Surface effect ship (SES) hull configuration having improved high speed performance and handling characteristics

A deep V-hull configuration for a surface effect ship utilizing a cushion of pressurized air to reduce frictional forces acting between a water's surface and said deep V-hull configuration, said deep V-hull configuration comprising a longitudinal hull body having an air cushion recess for containing said cushion of pressurized air between a portion of said longitudinal hull body and said water's surface, and a transition area between a bow side edge of said air cushion recess and said longitudinal hull body wherein said hull body in said transition area slopes upward from the waters surface, and toward the aft of the longitudinal hull body at an angle less than 80 degrees.

A vessel for moving across a water's surface, said vessel comprising a V-shaped hull for supporting said vessel upon said water's surface wherein said v-shaped hull has a gas cavity that is concave with respect to the water's surface and adapted to receive pressurized gas to receive from a gas blower, said V-shaped hull further comprising air restricting side hull portions adapted to reduce gas loss from said gas cavity wherein said air restricting side hull portions extend substantially parallel to said vessel's direction of movement along said gas cavity and wherein said air restricting side hull portions have lubricating air vents for producing a lubricating air flow between an outer edge of said air restricting side hull portions and said water's surface.

A surface effect vessel having a hull and an air compartment positioned under said hull wherein said air compartment is adapted to contain a supporting cushion of air, said surface effect vessel further comprising a separation portion positioned in said air compartment to divide said air compartment into first and second air compartments wherein when said surface effect vessel is traveling below a separation speed said separation portion is in contact with the water's surface such that said separation portion substantially prevents air flow between said first and second air compartments and wherein when said surface effect vessel is traveling above said separation speed said separation portion is substantially not in contact with said water's surface such that a limited gas flow is established between said first and second air compartments.

A vessel for moving across a water's surface, said vessel comprising a V-shaped hull for supporting said vessel upon said water's surface wherein said v-shaped hull has a gas cavity that is adapted to receive pressurized gas from a gas blower, said V-shaped hull further comprising:

• air restricting side hull portions adapted to reduce gas loss from said gas cavity wherein said air restricting side hull portions extend substantially parallel to said vessel's direction of movement along said V-shaped hull and wherein said air restricting side hull portions have restricted air release means adapted to provide a lubricating air flow along an outer edge of said air restricting side hull portions such that friction between said outer edge of said air restricting side hull portions and said water's surface is reduced;
• and
• water redirecting projections adapted to direct a flow of water toward a blow through area such that a portion of said pressurized gas is prevented from venting from said gas cavity through said blow through area.

A vessel for moving across a water's surface, said vessel comprising a V-shaped hull for supporting said vessel upon said water's surface wherein said v-shaped hull has a gas cavity that is adapted to receive pressurized gas from a gas blower, said V-shaped hull further comprising:

• air restricting side hull portions adapted to reduce gas loss from said gas cavity wherein said air restricting side hull portions extend substantially parallel to said vessel's direction of movement along said V-shaped hull;
• and
• water redirecting projections adapted to direct a flow of water toward a blow through area such that a portion of said pressurized gas is prevented from venting from said gas cavity through said blow through area wherein said water redirecting portions are controllable such that said water flow can be adjustably directed toward one of a multitude of blow through area locations.