Very Slender Vessel

A Very Slender Vessel (VSV) is a high-speed, wave-piercing craft. It is designed to give a comfortable ride over long, high-speed transits in high seas.[1]

Normal boats travelling at high speed in rough seas can produce a very uncomfortable ride with g-force as high as 20g. Wave piercing vessels avoid this by going through waves instead of over them, at speeds that can exceed 60 knots (110 km/h).[1][2]

Military

North Korea

It was revealed in 2015 that North Korea had under development a VSV attack boat, reported to be deployed on the western side of the Korean peninsula.[3] It was first detected on trials by satellite surveillance late in 2014. The first images of the completed vessel were released by North Korean media in July 2018, after a visit to the Chongjin shipyard by leader Kim Jong-un.[4]

Singapore

The Singapore Army operates VSV craft in special forces units. It was speculated in 2018 that they were to be replaced by new craft.[5]

United Kingdom

VSV craft such as the Royal Marine VSV are used by the Royal Marines and the Special Boat Service.

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Very Slender Vessel". www.globalsecurity.org. 7 July 2011.
  2. ^ Julian, Alex. "MarySlim yacht makes debut". topspeed.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  3. ^ Ryall, Julian (28 May 2015). "North Korea deploys new generation of fast warships". The Telegraph.
  4. ^ Macdonald, Hamish (19 July 2018). "First images of newly-built North Korean warship published by state media". North Korea News.
  5. ^ Wong, Kelvin (18 December 2018). "Update: Singapore's new stealth combatant craft breaks cover". IHS Jane's 360. Singapore. Archived from the original on 18 December 2018.