helicopters. An equipment stowage area can host twelve TEU containers. Up to eight 12.5m boats are carried (either NWS RIB or CCA), together with eight smaller Zodiac F470 (Combat Rubber Raiding Craft), and as many jet-skis. Four launch and recovery bays are located on the ship’s starboard side, behind doors. The ship includes two Boeing Insitu SuperWedge Mk 4 catapults for UAS on the secondary flight deck astern, with two ground-control-stations and, likely the Skyhook recovery system. Full facilities for up to 120 troops (surge capacity of 200), including staff, communications and naval special warfare operators are included. The special features also cover a conference room, a communication/ server room and two modular planning/support rooms. All these are SCIF-capable (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility), in order to ensure highly-classified information can be managed. The modifications included also arms, diving, and special equipment lockers, various workshops, and an emergency medical suite with two surgical rooms and 10 beds. The ship is fitted with a number of external cameras and six to eight pintle-mounted 12.7mm machine guns, for close protection. Care was given to air-conditioning and equipment cooling systems, in order to operate for extended periods even in 43°C air temperature and 35°C water temperature, as can be commonly encountered around the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. All the above, under a discreet commercial livery, somewhat easing covert deployments in troubled areas. Magic Persian (Floating) Carpets In late 2016 the Iranian Navy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG) began operations with MV Saviz, a 174m, 17,000 ton commercial cargo vessel deployed in the Red Sea, off the Eritrean shores. The ship was acting as a forward semi-permanent intelligence gathering platform, and supplied information, arms and special operators to the Houthi rebels in the Yemen civil war against Saudi-backed government forces, RAdm (ret) Massimo Annati served for 38 years in the Italian Navy, mostly in procurement and international cooperation. He currently holds the position of Chairman of the European Working Group on Non-Lethal Weapons, and is a frequent contributor to Mönch Group publications. From the Bridge MT 5/2022 · 39 Their smaller and faster sisters are the 16 Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport vessels (EPF): 2,500 tons, 43-knots aluminum catamarans. In addition to their main role as fast transports and intra-theatre connectors, the EPF are being tested in many other roles, including support to special operations (being able to launch a Swimmer Delivery Vehicle or small boats), counter-drug operations, amphibious operations, etc. thanks to their generous internal volumes, the CH-53E capable flight deck, and the articulated slewing stern ramp. Their main limit is stability, as operations are in many cases constrained to a mere SeaState 2. The Republic of Korea Navy is planning to procure four Special Operation Support Ships, quite likely similar to the US Spearhead-class. Their first role would be launching SDV, landing craft and 11-m RHIB, though the design flexibility would enable many other possibilities. The USNS Carolyn Chouest, originally built as a submarine support ship, has been operating in support of naval special forces, and carried around different Special Warfare Combatant Craft Assault and 11-m RHIBs, catapults for launching drones, and plenty of communication antennas. In recent years the ship’s central superstructure has also been enlarged, providing additional spaces for personnel accommodation, mission planning, and working spaces. Her roles and tasks are classified, therefore one can only make an educated guess regarding her South China Sea deployments. Her larger, yet elusive, companion is the MV Ocean Trader, a 193 m, 20,000 ton vessel, initially very similar to the UK MoD’s leased Pointclass ro-ro transport ships. The basic original vessel was provided by Maersk and then converted by BAE Systems to become a Special Warfare Support Vessel in 2016, including special features, such as a massive dual hangar bay. The main flight deck can operate up to MH-53E In 2009 and 2011 Malaysia quickly converted two small container ships for supporting maritime security operations in the Indian Ocean, following the piracy outbreak. (Royal Malaysian Navy) f The UK Royal Navy has been looking for ways to increase its operational capabilities in low-intensity scenarios, without affecting the already scarce amphibious assets. Unfortunately, after long evaluations, the promising Littoral Strike Ship project was cancelled. (Photo: Prevail)
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