Shallow Water Combat Submersible

Class overview
Builders: Teledyne Brown Engineering[1]
Operators: United States Navy
Preceded by: SEAL Delivery Vehicle
Cost: $383 million (program cost)[2]
Planned: 10[3]
Completed: 1
General characteristics
Type: Submersible, diver propulsion vehicle
Displacement: 4.5 tonnes (5.0 short tons)[1]
Length: 6.8 meters (22 ft)[1]
Beam: 1.5 meters (4.9 ft)[1]
Draft: 1.5 meters (4.9 ft)[1]
Propulsion: Lithium-ion batteries powering electric motors
Speed: 6 kn (11 km/h)
Endurance: 12 hours[4]
Complement: 6 (2 crew, 4 passengers)[1]
Sensors and
processing systems:		 Inertial Navigation System, high frequency sonar for obstacle/mine avoidance and navigation, GPS
Armament: SEAL team personal weapons, limpet mines

The Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS) is a manned submersible and a type of swimmer delivery vehicle that is planned to be used to deliver United States Navy SEALs and their equipment for special operations missions. It will replace the current SEAL Delivery Vehicle. The Navy plans to introduce the SWCS in 2018.[5]

History

Teledyne Brown Engineering was awarded the contract to develop the SWCS in 2011. The $383 million contract provides for the construction of 10 submersibles, the first of which is expected to enter service in 2018. The Columbia Group, which builds and provides support for the existing Mark 8 SEAL Delivery Vehicle,[6] also works on the program.[3] As of May 2018, the prototype boat has been built and is undergoing testing.[7][8]

In September 2018 the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale of 3 SWCSs to the United Kingdom.[9]

Design

SWCS will be deployable from surface ships, land, and Dry Deck Shelters (DDS) on submarines.[10] The SWCS is 12 inches (30 cm) longer and 6 inches (15 cm) taller than its predecessor, the Mark 8 SDV.[7] This will require modifying the DDS to accommodate it.[10] The SWCS will also be about 4,000 pounds (1.8 t) heavier than its predecessor and will have more advanced computer systems and better navigation,[7] with new systems including an electro-optical periscope, sonar detectors, and automatic docking.[4]

The SWCS's larger dimensions will require expanding the DDS to accommodate it. The Navy plans to lengthen the DDS by 50 inches (1.3 m) and triple its weight capacity.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sutton, H.I. (19 May 2017). "SWCS". Covert Shores. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  2. ↑ "Teledyne Awarded $383 Million Shallow Water Combat Submersible Contract". Defense-aerospace.com. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Teledyne Leads As U.S. Navy Seals Seek Next-Generation Mini-Subs" (PDF). The Silent Sentinel. Bloomberg Government. September 29, 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  4. 1 2 Page, Lewis (10 April 2009). "New Navy SEAL minisub's IT-system specs released". The Register. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  5. ↑ Szymanski, Tim (April 11, 2018). Statement of Rear Admiral Tim Szymanski, U.S. Navy Commander Naval Special Warfare Command before the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities (PDF) (Speech). Washington, D.C. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  6. ↑ Delaney, Katy (July 10, 2013). "Dual Use Submersible Vehicle Wins Prestigious R&D 100 Award for Battelle, The Columbia Group, and Bluefin Robotics" (Press release). Battelle. Retrieved 20 September 2018 – via MarketWired.
  7. 1 2 3 Dollof, Kate (May 2018). PEO Portfolio Review (PDF). Special Operations Forces Industry Conference. Tampa, FL.
  8. 1 2 Lehnardt, Keith (May 2018). Maritime (PDF). Special Operations Forces Industry Conference. Tampa, FL.
  9. ↑ "United Kingdom – SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) MK 11 Shallow Water Combat Submersibles (SWCS)". Defense Security Cooperation Agency. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  10. 1 2 O'Rourke, Ronald (August 1, 2018). Navy Irregular Warfare and Counterterrorism Operations: Background and Issues for Congress (PDF) (Report). Congressional Research Service. RS22373. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
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