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EP-4737299-A1 - IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO LANDING CRAFT

EP4737299A1EP 4737299 A1EP4737299 A1EP 4737299A1EP-4737299-A1

Abstract

A landing craft (10) comprising a hull (100). The hull (100) extends along an x-axis, a first end (102) of the hull (100) and a second end (104) of the hull (100) spaced apart from one another along the x-axis. The hull (100) extends along a y-axis, a first side (106) of the hull (100) and a second side (108) of the hull (100) spaced apart from one another along the y-axis. The hull extends along a z-axis, a base side (110) and a top side (112) of the hull (100) spaced apart from one another along the z-axis. The hull (100) comprises a first hull wall assembly (140) spaced apart from a second hull wall assembly (150) in the direction of the y-axis by a deck assembly (142), the deck assembly (142) having front edge (144). The landing craft (10) comprises a first ramp (300) which is coupled to, and pivotable relative to, and extends from, the front edge (144) of the deck assembly (142).

Inventors

  • The designation of the inventor has not yet been filed

Assignees

  • BAE SYSTEMS plc

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241029

Claims (14)

  1. A landing craft comprising a hull wherein; the hull extends along an x-axis, a first end of the hull and a second end of the hull being spaced apart from one another along the x-axis; the hull extends along a y-axis, a first side of the hull and a second side of the hull being spaced apart from one another along the y-axis; the x-axis being at right angles to the y-axis; the hull extends along a z-axis, a base side and a top side of the hull being spaced apart from one another along the z-axis, the z-axis being perpendicular to the x-axis and y-axis; the hull further comprises a first hull wall assembly spaced apart from a second hull wall assembly in the direction of the y-axis by a deck assembly, the deck assembly having front edge at the first end of the hull; and the landing craft further comprises a first ramp which is coupled to, and pivotable relative to, and extends from, the front edge of the deck assembly.
  2. A landing craft as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first hull wall assembly, second hull wall assembly and deck assembly define a storage region therebetween.
  3. A landing craft as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first ramp is operable to have, and to move between: an external configuration in which the first ramp extends forwards from the front edge of the deck assembly; and an internal configuration in in which the first ramp extends rearwards from the front edge of the deck assembly and is located in the storage region.
  4. A landing craft as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising: a support member, spaced apart from the front edge of the deck assembly along the x-axis, the support member extending between the first hull wall assembly and the second hull wall assembly in the direction of the y-axis; a door coupled to the support member, the door extending from a mount end coupled to the support member to a free end, and the door is operable to have, and to move between: an open configuration in which the free end of the door is spaced apart from the first end of the landing craft such that the door defines a first opening; and a closed configuration in which the door closes the first opening.
  5. A landing craft as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the first ramp comprises: a first element which extends from the front edge of the deck assembly to a support edge; a second element extending from, and being pivotable relative to, the support edge of the first element.
  6. A landing craft as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first ramp comprises: a third element extending from, and being pivotable relative to, support edge of the first element; the second element being spaced apart from the third element in the direction of the y-axis.
  7. A landing craft as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the first ramp is coupled to the front edge of the deck assembly by a quick release mechanism operable to detach the first ramp from the front edge of the deck assembly.
  8. A landing craft as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein: the first hull wall assembly and second hull wall assembly extend from the first end of the hull and the second end of the hull, spaced apart from one another along the y-axis by the deck assembly along the length of the landing craft such that the storage region extends the full length of the landing craft from the front edge of the deck assembly to a rear edge of the deck assembly at the second end of the hull; the first hull wall assembly, second hull wall assembly and deck assembly defining a second opening at the second end of the hull; a second ramp is coupled to, and pivotable relative to, and extends from the rear edge of the deck assembly, the second ramp defining a support surface.
  9. A landing craft as claimed in claim 8 wherein the second ramp is operable to have, and to move between, and be fixed in position between: a closed position in which the second ramp closes the second opening; and an open position in which the second ramp extends rearwards from the rear edge of the deck assembly.
  10. A landing craft as claimed in claims 8, 9 wherein the second ramp comprises an extension element which fits to an edge of the second ramp and extends from the second ramp in the plane of the second ramp support surface.
  11. A landing craft as claimed in claim 10 wherein the extension element is inflatable.
  12. A landing craft as claimed in claim 10 wherein the extension element comprises a flap pivotably mounted the second ramp such that it is foldable from a stowage position in which the flap is folded onto or under the second ramp and an extended position in which the flap extends away from the second ramp in the plane of the second ramp support surface.
  13. A landing craft as claimed in claim 10 wherein the extension element comprises a plate element which is detachably mounted to the second ramp such that it extends away from the second ramp in the plane of the second ramp support surface.
  14. A landing craft as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 13 wherein the first ramp, deck assembly and second ramp define a path along the length of the landing craft in the x-axis.

Description

FIELD The present disclosure relates to a landing craft. BACKGROUND Landing craft are watercraft used to travel on water and to travel up a shoreline to convey people and equipment from the water to land. Conventionally landing craft design and functionality is based around the need to be configured to run up onto a shoreline, but may not provide a comfortable/stable ride for passengers. However, as typical journeys from a mother ship to shore are short, the discomfort levels are acceptable. However, there is a need for the journey distance to increase to keep the mother ship further from shore, which means even if the water state was good at the beginning of the journey, it may change during the journey. It is generally the case that passengers in a landing craft need to be able to perform duties as soon as they land, and so a landing craft which provides an unstable ride over a long journey may make a set objective more difficult to achieve. Other operational requirements (for example the firing of weapons and/or the offloading of vehicles from the landing craft) may also be frustrated by conventional landing craft configurations, which may make them difficult to control and keep stable. Hence a landing craft which provides a more stable ride during travel (e.g. to avoid the passengers getting ill) or when stationary (for example receiving and/or offloading equipment) is highly desirable. SUMMARY According to the present disclosure there is provided an apparatus and system as set forth in the appended claims. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description which follows. Accordingly there may be provided a landing craft (10) comprising a hull (100). The hull (100) extends along an x-axis, a first end (102) of the hull (100) and a second end (104) of the hull (100) being spaced apart from one another along the x-axis. The hull (100) may extend along a y-axis, a first side (106) of the hull (100) and a second side (108) of the hull (100) being spaced apart from one another along the y-axis. The x-axis may be at right angles to the y-axis. The hull may extend along a z-axis, a base side (110) and a top side (112) of the hull (100) being spaced apart from one another along the z-axis. The z-axis may be perpendicular to the x-axis and y-axis. The landing craft (10) may comprise a hydrofoil assembly (200) located on the base side (110) of the hull (100). The hydrofoil assembly (200) may comprise a first wing section (202), wherein the hydrofoil assembly (200) extends from the base side (110) in the direction of the z-axis, and the first wing section (202) extends part, but not all, of the way across the base side (110) in the direction of the y-axis. The hydrofoil assembly (200) may be operable to move between a deployed position (DP) in which the hydrofoil assembly (200) is spaced apart from the base side (110) by a first distance (D1) and a storage position (SP) in which the hydrofoil assembly (200) is located in contact with at least some of the base side (110) and/or spaced apart from the base side (110) by a second distance (D2) which is less than the first distance (D1). The hull (100) may be configured such that the landing craft (10) has a first mode of operation in which the watercraft is supported by a fluid. The hull (100) may be configured such that the landing craft (10) has a second mode of operation in which at least part of the lower surface of the hull of the watercraft is engaged with a substrate. The hull (100) may be configured such that the landing craft (10) has a third mode of operation in which the watercraft transitions from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation. The hull (100) may be configured such that the landing craft (10) has a fourth mode of operation in which the watercraft transitions from the second mode of operation to the first mode of operation. The hydrofoil assembly (200) may be located closer to the first end (102) of the hull (100) than to a mid point between the first end (102) and the second end (104). The hydrofoil assembly (200) may be located closer to the second end (104) of the hull (100) than to a mid point between the first end (102) and the second end (104). The base side (110) of the hull (100) may be substantially flat. The hull (100) may comprise a first hull extension (118) provided on the base side (110) of the hull (100) between the first side (106) of the hull (100) and the second side (108) of the hull (108). The first hull extension (118) may extend in a direction away from the hull (100) in the z-axis and along the base side (110) of the hull (100) along the x-axis at least part of the distance between the first end (102) of the hull (200) and the second end (104) of the hull (100). The hull (100) may comprise a first hull extension (118) provided on the first side (106) of the hull (100) and a second hull extension (120) provided on the second side (108) of the hull (100). The fir