A stealth vessel is a vessel that employs stealth technologies to make it more difficult to detect. It hides the ship's existence from radar, sonar and visual detection. Examples of such vessels include the MV Ocean Trader and Cragside as well as Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transports.
MV Ocean Trader
The US Navy stealthship MV Ocean Trader can be found in the Atlantic. The ship is equipped with 209 special warfighters as well as enough supplies to keep it running for 45 consecutive days. It can also replenish up to four small boats and refuel at the sea. It has a flight deck to allow for helicopter operations, storage for Zodiacs as well RHIB launch capability and command and controls. It also offers food services, and other amenities.
Rich took the concept to the Pentagon, where a Navy captain in charge of submarine research and development was working on the project. Rich convinced him to go ahead with the project despite his concerns about the cost. The ship was dry-docked after that. It demonstrated technology that could be applied to radar and lower cross sections of a new type of destroyer.
MV Cragside
The US Navy quietly transforms a 633 foot cargo ship into a stealthy helicopter carrier. Odense Steel Shipyard conceived the ship, which can travel at upto 21 knots. It includes a forward two-bay hangar, with an additional flightdeck on top. The top deck features wide openings for helicopter landings.
Its design is identical to the Point Class RoRo ship used by US Navy. The US Navy intends to convert the ship into a maritime support vessel, which can support at least207 people. The ship will have an endurance of up to 45 days and a range of 8000 miles. It can travel 3000 miles in Sea State 5 and will have a maximum speed of 20 knots for 5 days.
Corvette MV Visby-class
The MV Visby-class corvette of the Swedish Navy is a stealthy vessel capable of attacking submarines or other targets. It has low visibility, low radar crossing-section, and a small Infrared signature. This stealthship can carry an AgustaWestland A109M helicopter.
The Visby has a composite hull made from carbon fiber, vinyl laminate, and PVC plastic. This composite material is approximately half the weight of steel with the same strength. It also has extra radar-absorbing properties. Its lower thermal signature makes it harder to detect by radar or infrared sensors.
MV Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transports
The U.S. Navy's Sealift Program has the MV Spearhead class Expeditionary Fast Transports. They are maneuverable, fast ships. These ships are fast, shallow-draft vessels that have high speed capabilities and can be used as a platform for the transport of heavy and light equipment and personnel. These ships can move at speeds up to 35 to 45 knots.
The ship was built by Austal in Mobile, Alabama, and christened the USNS Spearhead in September 2011. In September 2012, the ship passed acceptance trials, and in October 2013, the US Navy completed operational tests of T-EPF-1.
MV Sea Shadow
James Rich designed the stealthy ship prototype MV Sea Shadow. He presented the design to a Navy captain, who was responsible in submarine research and development. Rich's idea was resisted by the captain who thought it would cause too much cost and reduce speed. Rich refuted the captain's objections and explained the benefits of stealthy performance. The US Navy funded the prototype, and the MV Sea Shadow was a highly efficient stealth ship.
Sea Shadow trials began in 1985. At the time, it was unarmed. The Sea Shadow was originally intended to be a demonstration ship and test platform. Later, it was intended to carry a huge radar in its cargo bay. This modification was delayed, however, and was never completed. Plans were also made for the ship to carry Patriot air defence missiles. These could operate in advance of surface ships.