USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

David S Vickers

William Steven Jones

John D Horton

John Auzins

Ray W Dyke

An apparatus for and method of laying a minefield in open water uses a high speed air-cushion vehicle that transports substantial quantities of mines to a target area. It then deploys the mines while it is rapidly moving, d marks and records the location of each deployed mine with GPS equipment. Mines can be emplaced at speeds and rates much greater than conventional surface ships. The speed of high speed aircushion vehicle makes it less vulnerable to attack during operations, and it is less vulnerable to other mines it may encounter during a mission. The GPS on high speed air-cushion vehicle ensures an accurate and detailed record of location of the minefield. The high speed air-cushion vehicle has much greater lift capability than aircraft used in mining missions, and, therefore, can deliver a much larger payload per sortie (under all weather conditions) while creating the minefield. Mines can be emplaced much more accurately than an aircraft dropping them from altitude, (at least 100% increase in delivery precision). The high speed air-cushion vehicle running at normal operating speeds, has a low detectable signature and, due to its speed, is invulnerable to certain enemy mine functions. The unexpected benefit is accurate mining of enemy minefields, or areas beyond enemy minefields, for various expeditionary uses.

Air-cushion and accurate mine laying and mapping system

An inflated roll-stabilizing keel system has a first trough-shaped bladder nd a second trough-shaped bladder attached to the underside of a forward portion of the first trough-shaped bladder. Holes pass through from the first trough-shaped bladder to the second trough-shaped bladder to allow inflation to flow therein. A plurality of shaped bladders are attached successively along and to the first trough-shaped bladder immediately aft of the second trough-shaped bladder. Each shaped bladder has a rectangular base portion attached to the underside of the first trough-shaped bladder. Each shaped bladder tapers downward from its base portion to an open apex. An inflation hole passes through from the first trough-shaped bladder to each of the shaped bladders to allow inflation air to flow therein. Once inflated, adjacent shaped bladders contact one another between the base portion and open apex in an area of contact. Each shaped bladder forms a substantially rectangular shape between its fore and aft areas of contact.

Growing community of inventors

Lynn Haven, FL, United States of America

David S Vickers