Soft Rail Launch and Recovery

ASNELaunch and Recovery Symposium

Annapolis, MD

Presented By Ronald Seiple

SOFT RAIL L AND R IS PATENTED # 7156036B2

Soft Rail Approach• L&R at Speed• Take advantage of stability at 20-40ft depth• L&R in the wake “sweetspot” • Do L&R fast (<1 min) • Improve Safety• Maintain payload versatility• Make it Simple and Robust

Soft Rail L&R Method

Soft Rail Design Parameters

Drogue Drag = 22,528kgDive

Force=

5632kg

Scope Ratio = 4:1

Tow speed = 15 knots

Depth=

10m

Payload = 9200kgSoft Rail Tension = 26000kgPayload to Tension Ratio = 0.35

Launch Height = 4.0mSoft Rail Length = 56mScope Angle = 9.46° to water

(Modeled)

Soft Rail Deck System

C Commando

• 2K Tons, 220 ft Long 56 ft B

Soft Rail Deck Gear & RHIB

Soft Rail D/d System

Soft Rail Ready to Deploy

Traditional L & R

Soft Rail L & R

Soft Rail UUV Concept

Static Soft Rail

Anchor

Soft Rail Cables

Tensioning Wench

Soft Rail Demo Conclusions

• Proven At Sea• Robust

• Small Size•Deployment Speed 20kts

•Simple

• Cost Effective• Sea State 4 Achievable• Fast• Safe

What Next

• Depressor/Drogue: Develop a unified design.• Transition• Partnership

Soft Rail Questions