[kach22i]

Does anyone have any art, illustrations, models or other graphic representations of the T-Craft they can post?

Sea Base Connector Transformable-Craft (T-CRAFT)
Sea Base Connector Test Craft (T-CRAFT)
Beachable High Speed Sea Base Connector
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/t-craft.htm

There is a need for high speed marine vehicles that are beachable to allow discharge of troops and cargo. One of the primary military purposes of beachable marine vehicles is to transport cargo such as vehicles and troops from ships at sea to beachheads. These beachable marine vehicles also have commercial application where they may transport cargo to unimproved beach areas.

The anticipated goal of a future T-Craft program would be to contract for the design, production and demonstration testing of a large-scale prototype. In August 2005 the Office of Naval Research solicited proposals through Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) 05-020 for a prototype demonstrator of a Transformable-Craft (T-CRAFT) which can deploy in an unloaded condition (range of 2,500 nm) from the intermediate support base to the Seabase and then be used as a Sea Base connector, transporting wheeled and tracked vehicles through the surf zone and onto the beach.

ONR desires to have the craft run at high speeds in as shallow water as realistically possible. ONR understands that depending upon hullform and propulsion system chosen, this minimum water depth will vary concept to concept. ONR envisions this minimum water depth to be somewhere between 6 and 14 feet.............................................. ...........

As this is an Innovative Prototype to prove a game changing concept vice an acquisition program, no absolute requirements were given for deck loading beyond the payload requirements provided in the BAA. However, it would be expected that the vehicle pressure load limits would be similar to the current LCAC which is no greater than 80 psi. The M1A2 can be assumed to be the heaviest vehicle to be transported for the purposes of demonstrating this prototype.

Alion Awarded $1.7M Phase I Office of Naval Research Contract.
http://www.allbusiness.com/government/government-procurement/4054409-1.html

An Alion-led team will develop a prototype demonstrator for the Sea Base Connector Transformable - Craft (T-Craft).

Alion Science and Technology
http://www.alionscience.com/index.cfm

http://www.alionscience.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=mediaroom.viewnews&newsid=89

The craft is envisioned to have three modes of operation: fuel-efficient or sea keeping mode, high-speed or shallow water mode and an amphibious mode to travel over sand bars and mud flats.
Engineers from Alion’s JJMA Maritime & Industrial Engineering Group will work on developing the technologies required to perform the T-Craft mission.

Alion Awarded $1.7M Phase I Office of Naval Research Contract
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Alion+Awarded+$1.7M+Phase+I+Office+of+Naval+Research+Contract-a0159541845

Engineers from Alion's JJMA JJMA - John J. McMullen Associates Maritime & Industrial Engineering Group will work on developing the technologies required to perform the T-Craft mission. Alion engineers will design a T-Craft ship platform on which these technologies will be integrated on to demonstrate the three part mission.

Other members of the Alion team include Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, which is performing C3I design, and Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, who will ultimately build the craft.

NOTE: The "Sea Fighter" is also known as the X-Craft, I'm looking for the T-Craft.

Found something...................................

Navatek gets Navy design contract
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Feb/20/bz/FP702200319.html

Honolulu naval architect Navatek Ltd. has received a $2 million contract to design a Navy prototype ship that can deliver tanks and other heavy equipment onto a beachhead.

Navatek's proposal for the so-called T-Craft project uses an amphibious transporter that can be launched from a specially designed ship. The transporter could then carry troops and equipment from ship to shore. Navatek hopes the contract will eventually be worth $160 million, if all options are exercised......................................Nav atek was founded in 1979 and operates out of offices in Honolulu with 45 employees. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Pacific Marine, founded in 1944, which has 350 employees and annual revenues of $73 million.

Tanks unload from an amphibious transporter in one artist's rendering provided by Navatek. In this preliminary design, the transporter launches from a craft visible in the background.

Interesting website below - end of the road? I have to leave off here, I have to get some real work done today.

Navatek
http://www.navatekltd.com/index.html


EDIT:
A few more Navatek designs:
http://www.ceros.org/partnersandprojects/graphicheader2.htm


http://www.navatekltd.com/hdv.html


http://starbulletin.com/2004/06/30/business/story2.html