The Hammerhead Subsurface Multi-Mission Vehicle is the latest addition to Patriot 3‘s subsurface capabilities.
It can be used to deliver a diver who pilots the vehicle, or set to autonomously deliver material.
Batteries fill the middle section and range and loiter time can be increased by adding sections to the Hammerhead SMV with additional batteries.
More information coming soon.
(Washington, D.C.) – The Whiskey Project, an Australian Veteran-owned company known for defense watercraft innovation, is proud to globally reveal a new era in combatant watercraft – the WHISKEY Multi Mission Reconnaissance Craft (WHISKEY MMRC).
WHISKEY MMRC redefines combatant craft, integrating a high-performance hull, a fully modular design for multiple mission configurations, and a technology suite of game-changing, advanced systems and sensors. The purpose-built features provide unprecedented end-user safety, multi- mission adaptability, interoperability, mobility, survivability, and lethality across contemporary maritime environments such as the Indo-Pacific region. “Every detail of the WHISKEY MMRC was purpose built and designed for end-user safety and mission success,” said Darren Schuback, Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Whiskey Project, an Australian high-performance watercraft company. “We are providing end-users with an advanced hull technology that significantly enhances human performance, safety, and the ability to integrate modular features and host advanced systems and sensors, so the warfighter can control the advantage in the operational maritime environment.”
Designed by warfighters for warfighters, WHISKEY MMRC is doctrinally developed to provide maneuver from the sea to support reconnaissance and counter reconnaissance, surveillance, collections, target acquisition, interdiction and battlespace shaping operations. The foundation of the WHISKEY MMRC – its high-performance hull – underpins the watercraft’s ability to undertake these diverse mission sets while reducing slam loading to personnel by up to 40%. The reduction in slam load increases safety and stability during intense maneuvering, while enhancing fuel efficiency, payload, and workable deck space with a significantly increased size to effect ratio.
Coupled with WHISKEY MMRC performance is the WHISKEY HORIZON STRIKETM technology suite, a game-changing low signature Sense First, See First, Strike First solution that combines advanced maritime systems, sensors and effectors with proven in-service tactical networks and situational awareness tools. Developed by Aries Defense in partnership with The Whiskey Project, WHISKEY HORIZON STRIKE is fundamentally integrated into the WHISKEY MMRC design, facilitating enhanced operational awareness, command and control, and coordination of multi-domain effects to provide Commanders with decision dominance.
“The doctrine drove the design”, said Darren Schuback, “and the Whiskey Multi Mission Recon Craft will transform how combatant craft and crew operate, providing an unparalleled level of joint capability, operational agility, affordability and availability.”
“I’ve been in the fight, and this is the combatant craft that we’ve needed,” said Josh Iversen, a U.S. Marine combat veteran, and Business Development Manager at The Whiskey Project. “Our end- users deserve to turn up at the fight fit and ready, not suffering from watercraft-related fatigue and injuries. They need a combatant craft that gives them an immediate advantage, greater survivability, and lethality. WHISKEY MMRC is the only watercraft in the world that is purpose built to meet the operational maritime challenges we face today,” continued Iversen.
Named after the military call sign ‘Whiskey’ for Australian Special Forces water operators, The Whiskey Project is a veteran-owned company whose founders – former Australian Navy Special Operations Clearance Divers – set out to create “the watercraft we wish we’d had.” The Whiskey Project is a subsidiary of The Whiskey Project Group, a trusted supplier to the Australian Defence Force. “We know from experience how critical it is for the operation and the end-user to have the capabilities they need when they need them,” said Schuback. “The Whiskey Project watercraft are designed and built specifically for Warfighter and mission needs.”
www.thewhiskeyproject.com.au/who-are-whiskey
There are two schools of thought when it comes to carrying a snorkel when you dive in the civilian world, and I guess in the military world also. It is to carry or not carry a snorkel. You are taught to have one to save air when you are close to the surface for whatever reason so you can use it and not the air in your tank. When I first started diving in the teams, you had to have a snorkel on us. We would get issues a cheap old school “J” type one with the big orange stickers on it you had to peel off and then you would have to cut a couple of inches off of it and keep with you in case you had to work around piers or whatever so you could save O2. Well, I never used it and stopped carrying it as soon as I could. But that doesn’t mean I would have never used it or could have; I choose not to have it.
Like everything else in the world, technology is growing faster and faster. Once a problem is fixed, companies move onto the next one. So, the issues associated with the old “J” snorkel have been fixed; that is not to say that companies still do not make them have them; they are still around. But now there are all kinds of snorkels out there. There are several different types of snorkels Classic (J type), Simi-dry, Dry, and Flexible, to name a few.
So why carry a snorkel? A snorkel helps on the surface when you are in rough water. You can keep your head in the water and not drink as much seawater when you are just floating waiting to be extracted. It is also useful when you are in the water waiting for a helo pick up, and you are under its rotor wash, or when you are doing a K-duck or a swamp duck. It is also helpful to have when you jumped into the water, and you have to undo some of your parachute lines that might be tanged in your fins or whatever. It makes it easier to breath on the surface without lifting your head out of the water if you have to swim to a boat or shore for some reason.
Diving in the military is different than as a civilian as you would never leave your snorkel hanging on your mask during a dive. This is why we would cut it down a little so that we could tuck it away or you would hang it off the bottom of your LAR V with heavy rubber bands. But with today’s technology, most companies have one that you can roll-up. For SCUBAPRO, it is the Apnea Snorkel, it was launched in 2015 for Apnea divers and won the SCUBALAB’s 2015 best buy.
The SCUBAPRO Apnea Snorkel is a foldable/ rollable freediving snorkel design. Made from a soft and flexible non-toxic silicone, SCUBAPRO Apnea Snorkel easily attaches to your mask strap when being used. When not needed, it can be rolled up and stowed away in a pocket. When it’s time to do some more stuff on the surface, it pops right back into shape. The Apnea’s upper barrel can be removed if you prefer to use a shorter pipe. Without question, this is an easy-to-use and very versatile surface breather. Functional yet straightforward traditional “J” Snorkel design. No valves that can leak. It was designed specifically for spearfishing and free diving. The contoured shape of the silicone mouthpiece and the air tube has been ergonomically designed to follow the profile of the spear fisherman’s face to reduce its visibility significantly during the dive. This flexibility is also advantageous when around piers or rocks and rolling it up for storage.
SOFWERX, in collaboration with USSOCOM PEO Special Reconnaissance (PEO-SR) Program Management (PM) Office Technical Collection & Communications (TCC), will host an Assessment Event (AE) on 8 November, 2021, to identify technologies and techniques for Unattended Maritime Systems (UMS), in particular the SV-3 Wave Glider. The prototype optical subsystem will be integrated onto the SV-3 in time for a demonstration at a test event in July 2022.
Submit NLT 18 October 11:59 PM ET with details at events.sofwerx.org/ums.
SOFWERX, in collaboration with USSOCOM PEO SOF Warrior (PEO-SW), will host an Assessment Event (AE) 02-03 November 2021 to identify solutions for the Maritime Assault Suit System (MASS) and Lightweight MASS (L-MASS). These suits would be used as a combat/dry suit for the Naval Special Warfare community in maritime, land, airborne, shipboard, and transitional environments.
This program is seeking the following surface dry suit variants: (1) Maritime Assault Suit System (MASS) and (2) Lightweight MASS (L-MASS). These suits would be used as a combat/dry suit for the Naval Special Warfare community in maritime, land, airborne, shipboard, and transitional environments. The MASS and L-MASS must be comfortable, yet durable enough for rugged field use. Weight of MASS not to exceed 5-lbs and L-MASS not to exceed 4-lbs. They must keep the Operator as dry as possible in maritime and all weather conditions, including surface swims and while immersed in 10 feet of water for 1 minute. They should not restrict range of motion for activities including, but not limited to swimming, running, assault movements, and weapons manipulation.
View the Statement of Objectives (SOO) here.
Submit NLT 11 October 11:59 PM ET
Visit events.sofwerx.org/mass for details.
Training like you fight doesn’t mean just having your body armor on when you are on the shooting range, and you should always practice basic skills whenever you get in the water. The best way to become a better diver is to practice and improve on the basic skills constantly. Here are some basic skills you should practice every time you get in the water.
Buoyancy
This is one of the most critical skills for every diver to master. Mastering buoyancy is not necessarily a difficult task, but it requires a calm, focused mind and practice. You will consume less air when your buoyancy is on point, and you will not risk shooting to the surface and giving yourself away or, worse, getting injured. To practice your buoyancy, try and be a couple of feet off the bottom of the pool using a body positions simulation to sky diving. Try maintaining the same distance from the bottom and now just using your fins spin to your left, then spin to your right, again holding your positions. Now once you have that, try and move backward, besides just using your fins. This will help you with moving in confined spaces and around piers.
Descents
The descent should always be performed slowly and controlled. You will need to equalize the pressure in your ears as you descend constantly; that can mean every 12-18 inches 30-40cm for some divers. Descending too quickly can cause your eardrums to rupture, which can lead to more severe complications. A slow descent will also prevent silting on the bottom, which will decrease visibility. Also, practice your emergency descents. It will be the same as before but faster.
Clearing Your Mask
At some point, you will get water in your mask. So, it is better to practice in a controlled environment than to have not done it a long time and try and remembered when it is the middle of the night in someplace where you don’t want the water touching your face. If you have water in your mask, follow the clearing techniques you learned in your training. If you need to stop momentarily, alert your buddy so you do not get separated. You should be able to master this essential skill without having to stop. It would help if you also did this, allowing as a minimal number of bubbles as possible. Make sure you practice this when you are learning to use any diver propulsion vehicle.
Emergency Ascents
If you ever find yourself in this situation, you will be happy that you practiced it. It is no different than practicing a down mandrill. Well, other than the fact that you are in the water. Your emergency ascent may require that you share air with your buddy, swim in a controlled manner to the surface, or drop your weights. Practice all types of emergency ascent techniques whenever possible to not panic when a real emergency occurs. Lastly, go over what you would do on the surface if you had to do CPR or render first aid in the middle of nowhere and your dive buddy’s life depends on it.
Hand Signals
Once you start diving with someone, you might come up with some hand signals of your own, like you have your head up, you’re a$$. But the essential hand signals will be used by everyone worldwide. You never know when you will be diving with someone from a partner nation, and that is all you have to go by. So, knowing the basics will help.
Going Up or Down
Use a thumbs-up signal to indicate that you are going up or a thumbs down to indicate the opposite.
I’m OK
Place your thumb and forefinger together, forming a circle, and leave the other three fingers extended upright. This is the same as you would say, OK, as you would above water.
Stop
Signal your dive buddy to stop by holding up one hand, the same as you would in any other instance. You can also use a closed fist like being on patrol.
Changing Direction
Just like with up and down, point your thumb (or your index finger) to indicate which direction you’re heading. You can tell again like on land.
Turn Around
To let everyone know it’s time to turn around, put your index finger up and rotate in a circle. Similar to rally-up.
Slow Down
Place your hand in front of you with your palm facing down. Wave your hand up and down to indicate that you need everyone to slow down a bit.
Level Off
To indicate that you want to level off once you’ve reached a certain depth, put your hand out in front of you, palm down, and wave it back and forth.
Something’s Wrong
Place your hand out in front of you, fingers spread and palm down. Wave your hand back and forth in a rocking motion. It is similar to the hand signal, maybe.
Help!
Wave your entire arm from outstretched by your side to over your head. Repeat the motion as long as you need to.
How much air do you have?
With the forefinger and middle finger hit in the palm of your hand to ask your buddy how much air is left in the tank. The usual response is in numbers.
I’m Low on Air
It takes practice to be able to make your air last. Clench your hand into a fist and pull it in toward your chest. Repeat as much as you need to indicate how urgently you need to resurface. When diving a rebreather, you should point at the pressure gauge. With some of the newer rebreathers, you can pull your gauge out and show it to your dive buddy if needed.
I’m Out of Air
Suppose something has gone wrong with your equipment, signal quickly and repeatedly. Place your hand, palm down in front of your throat, and move back and forth in a cutting motion.
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. —
The C-130J is an incredibly versatile aircraft, and since it’s creation, it’s landed on rough fields, in arctic locations and even an aircraft carrier Yet, it cannot land on water, which covers about 71% of the planet. As national strategic objectives shift focus to littoral regions, Air Force Special Operations Command is advancing new approaches to expand the multi-mission platform’s runway independence and expeditionary capacity.
In partnership with the Air Force Research Lab’s Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation (AFRL-SDPE) directorate, AFSOC is developing an MC-130J Commando II Amphibious Capability (MAC) to improve the platform’s support of seaborne special operations. “The development of the MAC capability is the culmination of multiple lines of effort,” said Lt Col Josh Trantham, AFSOC Science, Systems, Technology, & Innovation (SST&I) Deputy Division Chief. “This capability allows the Air Force to increase placement and access for infiltration, exfiltration, and personnel recovery, as well as providing enhanced logistical capabilities for future competition and conflict.”
The development of a removable amphibious float modification for an MC-130J would enable “runway independent” operations, which, according to Trantham, would extend the global reach and survivability of the aircraft and Air Commandos. “Seaborne operations offer nearly unlimited water landing zones providing significant flexibility for the Joint Force,” Trantham said.
Utilizing the MAC capability may provide unlimited operational access to waterways to distribute forces if land assets are compromised.
“MAC is vital to future success because it will allow for the dispersal of assets within a Joint Operations Area,” said Maj Kristen Cepak, AFSOC Technology Transition Branch Chief. “This diaspora complicates targeting of the aircraft by our adversaries and limits aircraft vulnerability at fixed locations.”
A task force of industry partners are closely collaborating with AFSOC and AFRL-SDPE to bring the vision to life. A five-phase rapid prototyping schedule will lead to an operational capability demonstration in only 17 months while de-risking the concept for a future potential MAC program of record that could field MAC for MC-130Js but also potentially field a similar amphibious capability for other C-130 variants with only minor variations.
AFSOC and private sector counterparts are currently testing MAC prototypes through digital design, virtual reality modeling (VR), and computer-aided designs (CAD) in a virtual setting known as the Digital Proving Ground (DPG), paving the way for digital simulation, testing, and the use of advanced manufacturing for rapid prototyping and physical prototype testing.
According to Trantham and Cepak, the DPG can deliver mission review, aircraft system analysis, design ideation, engineering risk-reduction, virtual reality, concept imagery, feasibility studies, and other deliverables.
“Being able to experiment with existing technology to evaluate design tradeoffs and test a new system before ever bending metal is a game-changer,” Cepak said. “AFSOC is evolving and experimenting in a smart way to reduce technical risk and deliver capability to the field more rapidly and efficiently than before.”
According to Trantham, while the MAC project demonstrates rapid capability development for AFSOC, the Air Force and the Total Force will also benefit.
“We believe MAC will be able to be used by our sister services, allies, and partners on various C-130 platforms,” he said. “Further, expanding the operational use of an amphibious aircraft alongside other innovative tools will provide even more complex dilemmas in future battlespaces for our strategic competitors.”
By SSgt Brandon Esau, AFSOC Public Affairs
Australia’s Platatac is showing off their new Maritime Amphibious Littoral Operations Uniform in the Edgar Brothers stand.
The design is patterned off of Platatac’s TAC Dax trousers and Cut Shirt. Made from DWR treated Tweave 520E stretch with a Polartec Power Dry torso, the uniform dries very quickly. It’s also quite durable. The buttons are slotted and pockets zippered.
US readers should think of it in terms of an Underway Uniform for maritime applications.
Offered in MultiCam, Ranger Green and Grey. MultiCam will be commercially available shortly.
