FR2617795A1 - VERSATILE ASSAULT VESSEL - Google Patents

Abstract

This boat is of the catamaran type, comprising two spaced parallel hulls 1, 2, connected by a floor 3 capable of receiving a load, and in that said mobile ramp 4 is formed by a front part of said floor 3 included between the two hulls 1 , 2, and said floor or deck 3 constitutes a continuous surface from one side of the boat to the other.

Description

The present invention relates to an assault craft. The

  Assault boats known so far are of the barge type having at the front a ramp articulated around a horizontal axis in order to be able to lower and raise and extending over almost the entire width of

  the boat, which has a cross section of form

  me in a U over almost its entire length.

  This form was adopted in order to have

  inside the boat of a maximum clear space for the

  troop and / or equipment to be transported.

  This design has drawbacks, on the one hand with regard to rigidity, since such a form of unbridged U-shaped hull is easily deformable in torsion and on the other hand due to the very poor marine qualities.

of these shell shapes.

  In addition the machinery and the wheelhouse are necessarily relegated to the rear end. This does not present a disadvantage with regard to the machine, but is not against much more annoying with regard to

  the wheelhouse, because the entire length and width of the

  necessarily high barcification from the front obscure the view

  to the helmsman, annoying ---------------------------

  thus considerably the maneuver.

  Finally, the only space available for the weapon-

  the boat is also located in the same place,

  the rear, which not only limits its power due to

  sound of lack of space and proximity to the wheelhouse,

but also its effectiveness.

  It is indeed necessary to be able to cover the landing, for example of a commando, or the grounding of a material, by a fire support as efficient as possible, which cannot be ensured by a part located at the rear, whose range is reduced and for which the area

deplagging is hidden.

  The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks

  nients by realizing a multi-purpose assault boat with excellent marine qualities, which can also move on difficult water bodies, and also constituting

an excellent shooting platform.

  It has for this purpose a landing craft with liftable front ramp characterized in that it is of the catamaran type, comprising two spaced hulls connected by a floor, and in that said liftable ramp is constituted by a part before said floor between

two hulls.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, each hull has a front deck adapted to receive

  one or more automatic weapons or a light artillery piece.

  The following description, next to the drawings

  appended as nonlimiting examples, will allow

  understand how the invention can be put into practice.

  Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a

  assault craft according to the invention.

  Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of

one of the hulls of the boat.

  FIG. 3 is a front view of the boat,

showing the ramp lowered.

Figure 4 is a rear view.

Figure 5 is a plan view.

  Figure 6 is a partial view showing the agency-

  ment of an example of a ramp operating mechanism.

  Referring to the drawing, the assault boat

  according to the invention is of the multihull type "catamaran"

  carrying two spaced parallel shells 1 and 2 joined by floor, or deck 3 extending at the same level of the side

  port hull port port 1 to starboard side of the tri-hull

  edge 2, thus providing a useful loading surface which represents the total surface, in plan of the boat, with the exception of the only part of the floor situated between the bows of the two hulls, which constitutes the mobile ramp 4

of the boat.

  The mobile ramp 4 is articulated around a transverse horizontal axis 5 and is formed by the front part of the bridge 3 located between the bow line 6 and the part where the

  hulls reach the largest overall width of the em-

barcation (maitre-bau).

  The part of the front deck of each hull 1, 2, over a length approximately equal to that of the mobile ramp 4, is reinforced as shown in 7 (FIG. 2) to receive a mount for a light artillery piece 8 , or other automatic weapon. Advantageously, a navigation shelter 9 is arranged, for example on the starboard hull, on a raised floor 10 above the loading plancer 3, immediately aft of the room 8, thus freeing up a field of vision.

very wide panoramic.

  An engine compartment 11 is also arranged at the rear of each hull, the boat being preferably propelled by a fluid reaction device of the "hydrojet" type 12 allowing the boat to circulate even

in swamps.

  It is understood of course that the invention is not limited to this mode of propulsion, and that the engine

  of the boat can be of any type.

  The volumes of hulls 1 and 2 can be used according to the needs of the missions, either as bunkers, or as accommodation for the crew and / or passengers as

shown in 13.

  The rear part of the deck 3 is for example covered by a reinforced platform 14 to allow the transport and / or the landing of a helicopter 15, while sparing

  below sufficient height to accommodate trucks 16.

  Preferably, beaching pins are provided

17 under the two hulls.

  Figure 6 shows an example of a backup system.

  vage 18 for ramp 4, which includes a small winch (for

  electrical example) 19 winding or unwinding on its drum

  bour a chain 20, one end of which is struck on a front angle of the mobile ramp 4. A winch 19 is provided on

the front of each shell 1, 2.

  The assault boat according to the invention is able to circulate in shallow waters, at sea as in river, as in deep water due to its small draft and intrinsic sastability and its marine qualities, as well as in the marshes thanks to a system

propellant without propellers.

Claims (7)

  1. Assault craft with a mobile ramp, characterized in that it is of the catamaran type, comprising two spaced parallel hulls (1, 2) connected by a floor (3) capable of receiving a load, and in that said ramp mobile (4)   consists of a front part of said floor (3) comprising taken between the two shells (1, 2).   2. Boat according to claim 1, character-   in that said floor or bridge (3) constitutes a   continuous surface from one side of the boat to the other.   3. A boat according to claim 2, character-   in that said bridge (3) includes a reinforcement (7)   at the front of each shell (1, 2).   4. Boat according to claim 3, character-   laughed at in that it includes an automatic weapon or a light artillery piece at the front of each hull, on said reinforced part (7).   5. Boat according to any of the claims   cations 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a navigation shelter (9) on a raised floor (10) above of said bridge (3).   6. Boat according to any one of the res-   dications 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a raised platform (14) above said bridge (3) for receive a helicopter (15).   7. A boat according to claim 6, character-   in that said ramp (4) is raised and lowered by means of a winch (19) or other suitable system on the front of each hull.