All weather capability.
Able to transport 24 Marines.
Tested from the Arctic to the jungles in Brazil. The Watercat 12 is a winner.
Small Boats doesn't get more business because it conduct operations the same way everyone else does. It even has the same equipment.
Don't get me wrong. The Marines shouldn't buy the Watercat because it will give them a "new" toy but because it will expand the reach of the Boat Company...make them competitive with rotary winged aviation in many scenarios and set the stage for operations in the Pacific.
a- the USMC Small Boat Company was disestablished a few year ago at CMC direction, and its mission taken up but NECC now in the Coastal Riverine Force. Riverines train to conduct small raids as in landing party ops.
ReplyDeleteb- The Watercat M12 when equipped with the NEMO 120 mm cannot carry many troops. But still a great boat design.
c- the USN is NOT buying any such good boats for its CRF and probaly won't buy any new/better weapons larger than a 40 mm AGL or .50 gun.
None of which makes much sense.
the USMC has a boat company on every one of its MEU's.
ReplyDeleteLeesea,
ReplyDeleteany idea on how much space the NEMO takes? I haven't been able to find info for NEMO+Marines in the same boat.
Thanks
Ferran, BCN.
SOL I guess your are referring to a co., while I of course was talking about THE original one at LeJuene. I met and talked with some of them.
ReplyDeleteI've seen only photos of interior.
Watercat and several other make good warboats, neither USN nor USMC will probalby ever get them maybe NIH. RCB former CB-90 is probably the exception that proves the rule.
BTW 120 mm auto mortars both NEMO and AMOS have been fitted and tested on similar sized boats.
A personal hobby horse, but looking at a 24 marine capacity and the size of the ramp, I think there is a lot of potential synergy in getting a small boat with a same as, or slightly larger than, internal/ramp profile as the V-22.
ReplyDeleteThat way any vehicle, equipment, load plan etc. sized for the V-22 will work for the boat and vice versa.
well my thinking is that in the Pacific you might see alot of times and circumstances where you won't be able to launch those V-22 so your idea has more than a bit of merit. you could take those vehicles designed for a raid by helo and shove them inside these boats.
ReplyDeleteit would take some modification but its more than doable and it would give (as Mike Sparks would say) true 3-d assault capability.
If you want something that can carry vehicles, you might be better off with the British LCVP Mk5.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.military-quotes.com/media/command-2c-combat-logistics-2c-mobile-logistics-and-support-ships-and-vessels-photos/p291-landing-craft-vehicle-and-personnel-mark-528lcvp-mk5-29.html
It's a bit larger and slower than the Watercat, but it can carry light trucks.
Again BSmitty beat me to the punch~ There are several other navies which have FLC Fast Landing Craft rated from LCVP to CB-90 versions. IOW good raiding craft. Most recently both Danes and Dutch have used their LCUs & LCVPs to go pirate hunting off Somalia. The pro to FLC is they are well proven boats, and they can often be launched from davits (meaning mulitple loaded boats hit the water all at once without ballasting down).
ReplyDeleteBut the USN has seemingly given up on LCVPs?~~
they have a different type of LCVP. they have high speed types while we have cargo types.
ReplyDeletedifferent mission sets. and notice i want these for raids. thats what the RM uses theres for.
yes FLC are for raids. You seen ANY FLC type in the PMS325 boat buying plans? I looked answer is nope. Only the RCB nee CB-90 can do a smaller sized raid. Could be done with mulitpe boats using CRF sailors?
ReplyDeleteSomeone inside has to decide they want this kind of boat, you hear anybody other than US saying that?
I guess I just want to give up on USN buying warboats. Only thing new coming down the ways is the SOCOM CCM Mk1.