English

DTIC ADB012220: The SWATH Concept: Designing Superior Operability into a Surface Displacement Ship

SWATH ships are characterized by twin submarinelike lower hulls, thin struts (one or two per side) at the air/sea interface, and a wide expansive bridging structure to tie the two sides together. With most of the buoyant volume under the water surface and most of the arrangement volume considerably above it, only a small part of the ship interacts with waves on the surface. Consequently, a SWATH ship is much steadier and easier riding than a conventional monohull of equal size. Thus, SWATH offers increased speed in a seaway, and has less need to change course than do monohull equivalents. These benefits, moreover, can be realized with displacement ship-level technology. The principal disadvantages of SWATH, compared to monohulls, are: (1) Generally higher fuel consumption rates at low and moderate speeds; and (2) Less ability to accommodate weight growth beyond design margins over their operating lifetimes. This report summarizes 5 years of coordinated analyses and testing which have raised the level of knowledge of SWATH ship technology and design to the stage where the concept is judged to be a relatively low risk candidate for advanced development by the Navy.

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