Comments on: Want A Pair Of Top-Secret, Stealth, Bat-Like, Navy Barges? Free? Pleeeease?

By: Glenn E.

Glenn E. — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:39:34 +0000

Not all that radical a design from the Civil War Merrimack. Which was about the same shape. But designed to deflect cannon shells, not radar. But I wonder if this thing’s design, is stable in rough seas? Stealth often come at a price. And most submarines are already stealthy enough. Why do they need something that can’t submerge completely? I’m sure the navy wasted billions of dollars trying to figure out ways to justify this thing, with all kinds of mission scenarios, rewritten from submarine strategies. We can be glad they didn’t contract a fleet of these things.

“Invisible” sea vessels, kind of falls into the same realm as the Star Trek franchise’s approach to “cloaked” starships. Or rather, why Star Fleet DIDN’T cloak their ships, after Kirk stole the Romulan device. They decided it would be bad to have starships bumping into each other (I guess). Of course the real reason was it was pointless to make movies (and Tv episodes) about a vessel you supposedly couldn’t see. They were meant to impress, right? So maybe the US Navy came to the same conclusion. This sort of stealth vessel, is no where near as impressive to the public as ships with a great deal of guns sticking out at all angles. Stealth not being as good a propaganda tool for recruitment.

The so-called mining barge of Hughes, is very likely the old Glomar Explorer. Refitted some years back for deep sea oil drilling. But apparently, still owned by the US Navy, while under contract use to big oil. Talk about your corporate subsides!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glomar_Explorer

By: nerdofthunder

nerdofthunder — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:42:05 +0000

“AdmFubar said, on February 26th, 2009 at 10:31 am

hhmmm looks like it would make a great (high speed) passenger ferry for someone.. wish i had the cash for that… would set it up for ferry service on the great lakes..”

There was a high speed ferry from Rochester to Toronto. It was a Massive financial failure. Granted there were some massive problems in the project’s management, but a word of warning…

By: ECA

ECA — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:02:27 +0000

Wouldnt this be neet as YOUR HOUSE??

By: James Hill

James Hill — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:29:55 +0000

I don’t think it will fit in the garage.

By: JFStan

JFStan — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:47:10 +0000

Anyone call Batman about this yet? They look like his kinda style.

But seriously, if I had a place to keep one of these I’d jump on it.

By: AdmFubar

AdmFubar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:31:55 +0000

hhmmm looks like it would make a great (high speed) passenger ferry for someone.. wish i had the cash for that… would set it up for ferry service on the great lakes..

By: ZZman

ZZman — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:53:21 +0000

That is one weird looking thingy. I saw it in Redwood City harbor area looong time ago. One night we were cruising around in inflatable boat (but don’t ask me why) and didn’t really know what it was.

By: GregA

GregA — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 15:31:04 +0000

The two greatest days in a boat owners life are the day he gets it and the day he gets rid of it.

Seems like this is true for the navy as well.

By: SeeSaaSoooSUUUUU

SeeSaaSoooSUUUUU — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:20:30 +0000

If I only lived in the states, this would make an awesome bachelor pad – studio apartment! Hawl it up on shore and transport it to a nice cheap piece of land thanks to the foreclosures.. one of a kind! Might get a bit hot in the summers though – could pimp it out with some nice solar panels/cells

By: Mr. Fusion

Mr. Fusion — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:19:03 +0000

#1,

Or the Coast Guard starts shooting because they think you might be carrying something you shouldn’t.

By: amodedoma

amodedoma — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:52:53 +0000

Sea shadow would make a great smugglin’ craft. I’d feel nervous in the open ocean though. Being invisable is fine until some tanker cut’s you in half because they couldn’t see you in radar.