Defense Archives
LCAC 91 Achieves Navy’s Fastest Maritime Surface Craft Speed On Algal Fuel Blend
The U.S. Navy successfully concluded its final alternative fuel demonstration for the year with the Dec. 7-9 operational tests of the 50/50 algae-derived, hydro-processed algal oil and petroleum F-76 blend in a Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) amphibious transport vehicle at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City.
The tests also marked the fastest speed achieved to date by a U.S. Navy surface craft using alternative fuel blends, as LCAC 91 reached speeds the crafts maximum speed of 50 knots, Dec. 7. The fastest speed demonstrated on the 50/50 algal blend in previous tests was 44.5 knots by the Riverine Command Boat (experimental) (RCB-X) in October 2010 at Naval Base Norfolk, Va.
"Our Navy is working to be resilient to any potential energy future. Pursuing sustainable resources, such as alternative fuels that are drop-in replacements, assures our performance and mobility while protecting us from the volatility of the fossil fuel market. This demonstration is another Wright Brothers-moment for the Navy. We have shown that we can achieve more than 50 knots on the water and Mach 1.7 in the air - all on biofuel blends," said Rear Adm. Philip Cullom, director, Chief of Naval Operations Energy and Environmental Readiness Division.
LCACs move elements of a Marine Air/Ground Task Force – weapons systems, equipment, cargo, and personnel – from ship to shore and over the beach. The vehicles have four gas turbine engines, and two generators that traditionally run on NATO F76 or NATO F44. They have a 7,000 gallon fuel capacity, an average range of 200 nautical miles, and can carry up to 150,000 lbs.
“For the test, the craft was operated out in the Gulf of Mexico using two different fuel configurations so we could compare the craft’s operations as powered by each fuel type,” said Naval Sea Systems Command’s Navy Fuels Engineering Manager Richard Leung. “After draining the diesel, LCAC 91 received approximately 5,000 gallons of the 50/50 algal blend. We assessed the engine performance capabilities on the biofuel blend, and collected data on engine torque, acceleration rates, craft speed, fuel flow rates, propeller pitch, compressor discharge pressure, and inlet and exhaust gas temperatures”
Mechanical engineers bore scoped the engines and collected the technical data. LCAC operators then provided input on how the craft performed and operated.
“We are going to compare how the engines performed during the test both on the straight diesel and on the 50/50 mix. Results from the comparison will help us assess the performance of the fuel,” said mechanical engineer Ben Canilang, NSWC Carderock’s Naval Ship Systems Engineering Station, Philadelphia, Pa.
To see what type of numbers came out, we connected a laptop with a harness that read into our digital and analogue data collectors,” said mechanical engineer Peter Diamond. “The type of analysis is simply comparing numbers. We’ll plug in a stream of numbers and compare results from each of the tests.”
“The test run on the 50/50 alternative fuel mix was very successful," said Scott Feenstra, mission director, Landing Craft Air Cushion, NSWC Panama City Division. "LCAC 91 performed without issue. The operators were able to use high power; and reported that the craft handled beautifully and without problems.”
Meeting the secretary of the Navy’s call for a drop-in fuel replacement, no changes were required to the LCAC or fueling equipment infrastructures for the test. Alternative fuel efforts also support the secretary's overall energy strategy to increase energy security and safeguard the environment; as well as his goals to demonstrate a Green Strike Group by 2012, and deploy a strike group composed completely of alternatively powered ships,“The Great Green Fleet,” by 2016.
VSD, LLC Awarded $6.8M Sole Source Contract
VSD, LLC (VSD) has been awarded a sole source contract from Naval Air Warfare Center, Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD), Orlando, Fla., for the refurbishment, delivery, installation, testing, trainer training, and contractor support for the Iraqi navy 35-Meter Patrol Boat and 60-Meter Offshore Support Vessel training systems in Umm Qasr, Iraq. Included in the contract is one year of logistical support for Iraqi engineering students in Morgan City and Houma, La., while the boats are being built.
“VSD is in a great position to continue its service to NAWCTSD and fulfill the requirements of this refurbishment contract for the 35-meter and 60-meter patrol boats. We’ve been there from the start of the first two Iraqi navy-related contracts and have built strong working relationships with the Iraqi navy through our earlier curriculum and simulation training efforts with their personnel,” said VSD Chief Executive Officer Chuck Wythe.
VSD was involved in the original curriculum development and delivery as a subcontractor on the 35-meter project and the prime contractor on the 60-meter project. Total contract value is approximately $6.8 million with a performance period through June 2014.
Bluefin to Provide Advanced UUVs for US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship Surface Mine Countermeasure UUV Program
Bluefin Robotics, a leader in the design and manufacturing of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) is being awarded a subcontract from General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems for engineering and manufacturing of the Surface Mine Countermeasure Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (SMCM UUV). As a critical part of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mine Warfare mission package, the SMCM UUV system will provide the fleet mine warfare commander and sailors with enhanced mine-hunting capability and address the Navy's need to reliably detect and identify buried mines in high-clutter environments.
The SMCM UUV system will include two Bluefin-21 UUVs in addition to launch and recovery equipment, a support container, spare parts and support equipment. The UUV will feature Bluefin’s modular and flexible vehicle architecture, pressure-tolerant field-swappable subsea batteries, and low-noise propulsion technology. In addition, the vehicle will also include an advanced sonar payload developed by the General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems Team.
“Bluefin is excited to be a part of this industry team led by General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems to deliver a much needed war-fighting capability for the MCM mission package,” said David P. Kelly, President and CEO of Bluefin Robotics. “We are looking forward to leveraging proven Bluefin technologies demonstrated over the past decade and further advance the vehicle capabilities to fully satisfy the LCS mission requirements.”
The subcontract includes an option for the production of up to five low rate initial production systems (ten UUVs) as well as other options. Work will be performed in Quincy, Massachusetts.
The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Panama City Beach, Fla., is the contracting activity (N61331-11-C-0017) for the prime contract to General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems.
Navy To Conduct Largest Maritime Alternative Fuel Demonstration On Self Defense Test Ship
The tests and demonstrations of alternative fuels for shipboard use supports the secretary of the Navy’s energy target to demonstrate a Green Strike Group by 2012, and deploy a strike group composed completely of alternatively powered ships, “the Great Green Fleet,” by 2016.
The ship will receive approximately 20,000 gallons of a 50-50 blend of hydro-processed algal oil and petroleum F-76 at Defense Fuel Support Point Loma, San Diego to power one propulsion gas turbine and one ship service gas turbine. The ship will depart Point Loma at Nov. 16, 5 p.m., PST,
for overnight transit to Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Huemene Division, Port Hueneme, Calif.
The Self Defense Test Ship, decommissioned Spruance-class destroyer Paul F. Foster (EDD 964), provides anat-sea, remotely controlled, self defense weapons engineering platform for the purpose of conducting advanced evaluations without risk to personnel or deployable assets. Originally designed to strictly test self defense weapons, the ship now supports a wide variety of engineering tests and evaluating aspects of naval systems.
General Dynamics Awarded $91 Million by U.S. Navy for Virginia-class Submarine Work
General Dynamics Electric Boat has been awarded a $91.2 million contract modification by the U.S. Navy to provide lead-yard services for Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
Under the contract, Electric Boat will develop, maintain and update design drawings and data, including technology insertions, for each Virginia-class submarine throughout its construction and post-shakedown availability periods. Additionally, Electric Boat will perform research and development work required to evaluate new technology to be inserted in newly built Virginia-class ships.
The contract has a potential value of $881 million through 2014 if all options are exercised and funded.
This work will engage Electric Boat's engineering and design organization, which comprises more than 3,000 employees. Possessing proven technical capabilities, these employees work on all facets of the submarine life cycle from concept formulation and design through construction, maintenance and modernization, and eventually to inactivation and disposal.
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