A stealthship is a vessel using stealth technologies that make it difficult to detect. It hides the ship's existence from radar, sonar and visual detection. Cragside, the MV Ocean Trader, and Spearhead are all examples of such vessels.
MV Ocean Trader
The US Navy stealth vessel MV Ocean Trader is a US Navy ship. It can operate for up to 45 days with a crew consisting of 209 special-warfighters. It can also refuel at sea and resupply up to four small craft. It features a flightdeck for helicopter operations as well as storage for Zodiacs, RHIB launch ability, command and control, and a flight deck. It offers food services as well as other amenities.
Rich brought the idea to the Pentagon where a Navy Captain responsible for submarine research and development was working on it. He was worried that the ship would cost too much, but Rich persuaded him with the advantages of invisibility. The ship was dry-docked after that. The technology demonstrated was applied to the radar cross section and lower periscope of a brand new class of destroyers.
MV Cragside
The US Navy is quietly converting a 633-foot cargo ship into a stealth helicopter carrier. Odense Steel Shipyard designed and built the ship. It can travel up to 21 knots. It features a forward-facing two-bay hangar with an additional flight deck, as well as an upper flight deck. The top deck offers wide openings that allow for helicopter landings.
Its design is similar the Point Class RoRo Ships used by United States Navy. The US Navy will convert the ship to a "maritime-support vessel", which can accommodate at least 207 persons. The ship will be capable of carrying up to 45 people for upto 45 days. It can also travel upto 8000 miles. It will be able transit 3000 nautical Miles in Sea State 5 for up to 5 day at 20 knots.
Corvette of the MV Visby class
The MV Visby-class corvette of the Swedish Navy is a stealthy vessel capable of attacking submarines or other targets. Its design prioritizes low visibility, low radar cross-section and small infrared signature. This stealth ship can transport an AgustaWestland A109M Helicopter.
The Visby is equipped with a composite hull, which includes carbon fiber, vinyl laminating, and PVC. This composite material has a weight half that of steel of similar strength. It also has more radar-absorbing qualities. Its lower thermal signature makes detection by radar and infrared sensors more difficult.
MV Spearhead Expeditionary Fast Transports
The U.S. Navy’s Sealift Program also includes the MV Spearhead class Expeditionary quick transports. These fast, maneuverable ships are called the MV Spearhead class Expeditionary. These ships can transport personnel and heavy equipment at high speeds and are shallow-draft vessels. These ships can travel at speeds between 35 and 45 knots.
Austal built the ship in Mobile, Alabama. In September 2011, it was christened USNS Spearhead. In September 2012, the ship passed acceptance trials, and in October 2013, the US Navy completed operational tests of T-EPF-1.
MV Sea Shadow
James Rich first designed the MV Sea Shadow, a prototype stealth-ship prototype. He took the design to the office of a Navy captain in the Pentagon, who was responsible for submarine research and development. The captain was skeptical of Rich's idea, thinking that it would cost too much and compromise the ship's speed. Rich explained the advantages of stealthy operation to him, and he rebutted his fears. The US Navy also funded the prototype.
Sea Shadow trials began in 1985. At the time, it was unarmed. The Sea Shadow was originally intended to be a demonstration ship and test platform. Later, it was planned to include a large radar in its payload area. This modification was delayed and was never completed. Plans were also made for the ship to carry Patriot air defence missiles. These could operate in advance of surface ships.