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Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (SDV) news roundup
JFD acquire Ortega Submersibles
British-based marine services and diving & underwater systems provider James Fisher Defence (JFD) has acquired Dutch SDV start-up Ortega Submersibles who are known for their highly-sophisticated submersible canoe designs. Their main military product is the Mk.1D 4-person SDV.
The deal covers all the assets, IP and designs rights of Ortega Submersibles, and the Dutch team at Enschede will continue operating as a new subsidiary JFD Ortega BV.
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Ortega’s publicly revealed products are all smaller than JFD’s existing SEAL Carrier submersible boats (see below), but larger than the Torpedo SEAL two-person diver propulsion device (DPD).
Subsea Craft reveal VICTA-02
British based submersible boat builder SubSeaCraft has released the first images of its next generation SDV, the VICTA-02. Unlike its distinctive catamaran Diver Delivery Unit (DDU) design the new craft has a more typical monohull form. It differs from most other western submersible boat designs by not being a RHIB (rigid hulled inflatable boat) design. Although a high-speed semi-planing hull, the bow and upper surfaces are distinctly rounded to reduce underwater resistance. The crew/passengers, and this appears to be an 8-person wet-sub like the previous design, are accommodated in an enclosed compartment with windows and top hatches.
The more conventional hull form may have different underwater performance and handling characteristics to the catamaran design. The new vehicle will be unveiled at DSEI 2019 in London on 10-13th September (Stand S10-150).
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Images of SEAL Carrier with Rebs boarding ladder
Photos posted to Reb’s Instagram last year show their rolatube/hook combo vertical access ladder being deployed directly from a JFD SEAL Carrier SDV.
Norwegian firm Henriksen make a range of Rebs ladders for Special Forces and law enforcement applications. The system shown here is suitible to maritime counter-terrorism Special Forces and commandos, and is more commonly associated with fast boats, typically RHIBS, and divers.
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