Another viable Force Protection Option for our ports

[Ex-Dragoon]

http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/naval/protector/Protector.html

If we bought 4 to 6 each for Halifax, Vancouver and the St Lawrence Seaway plus have a number available for when the Navy deploys to the Persian Gulf we could significantly add to the protection of our assets. We could even possibly modify several MCDVs into being mother ships for these USVs. Thoughts?

 

[Kirkhill]

Might have been useful for those Brits that were just released - supplying the Cordon while they conducted the Search.

Interesting application for the MCDVs.  How many could you stack in their stern? Along with the Sea Can for the Control Room.

 

[IN HOC SIGNO]

http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/naval/protector/Protector.html

If we bought 4 to 6 each for Halifax, Vancouver and the St Lawrence Seaway plus have a number available for when the Navy deploys to the Persian Gulf we could significantly add to the protection of our assets. We could even possibly modify several MCDVs into being mother ships for these USVs. Thoughts?

Very cool. I wouldn't mind one of those to play with. ;D

 

[MP 811]

I think this boat could definietly be a viable option for us.  Now having said that, it'll never happen.......... ;D

Great piece of kit.  My only question is the stabilzed gun.  The site says the gun is stabilized while moving and in swells, but watching that one boat trying to send rounds down at the barrel in the water, one could see that rounds were missing as the boat pitched up and down.

 

[navymich]

Interesting application for the MCDVs.  How many could you stack in their stern? Along with the Sea Can for the Control Room.

The beam of an MCDV is 11m, and the length of the USVs are 9-11m, so it would be an interesting fit.  Of course, it wouldn't work with any of the ones that had packages on them.  As well, the current crane doesn't reach that far aft to launch them.  Cool piece of kit though!

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

I think this boat could definietly be a viable option for us.  Now having said that, it'll never happen.......... ;D

Great piece of kit.  My only question is the stabilzed gun.  The site says the gun is stabilized while moving and in swells, but watching that one boat trying to send rounds down at the barrel in the water, one could see that rounds were missing as the boat pitched up and down./b]

The question you need to ask though is you may have seen rounds missing but how many were hitting as well?

Airmich....I wonder then if another option would be instead of using MCDVs(I always try to include the naval reserves in my ideas) is to get offshore support vessels (like Anticosti and Moresby ) and use them as mother ships for the USVs.

 

[Mike Baker]

I saw it on Future Weapons yesterday, and I think that we need to invest in these. Perhaps on for St. John's too....... ;D

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

I saw it on Future Weapons yesterday, and I think that we need to invest in these. Perhaps on for St. John's too....... ;D

While every port should be protected I think we should concentrate on the major ones for now, otherwise we divide up our resources and make our measures less effective...

 

[kratz]

airmich,

Could the crain be modified or replaced with one that would meet the new role, if the cost of this program was approved?


Edit: for spelling.

 

[navymich]

Ex-D, I never had the "privilege" of even stepping foot on the Moresby or Anticosti, much less sailing on them, so not sure how it would work out on them.  It's made me curious now though, so I'm going to look up some specs.

Kratz, dependent on the package that is embarked on the MCDVs, some of them come with another crane too.  This would help out with the launching.  I'm not sure of the weight load on it, but IIRC it should be fine.  However, I see the main issue being the tight squeeze to get the vessels on the deck.

Actually, as I type this, I remember that I've got a contact who is also a member of the boards that should be able to answer some of these questions with more detail and experience.  I'll drop him a line and see what he's got to stay.

 

[Stoker]

Cool piece of kit, you could easily use an MCDV as a mother ship with a sea container for a control van. Using the MCDV as a launching/recovery platform could prove to be dicey due to placement of the existing crane, however a crane similar to the mine sweeping crane could be bolted into place and all the electrical connections are there.
I think,however the powers to be are not going to have a remote control boat with an machine gun sail around the harbour.

 

[Stoker]

Kratz, dependent on the package that is embarked on the MCDVs, some of them come with another crane too.  This would help out with the launching.  I'm not sure of the weight load on it, but IIRC it should be fine.  However, I see the main issue being the tight squeeze to get the vessels on the deck.

The cranes that come with packages wouldn't be up to the task due to weight load restrictions and turning radius limitations. The only crane that comes close is the MMS crane and that has a maximum load restriction of 2 tonnes and a reach about 5.2 meters.

 

[Kirkhill]

Cool piece of kit, you could easily use an MCDV as a mother ship with a sea container for a control van. Using the MCDV as a launching/recovery platform could prove to be dicey due to placement of the existing crane, however a crane similar to the mine sweeping crane could be bolted into place and all the electrical connections are there.
I think,however the powers to be are not going to have a remote control boat with an machine gun sail around the harbour.

Would it be necessary to have the gun mounted at all times?  Why not just mount it when patrolling sensitive areas or when the threat is particularly high?  And how about complementing the USVs with those Swedish Combat Boats of which I am so enamoured

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_Boat_90  - sorry for the Wiki reference but I am time limited.  Patrol with the USVs (and UAVs like Fire Scout http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/firescout/ )  and use the CB90s to launch your inspection/assault parties.  As noted the USVs can also form your screening cordon.

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

TN2IC your inane posts were removed as they added nothing to the thread.

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

Kirkhill the problem is if the crap hits the fan then it might be too late to mount the gun. Placing an armed USV out there might not stop the bad guys, but it might cause enough deterence to give them pause.

 

[Kirkhill]

Kirkhill the problem is if the crap hits the fan then it might be too late to mount the gun. Placing an armed USV out there might not stop the bad guys, but it might cause enough deterence to give them pause.

Accepted Ex-D.  I guess I was assuming operations under different threat levels.  If the threat level rises, or if the target is sufficiently sensitive then you can risk upsetting the locals - or perhaps you could even do the James Bond thing and put the gun in a retractable RWS.

 

[Dale Denton]

I am of no authority here, but I have another idea. What if some sort of smaller projectiles (missiles) could be strapped onto one of these USV's? Wouldn't guided weapons solve the accuracy issue? Also, i'd like to bring up the notion that the optics for this machine look similar to those used on our ADAT's weapon systems. I don't know if they are similar at all, but if they look the same, wouldn't that suggest that a Canadian company is capable to suppy part of manufacture this vehicle? From what i've read on this website the CF has major manpower issues, and these UAV and USV's could be a solution (opinion needed here). I realize that these machines require operators, but they could seriously help us out IMO. Any input on the things I have mentioned would be greatly appreciated.

Regards
Lobo

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

The problem with guided weapons and the hardware/software associated with them raises costs and we would want something like this to be as economical as possible

 

[IN HOC SIGNO]

It does get pretty choppy out in the Harbour and in the Basin though. I went on a patrol with the FP folks about 3 weeks ago in the Jet Boat and it was certainly a little bouncy in the Bedford Basin.