Multi-hull Crewed Control Carrier as the Flagship of the Australian Drone Fleet

This is to propose Australia build a fleet of uncrewed drone warships and crewed control ships to one common design. These would be stealthy, to avoid detection by radar. They would be about the size of an offshore patrol vessel, but multi-hull, using the expertise of Austal and Incat in building high speed ferries and warships. In peacetime the lightly armed control ships would perform constabulary duties in the region, without appearing threatening to Australia's neighbors. In wartime, with the drones, they would have the firepower of the largest warships.

The proposed Crewed Control Carrier (CCC) would be much smaller than the UK's Common Combat Vessel (CCV). This is because the CCC, focused on stealth, would not carry any offensive weapons, the launching of which could give away its position. In contrast the drone ships would be larger than most proposals from the UK & USA, as they need to be able to operate un-refueled across the expanses of the Pacific and Indian oceans. While having only defensive armament, the CCC could still be used alone for constabulary duties. The ship's auto-cannons, & short range missiles, would be sufficient to deal with pirates.

As an example, a starting point would be Austal's MRV-80 Multi-Role Vessel. This is to the same trimaran layout as the Independence class littoral combat ships built for the US Navy, but smaller at only 80m. The sides of the ship would be canted inwards, in the style of the experimental Sea Shadow (IX-529), to reduce the radar signature. Retractable panels would cover the helicopter deck, forming a hangar, and reducing the radar cross section. 

The vessels would be made in three versions:

Crewed Control Carrier,
generated with Google AI.
Tom Worthington 2026

1. Crewed Control Carrier: The control ship would have accommodation for up to 50 crew, with a control center for the operation of drone ships, submersibles and aircraft. The flight deck could be used for launching drones, with the provision to carry one crewed helicopter. Small surface drones and submersibles would be launched using the same stern ramp as for rigid inflatable boats. The ships would have short range radar, auto-cannons & missiles for self defence. 

2. Drone Missile Ship: The drone ship would retain the bridge of the command ship, for optional crewed use, but replace the accommodation with additional fuel and missiles. In addition to vertical launch cells, the ship could carry containerized missiles on the flight deck. Unlike other drone missile ship designs, the containers would be covered, when not launching, to reduce the radar cross section.

3. Sensor Ship: The sensor ship would have electronically steerable flat panel radar arrays built into the sloped surfaces for detecting aircraft, ballistic missiles and satellites. In a addition, a long range surface radar would be mounted on a telescopic mast. Like the missile ship, there would be a minimal bridge provided, but the ship would normally be operated remotely, as when actively scanning it would be a very visible target. The missile and control ships could also have receive only antennas to work in concert with the sensor ship.

Stealthy Optionally Crewed Catamaran for Australian Navy

HMAS Stradbroke Island.
Stealthy Optionally Crewed
Catamaran for Australian Navy
Diagram by Tom Worthington,
CC-BY 21 February 2024

The Australian Government released a fleet plan for the Navy yesterday which included designing and building six large optionally crewed missile carry ships. Australian companies Austal and Incat have both made catamaran high speed transports for the US military, derived from their car ferry designs. Austal have also make trimarans with stealthy tumble-home hulls for the US navy. Both companies offer high levels of automation. They could either (or both) produce vessels for the Australian requirement. I suggest any such design should be designed for these features (but with not all fitted to very vessel):

1. Tumblehome hull: The hull would slope inward above the waterline, and the superstructure would be free of railings, masts, cranes, and other items, to reduce the radar cross-section. All equipment needed on deck would be covered. 

2. Vertical Launch Cells: Rows of vertical launch cells would extend down into each of the catamaran hulls.

3. Drone Hangar:  A covered hangar forward of the flight deck would accommodate UAVs. Automated systems would launch, recover and service the drones.

4. XLUUV Bay: A travelling gantry with cradle between the hulls would pick up Extra-Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (XLUUV), while the ship is underway. The bay would be equipped with  ECLIPS robots for automated rearming & refueling, before dropping the XLUUVs back in the water.

5. USV Bay: A bay at the back of the vessel, would allow Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USV) to be launched and recovered. Automated systems would service the USVs.

6. Self Defense Auto-cannons: The four corners of the ship would each have a small caliber auto-cannon similar to the EOS Slinger, for self defence from missiles, drones, and small boats. Each cannon would be equipped with an electro-optical sight, radar, backup power supply, and operator station. This would allow the ship to be defended even if all other power and systems failed.

While the media has made much of the "optionally crewed" feature of the vessels, of more significance is that the ships are highly automated and so only need a small crew, about one quarter of a conventional military vessel, when they are aboard. 

ps: John Birmingham's book "Weapons of Choice" featured highly automated ship warfare. One of the ships was an Australia high speed catamaran HMAS Moreton Bay, apparently inspired by the real HMAS Jervis Bay. This was an Incat built high speed catamaran, which transported troops to East Timor. I wrote a review of the book, and as was John's custom, I hoped he would use my name for a sister ship "USS Stradbroke Island", but unfortunately not. ;-)