FINDING A FRIGATE FOR THE FUTURE

To achieve good seakeeping ability in a frigate-size ship, the U.S. Navy has had to use large monohull-type designs, some of which have exceeded 8,000 tons in displacement. Although surface effect ships and SWATH designs have attempted to break the relationship among seakeeping, ship size and ship cost in monohull ships, they have also introduced new elements of technical risk and high costs. A new deep-vee hull form is proposed that should provide better seakeeping, combat system performance, and ability to maintain higher speeds in rough seas than any existing round-bilge monohull. The new form was developed by Hydro Research Systems S.A. of Geneva, Switzerland and can be used in the design of small patrol craft and corvettes in addition to the design of frigates.