THE DEEP‐ VEE HULL FORM — IMPROVES SEAKEEPING AND COMBAT SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

• Published in: Naval Engineers Journal
• Main Authors: KEHOE, JAMES W., BROWER, KENNETH S., SERTER, ERBIL H.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1987
• Subjects: North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-3584.1987.tb02114.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1559-3584.1987.tb02114.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1559-3584.1987.tb02114.x

ABSTRACT A unique deep‐Vee hull form has been developed and model tested in Europe for use in the design of corvette and frigate sized ships. The seakeeping performance of this new deep‐Vee hull form, whose proportions are suitable for ship operations in a displacement mode at conventional speed‐to‐length ratios, exceeds the performance of ships with more conventional round‐bilge hull forms. It promises to provide a 4,500‐ton frigate with the speed, course selectivity, and combat system performance equivalent to that of larger destroyers when operating in the high latitudes of the North Atlantic, especially during the winter season. The authors describe and compare the seakeeping performance of two 4,500‐ton frigates, one with a deep‐Vee and the other with a round‐bilge hull. They discuss the impact of differences in seakeeping performance on combat system availability. From the standpoint of incorporating a deep‐Vee hull form into a ship design, certain features of a deep‐Vee hull form affect ship proportions, calm water resistance, hull structure (particularly hull girder bending moments), stability, deck area, arrangements, propulsion plant configuration, light ship weights and centers of gravity, and acquisition and life cycle costs differently than a round‐bilge hull form. Based on a comparative feasibility design study of two frigates of about 4,500‐tons, one with a deep‐Vee and the other with a round‐bilge hull, the authors quantify the impact of these differences on a ship design.