SNAME Chesapeake Section Hears Paper On Analysis Of Advanced Naval Vehicles

The Chesapeake Section of The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers held its fourth meeting of the 1976-77 season at the Ramada Inn in Bethesda, Md.

The subject of the meeting was a talk on the analysis of advanced naval vehicles.

Presentation of the paper entitled "Advanced Naval Vehicles —Who Needs Them?" followed a social hour and dinner. The author of the paper was William D.

O'Neil, Staff Specialist for Naval Vehicles and Mines, Office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering. The author presented his views on the three questions which must be answered in assessing any advanced naval vehicle proposal. These questions are: — Can it be done? — If it can be done, how much will it cost? — How much would it be worth ?

Most of the paper dealt with the question, "How much would it be worth?" The author presented his suggestions for answering this question and noted that part of the question of worth can be addressed by the question, "What is it f o r ? " He also noted that 95 percent of the time, the question "What is it f o r ? " generates one or more of the following five basic answers: (1) Carrying helicopter (or V/STOL aircraft) ; (2) ASW; (3) It goes fast; (4) Replacing the conventional surface ship, and (5) There is a firm military requirement. In most cases there are not very satisfactory answers.

At the conclusion of the presentation, a lively discussion period took place.

Other stories from May 1977 issue

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