Naval News readers can read about NAVSEA’s presentation at Sea Air Space 2022 (SNA 2022) here.
While the wheel chart above covers many present and future ships being built ranging from large amphibious ships (LHA and LPD) to the U.S. Coast Guard’s new Polar Security Cutter (PSC) icebreaker to the Berthing Barge (APL) and the new hovercraft (SSC), Naval News only asked follow-up questions on the new 40-foot Patrol Boat (40PB), Landing Craft Utility 1700 (LCU 1700), the Light Amphibious Warship’s (LAW) status, and a quote Mr. Tom Rivers, Executive Director, Amphibious, Auxiliary, and Sealift Ships, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships, made at SNA 2022 that we’ll get to later.
Jamie Koehler, Naval Sea Systems Command, Office of Corporate Communication replied to Naval News in mid-July.
The New 40-Foot Patrol Boat’s Government Furnished Equipment
Naval News reported on the new Metal Shark 40-foot Defiant-class Patrol Boat (40PB) here. While it won’t replace the longer Mark VI Patrol Boat, the 40PB provides essential security to “high-value units, critical maritime infrastructure, ports, bays, rivers, littorals, and harbors both inland and on coastal waters.”
Naval News asked a follow-up question to NAVSEA on what Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) is included with the 40PB to modify it to U.S. Navy usage.
“Metal Shark is installing the backbone for the Navy Tactical Communications and Navigation system.”
Jamie Koehler, Naval Sea Systems Command, Office of Corporate Communication
An example of a U.S. Navy Tactical Communications network can be found here.
The Status of the New Landing Craft Utility (LCU 1700)
Naval News asked NAVSEA about the status of the new Landing Craft Utility (LCU), and NAVSEA replied that the LCU 1700s are being built by Swiftships, LLC in Morgan City, LA. Currently, 32 LCU 1700s are on order (with more possible).
These new 139-foot (42.3 meter) 31-foot (9.4 meters) wide landing crafts have a range of 1,200 nautical miles (1,931 kilometers) at 8 knots, a rated speed of 11 knots, and can carry 170 Short Tons of cargo, or 2 M1A1 Main Battle Tanks or 350 combat troops. The crew is two captains and 11 (mixed gender) enlisted personnel. There are four crew-operated weapons stations, and according to NAVSEA, “A commercial navigation radar, military communications suite, and Amphibious Assault Direction System.” Endurance is around 10 days.
What is the Status of the Light Amphibious Warship (LAW)?
“The Navy endorsed the Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) [for the LAW] as part of the Gate 2 on 22 March 2022.”
Jamie Koehler, Naval Sea Systems Command, Office of Corporate Communication
The U.S. Navy’s acquisition “Gate Review process” can be found here.
The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) defines “Gate 2” as a “Material Solutions Analysis Phase to choose the concept for the product that will be acquired, to begin translating validated capability gaps into system-specific requirements, and to conduct planning to support a decision on the acquisition strategy for the product.”
What is NAVSEA Working on in Mid-2022?
“We have a lot of work on our plate right now, and even more on the horizon.”
Mr. Tom Rivers, Executive Director, Amphibious, Auxiliary, and Sealift Ships, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships at SNA 2022
Can NAVSEA explain its present and future workload when Mr. Tom Rivers made his statement at Surface Navy Association’s exposition in mid-January 2022 (SNA 2022)? “Those remarks were made in reference to DDG (X) [next-generation destroyer], Light Amphibious Warship and then on the horizon construction for T-AK (X) [new next-generation] Sealift ship, T-AH (X) [new] Hospital Ship and AS(X) [new next-generation sub tender],” replied Ms. Jamie Koehler.
