Stealth landing craft?

[covert_shores]

Have there ever been any stealth landing craft projects?

Possibly large enough to carry a tank?

I know it's a serious topic in some places but never seen an actual design.

 

[Grey Havoc]

If you are including submersible designs, you've probably come across Project 748 & Project 717 already. On a smaller scale you could also include the S-60 submersible landing-craft. It was intended for amphibious raids, special operations and the like.

 

[covert_shores]

Yeah, to clarify, yep I did mean surface vessels.

Subs are interesting too of course. I don't think I've seen the s60 design before. Mixed views. Judging by their wet-sub idea, they may not have put too much thought into it (the wet sub they depict is about 20 years out of date by early 1990s).

Japanese supply subs from WW2 also. http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08455.htm

 

[phil gollin]

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OF COURSE - the second proper stealth ship was a stealth landing craft.

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See this ;

http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/download/file.php?id=17510&mode=view

And some info ;

This is an LCA which was used for trials starting on 24th February 1943 to see whether the radar reflection of the vessel could be reduced. Strictly speaking it is not the first stealth vessel as a launch (“Springtime”) was used first, starting 29th December 1942.

The simple frame and mesh actually worked, reducing the launch’s radar return to approximately a quarter and the LCA’s to between a quarter and a tenth (both using a Type 273 set). However the actual range reduction of detection of the LCA was only 22% and this was deemed not worthwhile considering the seamanship problems of such a screen.

Further trials took place, including an LCA with overall mesh screens and also ones working in the L-Band.

In February 1944, HMS Wallflower, in trials, used a wire mesh screen around her funnel to reduce spurious returns from her Type 271Q. Two further ships were trialled with such mesh funnel screens, but the idea was abandoned for practical reasons. (Later one of the first major use of RAM was in the covering of the faces of masts facing the main radar antenna in ships such as the Leander class frigates – hence the “black” faces to some sides of the mast.)

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[Graham1973]

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OF COURSE - the second proper stealth ship was a stealth landing craft.

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See this ;

http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/download/file.php?id=17510&mode=view

Just tried to look at the linked picture and got a "You are not authorized to view this attachment" message.

 

[phil gollin]

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Thanks for letting me know, hopefully this will work ;

https://www.flickr.com/photos/100795926@N02/29157431085/in/dateposted-public/

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[Graham1973]

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Thanks for letting me know, hopefully this will work ;

https://www.flickr.com/photos/100795926@N02/29157431085/in/dateposted-public/

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Thanks. Interesting I didn't realize that you could do that with 'chook wire'...

 

[phil gollin]

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Specially chosen chicken wire, if you don't mind :

TRE Malvern did a vast amount of the basic research and experimentation for the "radar war".

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[covert_shores]

That's incredible, never knew of that. Thanks!!!

 

[Grey Havoc]

I'm almost tempted to suggest the AvPro Manta WIG here, which had low observable features incorporated, though it wasn't a full stealth design. The Manta may actually have made it as far as wind tunnel models, given that BAe/BAE Systems was a silent partner in AvPro, IIRC.

 

[covert_shores]

I pulled together the info I have and did an article, centered on the Armored Stealth Boat found in China, which was actually a car smuggling boat not a landing craft. http://www.hisutton.com/Armored%20Stealth%20Boat.html

Military relevance bit:
The usefulness of a discrete (read ‘stealthy’) landing craft capable of putting a Main Battle Tank (MBT) ashore undetected has been raised by some Naval Infantry / Marines units in NATO. Current mechanized landing craft (LCM) are susceptible to antitank missiles, and are not discrete enough to take an enemy by surprise. Consequently commando raids to neutralize local air defenses and to secure the landing beach are primarily infantry affairs, landed by small boats or helicopter. Again, both are liable to detection. The ability to land even a single MBT as part of the pre-landing raiding or securing force would be a game changer.

 

[WatcherZero]

BAE are making their pitch for the replacement of the Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel mk5 which is likely to be a joint UK/Netherlands procurement tendered next year. They are pitching a stealthy 40 ton 18m craft with a trimaran bow and landing ramps fore and aft capable of carrying a light vehicle such as a 4x4.