Page 17: of Marine Technology Magazine (May 2016)

Mineman 3rd Class John Stephen-Torres, assigned to Commander, Task Group (CTG) 56.1, ob- serves data from a MK 18 MOD 2 unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) for a training evolution during a squadron exercise (SQUADEX). SQUADEX is a mine countermeasures training exercise aboard the Bay-class landing dock ship Cardigan Bay (L3009) of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. CTG 56.1 conducts mine countermeasures, explosive ordnance disposal, salvage-diving, and force protection operations throughout the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

he U.S. Navy has many mun- gress, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus serve large areas for prolonged periods, dane, messy and perilous un- said that Autonomous Undersea Vehi- without interruption and without degra- derwater missions that are cles (AUV) are a key component of the dation,” Mabus said. “While nominal

Tbetter performed unmanned Navy’s effort to expand undersea supe- force structure requirements for FY25 vehicles. When considering the right riority AUVs are conducting sea sensing have not been determined, the Navy is vehicle for the mission, size does matter. and mine countermeasure tasks today committed to growing both the size and

Unmanned Underwater Vehicles with human-in-the-loop supervision. composition of the AUV force. In the (UUVs) are classi? ed into three basic “By removing the need for environ- near-term, AUVs present an opportuni- size categories: man-portable, light- mental control systems – things like ty to increase undersea superiority and weight, and large displacement based oxygen generation, G-force limitations, offset the efforts of our adversaries,” he on size (as measured by displacement) we can develop platforms that stretch said. “LDUUV will be launched from a and endurance. The Navy considers the bounds of our imagination. Endur- variety of platforms, including both sur- vehicles that are larger in diameter than ance is another important advantage un- face ships and submarines. The craft’s the standard submarine 21-inch torpedo manned technology brings to the ? ght. missions will include ISR, acoustic sur- tube as “large displacement” UUVs. Our UUVs need to be able to stay out for veillance, ASW, mine countermeasures,

In his 2016 posture statement to Con- months at a time, allowing them to ob- and offensive operations.” “While nominal force structure requirements for FY25 have not been determined, the Navy is committed to growing both the size and composition of the AUV force, said Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus. Mabus is pictured here in the Arctic Circle, greeting the captain and the chief of the boat as he boards the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Hampton (SSN 757) during Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2016. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tyler Thompson/Released) www.marinetechnologynews.com

Marine Technology Reporter 17

MTR #4 (1-17).indd 17 4/27/2016 9:53:54 AM