The Mark V SOC is a small marine securitytransport boat manufactured by
VT Halter Marine Inc. The Mark V is one of the newest additions to the United
States Naval Special Warfare Command. Development
= Origins= The development of the Mark V SOC was
very fast-paced, taking only 18 months from the initiation of the program to
actual delivery of the first boat on 4 September 1995. The USSOCOM Contracting
Directorate and a dedicated Program Management team executed this effort in
record time, specifically because USSOCOM was given Agency level
contracting authority. The contract was fulfilled when full operational
capability was met in 1999. In all, 20 Mk V SOC units were delivered to USSOCOM
at a unit cost of $3.7 million. The Mark V SOC deployment, on the other hand, was
less smooth. Problems included instances of the windshield and entire pilothouse
assembly collapsing upon wave impact. However, these issues have been resolved
and the Mark V SOC has markedly improved maritime special operations
capabilities. The original Mk V SOC was designed to
address the lack of any specifically conceived SEAL insertion craft. Prior to
the Mk V SOC, SEALs traveled on any form of surface transport available, often
resorting to taping lawn furniture to the deck of the available craft. The
original Mk V competition included three different designs, one Kevlar composite
monohull, one aluminum monohull and one aluminum catamaran hull; the aluminum
monohull won. The Mk V SOC specifically incorporated a modular shock mitigation
seating design to minimize injury. Experience gained during training and
operational usage showed the aluminum monohull transmitted the impact with the
water to the craft's occupants more readily than a composite hull. Even
after modifications such as the addition of shock-absorbing seats, the boats are
capable of generating up to 20 Gs of force while slamming across waves. This
led to many cases of bruises, sprained ankles, chipped teeth, and back, neck
and joint injuries. These injuries necessitated a replacement.
= Redesign= On 11 January 2008 the U.S. Navy
unveiled a new version of the Mk V, dubbed the Mk V.1, intended to reduced
the number of injuries sustained by sailors and SEALs during the operation
of the vessel. Nicknamed the MAKO, the boat will undergo testing off the coast
of Maine to evaluate its new composite carbon-fiber hull before final
evaluation in Norfolk, Virginia. The MAKO was designed by Maine Marine
Manufacturing LLC, a subsidiary of Hodgdon Yachts, a luxury boat builder,
and the University of Maine's Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center. The
new boat will feature a hull made of layers of carbon fiber, a foam core and
an outer layer of Kevlar for additional strength. The MAKO is lighter than
current Mk V's. Missions
The primary mission of the Mark V is medium range insertion and extraction
platform for Special Operations Forces in a low to medium threat environment.
The secondary mission is limited Coastal Patrol and Interdiction, specifically
limited duration patrol and low to medium threat coastal interdiction. The
typical Mark V SOC mission duration is 12 hours.
For example, in 2003, in one of the first actions of Operation Iraqi
Freedom, Mark V SOCs operating out of Kuwait disembarked at least two platoons
of Navy SEALs to capture Iraqi offshore oil terminals.
= Capabilities= The Mark V has the capacity to carry
sixteen fully equipped SEALs to missions 500 miles away from where they are
based. They ride on seats that are designed for maximum comfort and shock
mitigation in high seas or heavy maneuvering, and allows occupants to
either stand or sit. With a beam of 17½ feet, the craft has enough room to carry
four Combat Rubber Raiding Crafts with six outboard motors and fuel, to deploy
forces from a clandestine distance. The ramp on the stern allows SEAL teams to
ride their CRRCs right up the stern of the boat, for fast extraction and
insertion. To support the SOF missions in a medium
to low threat environment, the Mk Vs are outfitted with five gun mounts for small
caliber weapons supporting any combination of: M-2 .50 cal heavy
machine guns, M240 or the M60 7.62 mm machine guns or Mk19 40 mm automatic
grenade launchers. Together these provide 360 degrees of firing coverage.
To defend against aircraft, the craft has a station for firing the Stinger
Man-portable Air Defense System. Later improvements include mounting stations
for GAU-17 Miniguns, MK 95 Twin .50 cal machine gun, MK 38 chain gun and Mk48 25
mm guns. Personal small arms of the crew and passengers can also be used to
defend the craft. The Mark V has many special features,
besides its weapons, that make it more survivable while delivering sailors to
their missions. Its angular design and low silhouette reduces its radar
signature making it harder to spot and detect. Its V-hull design gives it good
handling qualities in rough water as well as speed and shallow draft. Its
twin MTU 12-cylinder TE94 Diesel engines give it power and reliability and,
coupled with the two K50S water jets, provides fast acceleration for
operations near shore or in shallow waters as well as cutting down on the
rooster tail effect that can make fast boats easier to see and track.
= Mark V SOC Detachment= The Mark V SOC will normally operate in
a two craft detachment with a Mobile Support Team. The operational
detachment, also referred to as the basic Mark V SOC operating system,
consists of: two Mark V special operations craft,
each with a crew of five special warfare combatant-craft crewmen;
two Mark V SOC transporters, each with an M916A1E1 prime mover
four M1097 HMMWVs with S250 shelters, two M1083 5-ton trucks for the 90 day
containerized deployment support package one five-ton forklift;
an eight-man maintenance support team, that provides technical assistance and
maintenance support during mission turnaround.
A Mark V SOC detachment is deployable on two USAF C-5 Galaxy aircraft to a
theater of operations within 48 hours of notification and is prepared to commence
operations within 24 hours after arriving at a forward staging location.
The detachment can also be delivered in-theater by well or flight deck
equipped surface ships with appropriate crane and deck space capabilities, and,
if appropriate, under their own power. A detachment is also transportable by
road. The Mark V SOC is operated by Naval
Special Warfare Group THREE and Naval Special Warfare Group FOUR on the east
and west coasts. Twelve Mark Vs are assigned to NSWG-3, Coronado,
California, and eight to NSWG-4, Little Creek, Virginia.
Mark V Waterfront Operations Support Facility
Located at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, California is a new
facility to house operational maintenance, training and administrative
functions for 12 Mark V SOC. The North Island location was designed to allow
rapid mobilization and transport of these vessel worldwide. The facility
provides non-depot level maintenance of rolling stock and depot level
maintenance of the Mark V SOC. In addition to maintenance and supply/spare
parts warehousing facilities, on-site administration and training facilities
with classrooms and briefing areas were provided. Final design includes a new
115' by 37' U-shaped, reinforced concrete pier, 60' long concrete
floating docks to berth five vessels, and a gangway. The pier was designed to
support the combined load of a 50-ton Mark V and a 70-ton marine travel lift
used to lift the vessels out of the water and transport them to the
maintenance facility. Foreign use
On 9 July 2013, Congress was notified of a request from the Royal Saudi Naval
Forces to purchase 30 Mark V patrol boats, along with associated equipment,
parts, training, and logistical support for $1.2 billion. The boats' mission is
to protect maritime infrastructure in Saudi littoral waters. They will be used
primarily to patrol and interdict intruders in Saudi territorial seas, and
recognized economic exclusion zones. Replacement
In August 2014, SAFE Boats International delivered the first 10 Mark VI patrol
boats to the U.S. Navy, their first new patrol boats since the 1980s. The Mark
VI is more survivable and better equipped with modernized weapons,
communications, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems.
A Mark VI is 85 ft long, can travel in excess of 35 kn, and is manned by a
10-person crew with space or 8 more passengers; the boats are equipped with
a covered fly bridge, reconfigurable main deck cabin, and have shock
mitigating seating for greater comfort in high sea states. There is space for
additional crew, payloads, and greater mission capabilities once the Navy
refines the larger boat's concept of operations. The Mark VI is planned to
begin its operational deployment in spring 2015, with up to 48 boats
potentially to be purchased by the U.S. Navy. Safe Boats plans to market the
vessel internationally, and potential customers from the Middle East and
Central and South America have already made inquiries.
See also Cyclone class coastal patrol ship
Special Operations Craft - Riverine References
External links www.military.com
www.globalsecurity.org www.fas.org
www.special-operations-technology.com www.boats.dt.navy.mil