HYBRID HYDROFOIL - A CONCEPT WHOSE TIME HAS COME

The hybrid hydrofoil concept described in this paper provides substantial improvements in hullborne and foilborne craft including the major increase in weight carrying capability. The paper suggests an alternative design approach which may be appropriate for mid-life conversions of PHM-1 Class ships or follow-on procurement to a more demanding performance specification. The paper describes the impact of the ship's increased fuel capacity, combined with more than 50% improvement in hydrodynamic and propulsive efficiency of hullborne and foilborne craft.