC replacement probably could not accommodate 2 of those. Even having two 7m or 9m RHIBs will take the aft super structure to be shifted to one side so there is enough room. The 9m RHIBs will work beautifully while allowing good margins aboard the ship.
Here is the stern open while performing operations:
[img]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a227/eTraxx/Ships/pu_3.jpg[/img]
Since the 9m RHIB works so well for SOF and other small boat operations, I really don't see the need to try to expand the ship's capacity to accommodate an 11m RHIB. I will try to accommodate a second 9m RHIB on the starboard side of the aft super structure. This will require the aft super structure to be staggered to port.
Here's a fun gif from the fas guys.
[img]http://www.fas.org/man//dod-101/sys/ship/pc_14_ri.gif[/img]
The Harpoons will have to be approximately 5/32" tube cut 35mm long. Should be great fun when I get to her. Here are some thin wall Harpoons:
[img]http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/7164110.jpg[/img]
and thick wall:
[img]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3198/3075738597_98012b3301_z.jpg[/img]
Here are fleetscale's 1/72 scale thick wall Harpoons:
[img]http://store.fleetscale.com/images/cache/72HARP2.600.JPG[/img]
I think I will wind up going with thick wall Harpoons for simplicity.
Now...back to the aft SPY-3 deckhouse on CGN-42!
:wave_1: