A stealth ship is a vessel that uses stealth technologies to make it harder to detect. It hides the ship's existence from radar, sonar and visual detection. Cragside, Spearhead, and the MV Ocean Trader are some examples of such ships.
MV Ocean Trader
The US Navy stealthship MV Ocean Trader, is named. It has a crew of 209 special warfighters and enough supplies to operate for 45 days. It can also replenish up to four small boats and refuel at the sea. It has a flight deck to allow for helicopter operations, storage for Zodiacs as well RHIB launch capability and command and controls. It also offers food services, and other amenities.
Rich took the concept to the Pentagon, where a Navy captain in charge of submarine research and development was working on the project. Rich convinced him that the ship was too costly, even though he was concerned about its cost. The ship was then dry-docked before it could go into flight. It demonstrated technology that could be applied to radar and lower cross sections of a new type of destroyer.
MV Cragside
The US Navy quietly converts a 633-foot cargo vessel into a stealth helicopter carrier. The ship was designed by Odense Steel Shipyard and can travel at up to 21 knots. It has a two-bay hangar in the forward section, and an additional flight deck on top. The top deck offers wide openings that allow for helicopter landings.
Its design is similar to the Point Class RoRo ships used by the 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 capable of traversing 3000 nautical miles in Sea State 5 at speeds of up to 20 knots.
Corvette MV Visby-class
The MV Visby Corvette (Swedish Navy) is a stealthy ship that can target submarines and other vessels. Its design emphasizes low visibility and low radar cross-section. This stealth ship can carry an AgustaWestland A109M helicopter.
The Visby has a composite hull made from carbon fiber, vinyl laminate, and PVC plastic. This type of composite material is about half the weight of steel of the same strength. It also has extra radar-absorbing properties. It has a lower thermal signature which makes it difficult to detect via radar or other infrared sensors.
MV Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transports
The U.S. Navy's Sealift Program has the MV Spearhead class Expeditionary Fast Transports. They are maneuverable, fast ships. 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, Mobile, Alabama built the ship and named it the 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
The MV Sea Shadow is a stealth ship prototype that was originally designed by James Rich. He took the design to the office of a Navy captain in the Pentagon, who was responsible for submarine research and development. Rich's plan was rejected by the captain because it would increase costs and cause a slowdown in ship speed. Rich countered his concerns by explaining the benefits of stealthy performance. The US Navy funded the prototype, and the MV Sea Shadow was a highly efficient stealth ship.
Sea Shadow trials began in 1985. At the time, it was unarmed. It was initially intended as a demonstration ship and test platform. Later, it was intended to carry a huge radar in its cargo bay. However, this modification was not completed and was delayed. Additionally, plans were made to ship Patriot air defense missiles. These missiles could be operated ahead of other surface ships.