April 15, 1977 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News

Philadelphia ASNE And SNAME Sections Hear Presentation On The Arapho Concept

Approximately 80 people attended the joint meeting of the American Society of Naval Engineers and The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers at the Officers' Club at the Philadelphia Naval Base on February 17, 1977.

James J. Mulquin of the Naval Air Systems Command, Washington, D.C., made a very interesting presentation on the Arapho concept.

The Arapho concept envisions providing U.S. and NATO merchant ships with modular defense units to provide the vessels with self-protection abilities during wartime convoy operations.

The units include submarine surveillance equipment and a coordinated missile launching helicopter.

Standard containers are placed onboard high-speed containerships to accommodate a standard naval reserve helicopter unit. This consists of quarters, service shops, a hangar, powerplant and fuel storage to handle and service four helicopters. Two naval reserve units are located on each coast. The specially designed modules have standard fittings and lashings to fit over the normal fast containership hatch covers in lieu of a deck load of standard containers. It was estimated that the modules could be removed from a containership in about four hours, and an activated unit with their equipment could be placed upon a newly designated containership in between four to 24 hours. The possibility of utilization of VSTOL such as the Marine Corps' new Harrier VSTOL plant was touched upon.

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