US Navy Mk VI Patrol Craft
US Navy Mk VI Patrol Craft are the first class of fast patrol boats built for the US Navy since the 1980s. These boats were desinged for brown water, littoral zone operations. They have been designed to replace legacy Mark V Special Operations Craft and other similar craft operated by the US Navy.
Compared to the craft it is replacing, the Mark VI is larger, desinged to be more survivable, armed with better, more modern weapons, stronger, more modern communications, and equiped with modern intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems. The Mark VI can perform missions including patrolling shallow areas, search-and-seizure operations, escorting high-value shipping and fleet units in foreign ports, and in support of special operations/forces.
The first Mark VI patrol craft were delivered to the US Navy in August 2014 and were to deploy operationally in spring 2015. Other deliveries continue. The U.S. Navy plans to purchase up to 48 Mark VI patrol boats.
The interior of the Mark VI boats is spacious, with berthing for the crew and shock-absorbing seats for other occupants. These seats and sound deadening berthing spaces and galley allow the crew to operate more comfortably in high sea states. The boats are fully networked with a command, control, communication and computing, surveillance and intelligence (C4SI) suite for enhanced situational awareness, survivability, and multi-mission support, which includes flat screen monitors mounted throughout the vessels, including at the stations/seats for the special operations personnel.
Payloads can be configured to fulfill missions ranging from mine hunting to defending against swarm boat attacks. Standard armament consists of two remote-controlled Mk 38 Mod 2 25 mm chain guns and six crewed M2 .50 caliber machine guns. Depending on mission needs, gun mounts can hold M240 machine guns, M134 miniguns, and Mk 19 grenade launchers. It is also planned to mount guided missiles like the BGM-176B Griffin.
Armor plating to withstand small-arms fire is around key elements such as the engines and fuel tank.
The aluminum-hulled Mark VI is powered by two diesel engines connected to water jets that propel it faster than 35 kn (40 mph; 65 km/h), with a range of 700 nmi (690 mi; 1,100 km) at 30 knots. The reconfigurable main aft cabin can hold payloads like Navy SEAL operators or a medical facility. The rear deck and stern is able to launch and recover small boats, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs).
Mark VI boats are able to be transported and deployed by larger Navy ships such LHDs (Landing Helicopter Docks), LPDs (Landing Platform Docks), and LSDs (Landing Ship Docks) which allows them to be carried and deployed anywhere in the world. Each Mark VI costs $15 million
The specifications for these vessels include:
Displacement: 72 tons
Length: 82 ft.
Beam: 22 ft.
Draft: 4 ft.
Speed: 45 knots
Crew: 10
Embarked forces: 8-10 personnel
Range: 700 nmi at 30 knots
Armament:
- 2 x Mk 38 Mod 2 25mm chain guns
- 1 x BGM-76B Griffin Missile launcher (Optional)
- 6 x .50 cal machine guns
- 2 x 7.62 mm M134 mini-guns/M240 mchine guns
- 2 x 40mm Mk19 grenade launchers (Optional)
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