RUDDER ROLL STABILIZATION FOR COAST GUARD CUTTERS AND FRIGATES

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe potential use of rudders as anti‐roll devices has long been recognized. However, the possible interference of this secondary function of the rudder with its primary role as the steering mechanism has prevented, for many years, the development of practical rudder roll stabilizers. The practical feasibility of rudder roll stabilization has, however, in recent years been demonstrated by two systems designed and developed for operational evaluation aboard two different U.S. Coast Guard Cutters, i.e., Jarvis and Mellon of the 3,000‐ton, 378‐foot HAMILTON Class.The authors describe the major components of the rudder roll stabilization (RRS) system, along with the design goals and methodology as applied to these first two prototypes. In addition, a brief history of the hardware development is provided in order to show some of the lessons learned.The near flawless performance of the prototypes over the past four years of operational use in the North Pacific is documented. Results from various sea trials and reports of the ship operators are cited and discussed.The paper concludes with a discussion of the costs and benefits of roll stabilization achieved using both a modern anti‐roll fin system, as well as two different performance level RRS systems. The benefits of roll stabilization are demonstrated by the relative expansion in the operational envelopes of the USS OLIVER HAZARD PERRY (FFG‐7) Class. The varying levels of roll stabilization suggest that the merits of fins and RRS systems are strongly dependent on mission requirements and the environment.The demonstrated performance of the reliable RRS system offers the naval ship acquisition manager a good economical stabilization system.