The Regional Deterrence Ship (RDS 2010)

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper describes the design of a Regional Deterrence Ship (RDS 2010) for the 2010 timeframe. The requirements for the design were for a ship to operate in littoral areas of the world with a mission of deterring regional conflicts and of hampering the efforts of the aggressor in such a conflict. In addition the ship's mission included the evacuation of friendly personnel as hostilities become likely.The problem countering the littoral threat during times of constrained budgets is addressed. Top level requirements for the design, generated in parallel with “…. From the Sea” [1], were used to set the design goals. The paper describes the manner in which littoral warfare changes the nature of the challenges faced by Navy surface combatants, including a ship such as the RDS 2010. A number of factors become more crucial design concerns than for blue water ships, including reduced reaction times, likelihood of attack from hidden land sites, shallow water mines and shallow water USW. Certain other factors become less critical in littoral areas and this also has ship design impacts.While some present ship designs can perform some of the tasks needed in a littoral warfare/regional conflict environment, none represents a completely integrated design (hull, mechanical & electrical; combat systems; fiscal and manning constraints; reduced vulnerability; robust self‐defense, etc.) for a vessel stationed in waters that, without warning, can become hostile. After describing the mission requirements to which the RDS 2010 was designed, the paper discusses the controlling design philosophy and decisions and describes the process used to assess threats to the ship. The process of combat system selection, against the backdrop of expected threat scenarios, is described and the intended approach to integration of the combat system is discussed. In continued on next page recognition that decreased reaction times and surprise attacks are likely to threaten a ship engaged in regional deterrence, discussions of features intended to reduce ship vulnerability and crew casualties are presented in the paper. A description of the characteristics of the final design is presented and accompanied by a design evaluation. The authors also present suggestions for further investigation of promising design features and technologies for employment in such a ship. The paper includes a discussion of lessons learned in the process of producing the design and includes appropriate acknowledgments.The design was performed at the Naval Postgraduate School under the direction of author Calvano by a group of four officer students, which included author Riedel.