This 1960s film shows scientist from the US Navy testing a model of a highly experimental, semi-submerged ship in different laboratory and real life conditions. In the laboratory wave tank, they test different wave heights and compare performance to a conventional ship. Afterwards they test maneuverability characteristics with a model in a lake or bay. Not much is known about the semi-submersible ship model shown. It looks similar to a design proposed in 1938 by Frederick G. Creed, a Canadian, who presented an idea for a small-waterplane-area twin-hull aircraft carrier to the British Admiralty. Several years later Creed showed the design to the U.S. Navy, but they did not pursue the concept. In 1959, the U.S. Navy renewed activity in this area, proposing moderately high speed “semi-submerged ships”. That work began with H. Boericke proposing a streamlined “shark form” monohull for which he was awarded a patent in 1962. Others expanded on the concept down the line, including Dr. Tom Lang of the Naval Underseas Center (NUC) in San Diego who was awarded a patent in 1971. Lang’s work led to the creation of the SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) ship.
0:08 USS Richard B. Anderson (DD-786) in heavy seas, 0:23 scientists placing a model of a semi submerged ship into a pool, 0:53 a model of a standard ship being wave tested right next to the other model, 1:36 semi-submerged ship being tested while stationary and moving, 2:22 semi-submerged ship model being towed by wires in different conditions, 2:54 conventional ship model undergoing the same tests in slow motion, 3:37 footage comparing both ships side by side, 3:49 scientist testing the semi-submerged ship model in the ocean, 4:23 scientists working with a radio controlled self-propelled model of the semi submerged ship, 5:02 scientists demonstrating the self propelled model’s maneuverability characteristics in the ocean
The USS Richard B. Anderson was commissioned on the 26th of October 1945 and served with the US Navy until the 20th of December 1975. It was transferred to the Republic of China Navy and served there until 1999, when the ship was sunk to become an artificial reef.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
