Military Boat Info??

TB Minnow · 13 May 2009, 16:11

Having some fun around Thunder Bay!! We have a USN SEAL team in for training and it is quite a hoot!!

Yesterday Lake Huron was flat calm…Until they hit the water!!!

What do these guys use for boats?!?!? What kind of power? I didn't see any identifiable markings on them.

Jeff

Stoo · 14 May 2009, 02:06

I imagine that some of your countrymen will chime in here, but I would imagine they might use Willards or USMI...

Did it look like one of these puppies?

http://www.willardmarine.com/pdf/WillardEnforcer11m.pdf
http://www.usmi.com/11meterNSWRIB.htm

Up here in Canada, our Navy uses a Zodiac Hurricane I believe. They might even have a couple of them now...

As an aside Jeff, when you first surfaced here, I assumed you were from Thunder Bay, Ontario, but I see we're practically neighbors... maybe we should meet out in the middle of Lake Huron for a pint sometime....

Meet you about N45 9.290 W82 28.217 ?

jyasaki · 14 May 2009, 18:42

USN SEALS seem to have a very wide range of boats. Being SpecOps, they have pretty good funding, and seem to use it pretty efficiently, and they're not limited to the normal government large contract purchases.

The end result is they end up with a lot of small buys of whatever looks like will work for what they need at the moment.

Just an opinion, but based on what I see, I think it's pretty accurate.

jky

TB Minnow · 14 May 2009, 18:54

I will see if I can get a better look at them. Looks like the USMI.

One of the operators was saying that they accidently dropped one from 2,500ft when a strap broke from a Heli and it only required minimal repair and they were off and running.

TB Minnow · 14 May 2009, 18:56

Stoo,

At what depth?

Should I bring the doubles?

TB Minnow · 14 May 2009, 18:58

I'll try but I don't want to get shot!!

They had a guy guarding the tow vehicles that had a hood on with a side arm.

Stoo · 15 May 2009, 03:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by TB Minnow

Stoo,

At what depth?

Should I bring the doubles?

LOL... I don't know there would be much to look at there... let's start up top! I've often thought of taking a run straight across to Alpena but it's a pretty good hike! We are planning a trip over to Mackinaw and Whitefish this summer... we really should stop off in your neighborhood. We generally get there from the Soo, but we could keep coming south.

I'm hoping to get on the Windiate this year too, but it's a long way out and I have rotten luck with weather usually~

TB Minnow · 15 May 2009, 15:18

Oh Stoo,

You haven't heard of the new one?!?!

The Spangler! Documented last year.

So now there is the Windiate, Spangler, Defiance and Florida all in the same general vicinity.

I made the run in my 14ft Achilles last year.

Here are some teaser pics for you.

Here I am hijacking my own post.

Jeff

TB Minnow · 15 May 2009, 15:21

Here you go.

The bow shot is the Florida. Photo courtesy of NOAA

TB Minnow · 15 May 2009, 15:24

The bow shot is too large to post.

Sorry, it is VERY impressive!

Send me your email and I can get it to you.

Stoo · 18 May 2009, 16:53

PM sent!

TB Minnow · 18 May 2009, 17:25

Could always meet on six fathom shoal in the middle of lake huron. Lake bottom goes from 100ft to 400ft in three feet!!

I would love to look over that ledge. At that depth clarity should be nearly unlimited!! Just got to find a light strong enough to be able to look over the edge and see the bottom!

Stoo · 19 May 2009, 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by TB Minnow

Could always meet on six fathom shoal in the middle of lake huron. Lake bottom goes from 100ft to 400ft in three feet!!

That sounds a bit like Bad Neighbor Rock near me. It clears the water now (with the low water levels) and then drops to 200+ in a shear drop-off. There's some old structure at the bottom... probably an old crib for a light or something. None of the old timers around here have any recollection of such a thing, but it might be older than that...

N 45 21.633 W 81 45.797

TB Minnow · 19 May 2009, 19:44

The boats were at the harbor on lunch.

Spoke with one of the guys. He said they are 11meter US Marine Inc.!?!?!

He told me to get on Youtube and there is video he posted of the boats in action.

He couldn't allow me to take pics.

They are out of Little River, VA.

TB Minnow · 19 May 2009, 19:57

Here are a couple more.

TB Minnow · 19 May 2009, 19:58

NSW RHIB Roles
The primary role of the NSW RHIB is insertion and extraction of Special Operations Forces (SOF), typically Navy SEALs. Other roles include general patrol duties, coastal surveillance and resupply of SOF. A squad of 8 fully-equipped SEALs + SWCC crew can fit into a single NSW RHIB.

NSW RHIB Features:
Like many other RHIBs, the NSW RHIB features a hull made of Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP) which is given buoyancy by air-filled gunwales made from reinforced fabric.. This design makes the RHIB tough but fast. NSW RHIBs can operate in heavy seas with winds up to 45 knots.

The RHIBs feature 2 470 HP turbo charged caterpillar in line 6 cylinder diesels with jet pump drives that propel the NSW RHIB to speeds exceeding 45 knots. Max range is 190 nautical miles.

The vessel features saddle-seats for the SWCC crew and up to 8 passengers.

NSW RHIBs are air transportable. They can be parachuted onto water from C-130 cargo planes or slug under heavy lift helicopters.

NSW RHIB Equipment
radar
GPS navigation
IFF (identification Friend or Foe) transponder
VHF/HF/UHF & SATCOMM
NSW RHIB Weapons
The craft has provisions (2 mounts - 1 forward, 1 aft) for the mounting of the following weapons systems:

M2HB .50 machine gun
M240 7.62mm belt-fed machine guns
MK19 40mm grenade launchers
NSW RHIB - Specifications
Crew 3 Crew
Capacity Crew + 8 SEALs or 3,200 lbs payload
Engines 2 x 470 HP turbo charged caterpillar in line 6 cylinder diesels
Waterjets KaMeWa FF280 Mix
Dimensions Length - 36 ft
Height - 17.5 ft
Draft - 2.9 ft
Weight 17,400 lbs
Max Speed 45 knots
Range 190+ nautical miles
Armament m2 .50 machine guns
m240 machine guns
Mk19 40 40mm grenade launchers
Avionics Radar
GPS navigation
Secure radio communications (UHF/VHF/HF/SATCOMMs)
IFF transponder

jyasaki · 20 May 2009, 00:01

940 hp. That's what I need on my RIB. Oh, and the M2.

jky

Stoo · 20 May 2009, 02:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Oh, and the M2.

It would certainly get the backlog moving at the ramp on Saturday morning wouldn't it?

As for the 940 HP, best get the gov't issue gas card to go with that!

jyasaki · 20 May 2009, 17:00

No kidding.

My dive buddies drool over the NOAA catamaran that sits in the Monterey Harbor.

"Gee, I wish I had that boat..."

"Yeah, up until you need fuel..."

Sorry about the small pics; all I could find.

Stoo · 23 May 2009, 05:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

"Gee, I wish I had that boat..."

I say that about all kinds of boats I see, but here's the cool thing: That's what most people, especially divers, say about OUR boats!