From: "Rich Gauszka" 


"Phil Payne"  wrote in
message news:45587d17$1{at}w3.nls.net...
>> According to the defense officials, the Chinese Song-class diesel-powered
>> attack submarine shadowed the Kitty Hawk undetected and surfaced within
> five
>> miles of the carrier Oct. 26.
>
> Quite possibly just sitting on the bottom having a quiet game of Mah Jong
> when this floating city passed overhead and they went up for a look.
>
>

I doubt that. Naval forces do play some rough games of chicken though I
haven't heard of any 'accidental' ship collisions lately.

I wonder how large a vessel can be produced with this hull?

http://www.collisiondetection.net/mt/archives/2006/02/_dig_this_the_d.html

Military ship travels 60 mph with almost no wake

http://www.gizmag.com/go/5151/

February 5, 2006 The M80 Stiletto Experimental Vessel was launched this
week offering a sneak peak at the next generation of military vessels. The
Stiletto is an operational experiment by the Pentagon's Office of Force
Transformation (OFT) and its revolutionary carbon fibre structure and hull
enable it to operate in shallow water, with 50 knot speeds, stability and
great stealth as part of its armoury. Costing US$12.5 million to develop
and build, the 88ft vessel is capable of carrying 37 tonnes at speed over a
range of 500 nautical miles. The patented M-hull design transitions
automatically and efficiently through hydrostatic, hydrodynamic and
aerostatic lift modes with increasing speeds effectively creating a cushion
of air and providing a comfortable high speed ride with great stability,
and has enormous promise for a wide range of nautical applications for
boats from 8 through 200 feet (see these stunning concepts). The Stiletto
is powered by four 1,650-horsepower Caterpillar engines, and can cruise
comfortably near its top speed of more than 50 knots (60 miles per hour).
With a shallow draft of less than 3 feet, Stiletto has a three man crew,
and will carry a complement of 12 US Navy Sea, Air and Land (SEAL)
commandos, an11 metre rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) and either Manta
and Silver Wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

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