Air-floated ship being tested by N.A.T.O.

Press, 16 January 1986, Page 25

Air-floated ship being tested by N.A.T.O.

NZPA-Reuter Brussels Six N.A.T.O. navies have agreed to co-operate on research and development of a ship which rides on an air cushion, the alliance said.

Britain, Canada, France, West Germany, Spain, and the United States are to collaborate on the Surface Effect Ship, code named SES-200. The ship resembles a catamaran, with two hulls separated by rubber skirts that channel air supplied by lift fans.

The aim is to develop a fast patrol or attack craft, the size of a corvette, which would be more stable and effective in high seas than traditional ships, N.A.T.O. experts said. The concept has been tested with small 100-tonne craft at speeds of up to 100 knots. The SES-200, a 28knot vessel, is a scale model of ships over 1500 tonnes with speeds of 50 knots. Surface Effect Ships have been successfully used commercially by many nations

for several years, and are now being introduced by several N.A.T.O. nations for military purposes. The United States navy is providing its 200-tonne SES craft for the N.A.T.O. tests, which will evaluate military applications of the vessel. This includes assessing its sturdiness, detectability by an enemy, maximum load, manoeuverability and crew conditions. The tests will run until August from the ports of Portsmouth, Portland and Plymouth in Britain, Brest in France, El Ferrol in Spain, Eckenfoerde in West Germany and Halifax in Canada. Unlike a hovercraft, which is driven by overhead propellers, the Surface Effect Ship has a submerged propellor shaft. The N.A.T.O. Programme will allow countries to share research and development results for their national S.E.S. efforts, so alliance members can get better value for defence budgets.