Ships – Submersible device – With weapon or weapon system
Patent
1990-08-23
1992-11-17
Swinehart, Edwin L.
Ships
Submersible device
With weapon or weapon system
114125, B63G 828
Patent
active
051633795
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the deployment of objects at sea, principally, but not exclusively, to the deployment of mines.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Mines and other objects can be deployed at sea by aircraft, surface ships, submarines or small, self-propelled vehicles. Usually minelayer ships or converted commercial ships such as ferries or oil support vessels are used. The mines are then launched from the ship by trolley or inclined ramp.
Navies are tending to use dedicated minelayer ships less, with the intention being to use converted commercial ships in times of hostilities. Such ships are vulnerable to attack, particularly in a period leading up to hostilities. Additionally, the major proportion of mines will be carried in a very few ships making the potential effect of the loss of even one ship very heavy.
There is thus a need for a transportable container which is easily handled and safe when towed even in extreme sea states whilst being suitable for carrying and deploying solid objects like mines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide an improved deployment system for mines or other objects enabling delivery by ship, submarine or self propelled delivery unit.
The invention provides an object deployment unit comprising:
The deployment unit is preferably suitable for towing by surface ship or submarine, or for the inclusion of a motor to form a self-propelled delivery unit. Even relatively small vessels can usefully be used to tow such deployment units.
The unit can be towed on or below surface. A surface ship can tow it on the surface or depressed below the surface. The unit can be depressed by a kite or by an active depressor for example in the unit nose section. Such an active depressor eases handling of the unit and lessen the effect of environmental limiting conditions. A submarine will tow the unit below the surface and a mobile delivery unit can tow on or below the surface. Sub-surface tows are particularly useful for covert deployment of objects.
For submarine mine deployment the towed unit has many advantages over known forms. The submarine's defensive and offensive weapon stock is not depleted by carrying mines in torpedo storage areas. An alternative method of carrying mines by submarine uses body belts around the submarines. These have problems in that they increase the noise flow. Additionally there is the possibility of danger to the submarine from sympathetic detonations of the mines. The towed unit avoids these problems. The towed unit can, further, provide a launch platform for other weapons systems and thus complement the submarine's effectiveness.
An on-surface tow requires positive buoyancy, whereas a sub-surface tow requires negative but near neutral buoyancy.
A wide range of unit configurations is possible. Preferred arrangements, because of their simplicity of construction, are:
Any convenient number of units can be towed behind a vessel at a time.
The major component of the unit is in the form of ballast. Preferably water filled sections, such as tubes, provide mass compliancy together with neutral trim. At the time of preparing the unit for arming and launch the ballast tubes can be initially air filled. Following launch, sea water can be pumped in to form the required ballast state.
Buoyancy members provide the displacement flotation to support the unit. These may be gas filled tubes, members of or containing compressible materials or members of or containing solid, non-compressible materials, as appropriate for the required uses of the unit.
A surface towed unit should be positively trimmed at all times. The resultant progressive increase in buoyancy as objects are released may cause problems and thus automatic compensation is preferably provided. This can be by venting air to reduce the flotation tube volume and can advantageously be triggered electrically or mechanically e.g. by a snatch cord, following object release.
For a sub-surface tow the trim must be rapidly adjusted following wea
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patent: 3782317 (1974-01-01), Kriedt et al.
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patent: 3909774 (1975-09-01), Pavey, Jr.
patent: 4019453 (1977-04-01), Boswell et al.
patent: 4745583 (1988-05-01), Motal
Swinehart Edwin L.
The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Go
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