laura 2

Navy operations are seeing increasing use of smaller craft being deployed from larger platforms. Interceptions and boardings are conducted with fast manned RHIBs. In the mine countermeasures area, the trend is for minesweeping equipment to be carried by relatively small unmanned surface craft, while unmanned subsurface craft are already a dominant platform for mine hunting systems. Unmanned (sub-)surface vehicles are also seeing increasing use in the areas of Anti Submarine Warfare and for the gathering of intelligence to name a few. These trends have consequences for the larger naval platforms as they increasingly become craft carrying ships, where flexibility is the key parameter. A good example of such a platform is the US Literal Combat Ship (LCS).

This new role poses challenges and demands on both the design and operation of naval platforms. One such challenge is the launch and recovery (L&R) of the smaller craft in a dynamic seagoing environment. For RHIB type craft, the solution is often found in some form of stern ramp (or slipway), while other craft are normally launched with a crane or davit system, which are often dedicated to the specific craft. The flexible concept for these new platforms means that they must be able to operate with as wide a range of these smaller craft as practicable.

Taking due account of these trends, continuing the current practice of bespoke L&R systems would mean that these platforms would need to be fitted with a large number of dedicated L&R systems. This is expensive, space consuming, inflexible, limits interoperability and requires considerable crew training. There is thus a clear requirement for a standard launch and recovery system, which is easy to handle in as wide a range of environmental envelopes as practicable.

Having a standard for a launch and recovery system will provide many advantages, not least that ships of various nations can exchange craft with each other in operations, and that the developers of new small craft can design to this standard interface. This will extend the operational envelope of a single platform (being able to deploy several craft without needing several launch systems) as well as operations with two or more vessels cooperating in a (international) mission. In addition, cost savings are expected from the standardisation. To address this clear requirement, JIP LAURA was instigated in early 2011.