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jwb7605
Rear Admiral
Joined: 06 Aug 2004
Posts: 690
Location: Colorado
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 Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2004 12:38 am Post subject: What was the maximum range of a Swift boat? |
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How far could a Swift boat go on a load of gas?
Preferably round trip.
If you're going to be doing clandestine stuff, I'm thinking you need to do it on one tankful. Doesn't seem like you could sneak up part way, refuel, sneak back part way, refuel, etc. |
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baldeagl
PO3
Joined: 07 Aug 2004
Posts: 260
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2004 5:44 am Post subject: Re: What was the maximum range of a Swift boat? |
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| jwb7605 wrote: | How far could a Swift boat go on a load of gas?
Preferably round trip.
If you're going to be doing clandestine stuff, I'm thinking you need to do it on one tankful. Doesn't seem like you could sneak up part way, refuel, sneak back part way, refuel, etc. |
You can get your answers here. http://www.pcf45.com/index.html
The short answer is, it depends - on how fast you're going - 250 to 840 NM depending upon engine rpms. They had three fuel tanks - 2 aft and 1 amidships, and they could hold 828 gallons of fuel.
Swift boats didn't use gas. They had two 12V71 GM diesel engines, and you wouldn't use them for covert ops. They sounded like a Greyhound bus. Not exactly what you need when stealth is important.
_________________
antimedia
USN OST-6 68-74
http://antimedia.blogspot.com/ |
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jwb7605
Rear Admiral
Joined: 06 Aug 2004
Posts: 690
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2004 2:37 pm Post subject: Re: What was the maximum range of a Swift boat? |
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| baldeagl wrote: | | jwb7605 wrote: | How far could a Swift boat go on a load of gas?
Preferably round trip.
If you're going to be doing clandestine stuff, I'm thinking you need to do it on one tankful. Doesn't seem like you could sneak up part way, refuel, sneak back part way, refuel, etc. |
You can get your answers here. http://www.pcf45.com/index.html
The short answer is, it depends - on how fast you're going - 250 to 840 NM depending upon engine rpms. They had three fuel tanks - 2 aft and 1 amidships, and they could hold 828 gallons of fuel.
Swift boats didn't use gas. They had two 12V71 GM diesel engines, and you wouldn't use them for covert ops. They sounded like a Greyhound bus. Not exactly what you need when stealth is important. |
FOR ANY "civilians" reading this:
Click the link provided by baldeagl
Even Chris Matthews could get a handle on what was going on.
then again ... |
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ETEE
Ensign
Joined: 10 Aug 2004
Posts: 64
Location: New Iberia,La
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| Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2004 8:29 pm Post subject: Mark 1 Specs |
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These are the U.S.Navy contract figures:
| Quote: | Speed: 32 knots, designed maximum
Turning radius: 75 yards when cruising at 20 knots
Stopping distance: 2 1/4 boats lengths (112') in 9 seconds, from maximum speed
Fuel: 828 gallons, diesel or JP-5 in an emergency, in three fuel tanks (2 aft, 1 amidships)
There were no fuel transfer pumps. PCFs 1 -16 engines could draw fuel from their own tank or the centerline tank. PCFs 17 and higher could draw fuel from any tank.
Range: @800rpm - 8.1 knots - 8 gallons per hour - 840 nautical miles - 100+ hours endurance
@1000rpm - 9.8 knots - 10 gallons per hour - 780 nautical miles - 80 hours endurance
@1200rpm - 11.2 knots - 18 gallons per hour - 600 nautical miles - 44 hours endurance
@1400rpm - 13.6 knots - 20 gallons per hour - 540 nautical miles - 40 hours endurance
@1600rpm - 17.6 knots - 28 gallons per hour - 400 nautical miles - 28.5 hours endurance
@1800rpm - 20.5 knots - 50 gallons per hour - 320 nautical miles - 16 hours endurance
@2000rpm - 23.5 knots - 75 gallons per hour - 250 nautical miles - 10.7 hours endurance
Actual engine RPM versus speed data varied widely from boat to boat depending on the type of fuel used, loading of the boats, and calibration of the remote engine tachometers.
The height of the sea significantly curtailed the speed capabilities of the PCF.
This effect varied with the course of the PCF relative to the direction of the seas.
Average estimates of the most limiting conditions on a PCF, heading directly into the seas, without violent pounding, are listed below:
0'-2' seas, 0-12 knot wind, 1850 max RPM, 21.0 knot speed, 21.0 knot speed over all
3'-4' seas, 12-15 knot wind, 1200 max RPM, 11.2 knot speed, 10.5 knot speed over all
5'-6' seas, 15-18 knot wind, 600 max RPM, 6.3 knot speed, 4.5 knot speed over all |
I DID NOT operate Swiftboats. But I do have thirty years experience with Louisiana Oil Industry Crewboats of the same size, hull structure and Engineering configuration. Besides, my closest friend was the Rigging Foreman at Sewart Seacraft, Berwick,La., where all the Swiftboats were built.
The above Navy speed figures were seriously exaggerated. The only time these boats turned up that well was when the Navy inspector showed up at Sewart. If you want to know how it's done, take two quarters, drill a 1\2" hole thru the center and stack them with the rest of the shims in the 12V Detroits Variable Speed Governor and readjust the engine tachometers.Those babies will scream at 2350RPM!!!
The above Navy Fuel consumption fiigures are "pie in the sky". Like Cambodia.....Never happened. Detroits are Fuel Hogs. You can knock 25% off those figures from the get and factor in a sliding scale down to 50% as injector, liner wear and HULL DAMAGE catches up with you. Poorly faired hull repairs will knock the crap out of planing hull fuel consumption figures. |
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