Air Cushion Vehicles for Arctic Operation

The paper presents results of the NAVSEA FY85 Surface Ship CONFORM Design Study for an IOC year-2000 suitable for logistics and for general search and rescue duties in the Arctic. The study is one of several design studies produced each year by the CONFORM program to provide OPNAV with alternative feasible ship concepts for varying IOC dates and to provide R&D planners with feedback regarding R&D alternatives. Two complete feasibility designs were developed. The first design was developed with the aid of an ACV Design Synthesis Math Model. The second design evolved as a derivative of an existing U.S. production craft and, as such, offered a lower risk approach. Results of performance and cost tradeoff studies are presented from which it is concluded that gas turbines are the perferred choice of power plants and aluminum alloy is the preferred choice of hull structural material. The most suitable skirt height was found to be approximately 12 ft. Presented at the Annual Technical Symposium (24th), 1987.