Universal maritime craft aerial delivery system

An aerial delivery system for marine craft comprising a hull, said aerial delivery system comprising:

• a platform having a length between fore and aft ends and a width between port and starboard side rails;
• a plurality of cradles securable at selectable, spaced intervals along the length of the platform, each cradle comprising port and starboard cradle portions, each port and starboard cradle portion including a hull support having hull contact members configured to at least partially deform upon contact with the hull of the marine craft;
• a plurality of releasable latches secured to the hull of the marine craft, said releasable latches connected to a single point release mechanism;
• at least one elongated tie down member extending from the platform through the plurality of releasable latches and tensionable to secure the marine craft to the platform during loading and transport of the aerial delivery system in an aircraft;
• an actuator secured to the platform, said actuator including an operating arm having a first position where the operating arm is supported while the platform is in the aircraft and a second position that can be reached by the operating arm only after the platform is no longer within the aircraft;
• and
• a flotation assembly secured to the platform, said flotation assembly configured to support the platform in water,
• wherein the actuator operating arm is connected to the single point release mechanism to release said releasable latches and disconnect the marine craft from the platform after the platform has left the aircraft and while the platform and marine craft are airborne.

An aerial delivery system for marine craft comprising a hull, said aerial delivery system comprising:

• a platform having a length between fore and aft ends and a width between port and starboard side rails;
• a plurality of cradles securable at selectable, spaced intervals along the length of the platform, each cradle comprising port and starboard cradle portions, each port and starboard cradle portion including a hull support having hull contact members configured to at least partially deform upon contact with the hull of the marine craft, each port and starboard cradle portion including spacers between the hull support and the hull contact members, said spacers defining a height of the hull contact members relative to the platform, the height of the hull contact members adjustable by removal or addition of spacers, or by use of spacers having different dimensions;
• a plurality of releasable latches secured to the hull of the marine craft, said releasable latches connected to a single point release mechanism;
• at least one elongated tie down member extending from the platform through the plurality of releasable latches and tensionable to secure the marine craft to the platform during loading and transport of the aerial delivery system in an aircraft;
• an actuator secured to the platform, said actuator having a first position while the platform is in the aircraft and a second position that can be reached only after the platform is no longer within the aircraft;
• wherein the actuator is connected to the single point release mechanism to release said releasable latches and disconnect the marine craft from the platform after the platform has left the aircraft and while the platform and marine craft are airborne.