SEALION Combatant Craft Heavy (CCH)
The Combatant Craft Heavy (CCH) project represents a family of solutions that will provide engineering support for design and specification of a development combatant craft for movement and maneuver of SOF personnel. Requirements include maneuverability, reduced detectability with enhanced shock mitigation, and human systems integration. Potential solution for Combatant Craft Heavy is the Sea, Air, and Land Teams Insertion, Observation and Neutralization (SEALION) that was developed as an advanced technology prototype by the United States Navy and may be modified and tested for transition to SOF operations. Additional studiesmay be performed to support analysis of SOF-peculiar needs for an Afloat Staging Base to command, control, sustain, launch and recover Joint SOF.
The Combatant Craft Heavy CCH MK2 will be a specialized maritime mobility platform in support of Special Operations Forces (SOF) core tasks primarily involving the insertion and extraction of military personnel along with the launching and recovery of specialized military hardware.
The CCH MK2 is expected to be a diesel-powered craft capable of open ocean transit and well deck interoperability with the ability to insert and extract SOF forces and host, clandestinely launch, and recover smaller manned and unmanned surface and subsurface systems. For industry partners with existing designs, USSOCOM anticipates modifications will be required to address specialized applications such as survivability; payload launch and recovery; munitions; and command and control, communications, computers, cyber-defense, combat systems, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C6ISR) systems.
Craft Design would feature an Overall length: Maximum length of 200', and an Overall width: Maximum width of 49'. Design Speeds would be up to and including fully planing (FNV > 3.0). Designs with design speeds below fully planing (e.g., semi-planing or semi-displacement)may also be considered. Diesel fuel primary power plant is required; however, hybrid or dual-mode propulsion designs and innovative approaches may be considered. Propulsion systems that support the ability to effectively determine and maintain precise routes and position locations are required.
USSOCOM has a need to maximize vessel range and endurance. For existing designs, bring documentation and be prepared to discuss maximum range at full payload and cruise speed. USSOCOM will consider design concepts for enhanced seakeeping stabilization at all speeds. Although USSOCOM requires the primary propulsion to be diesel fuel powered, USSOCOM is also interested in options that increase efficiency, the potential for hybrid power sources, and use of recaptured energy solutions. Additionally, USSOCOM is interested in potential power management solutions (fixed or variable) to maximize range and endurance.
USSOCOM is seeking L&R and H/S systems capable of handling multiple platforms of varying size and weights. Single craft designs are preferred; however, USSOCOM will consider a design, which could be adapted to interface with other craft of varying hull forms (e.g., deep-vee or cylindrical hulls). USSOCOM has a preference for modular and scalable designs as well as internal L&R systems that permit direct launch and recovery from inside of a vessel without breaching the super-structure.
Effective working load up to 25,000 pounds. Notional maximum payload design volume of 25 feet in length, 5 feet in width, and 5 feet in height. Ability to accommodate an additional payload (smaller items in aggregate) of similar size and weight as cargo is preferred. This additional payload is not required to be loaded/unloaded via the L&R system.
Command and control, communications, computers, cyber-defense, combat systems, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C6ISR) systems design attributes are fully integrated C6ISR systems that can command and control airborne, surface, and subsurface platforms and that are fully interoperable across the spectrum of joint operations.
