What-If USN Mk.VI Patrol Boat proposals

[navydavesof]

The Mk6 "craft" the USN current has, and is despirately trying to figure out what to do with, a buuuuuuuuuuuuuunch of problems, and the Sailors associated with the craft are unaware of any CONOPS. Instead, the USN has assigned its Sailors to "find a mission" and tasked its unit commanders to "sell the boat". As carr would attest, anyone with one half of one brain would understand that super sucks and is not a responsible thing to do...at any level.

So, taking matters into the hands of the interested, I have considered several configurations of the Mk6 craft to address a few different missions. As this site hosts, they aren't just concepts for debate but instead models to be built reflecting concepts.

Each has a few different configurations. As the hobby goes, each one, as a model would be pretty pricy to build and flesh out . However, I think we could possibly influence change with an associated profile or even article.

While the Navy does not realize this, the Mk6 craft is a Fast Inshore Attack Craft and nothing else. Sure they have tried to use it as an escort craft, etc but really and truly...it's a FIAC.

Let the fun begin turning this poorly equipped turd into a formidable platform!

Missions:
- Light ASuW
- Light AAW
- EOD Support
- Light UAV employment

Possibilities are:

- Ranged light ASuW missile (Javelin/Sea Griffin)
- Increased ranged ASuW gun/s (Millennium Gun mounted on the aft deck)
- Increased close-in ASuW guns (see Millennium Gun supported by the Mantis AAW system)
- AAW gun (see Millennium Gun supported by the Mantis AAW system)
- Lite AAW missile (Some sort of Stinger missile launcher to the stern of the boat)
- CIWS radar capable of coordinating tracts with other naval assets (shooters)

These are also changes that the PC force and any future PC replacements (a future Corvette) need.

[navydavesof]

Fascinating! The aft Mk38 mount can be removed and replaced with a number of other weapons. SeaGriffin or Millennium Gun would give the boat actual mission.

[carr]

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[navydavesof]

Just thinking out loud ... What about the 19-tube 2.75" guided rockets? Helos can carry 4 sets for a total of 76 rockets, I think. That would make a potentially useful weapon without taking up much space.

That is fascinating! How would those rockets be guided? Would they be better than a SeaGriffin put on target?

[carr]

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[carr]

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[navydavesof]

It would make for an interesting collection of models, if nothing else.

Indeed!!! As they are they cannot affect that kind of change. Would this include an uparm?

[carr]

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[navydavesof]

Are you saying that they cannot accept the kinds of changes suggested via simple bolt-on additions? That there is insufficient room on the existing boats?

Excellent question. Rockets don't do well with a super thin aluminum hull craft like the Mk6. I think I have an idea of how to mount a PC level of Sea Griffin armament aboard.

If so, my answer is to eliminate the entire superstructure, if it's in the way, and rebuild to the desired configuration...These are not meant to be luxury cruise ships. In necessary, to fit more weapons/sensors, let's return to the austere PT boat design.

Interesting for sure. How extensive would the weapon systems go? At the limited size of the ship and the size of advanced weapons needed to be relevant, not a lot of consequence can be fitted. One version I would have is the current hull/ structure arrangement with the aft Mk38 replaced by a 35mm Millennium Gun and the current mast supplemented with the Mantis C-RAM radar, and the bow would still have its Mk38 25mm gun.

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Mantis_400x300_Luftwaffe.jpg (63.34 KiB) Viewed 12246 times

As a FIAC-type boat, the crews shouldn't be "living" on the boat. They should be living at a base or tender and just board the boat to execute a mission. Crew comfort is not an issue over the short time frame of a mission.

I agree, but that would also mean we would have to own the littorals so these craft could operate near and not have to transit very far to the shore.

[carr]

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[navydavesof]

More to come soon, listeners!