Innovative Material Handling System for the Expeditionary Mobile Base (ESB) Class Ship

ATR proposes the development of an innovative Advanced Dual-Purpose Elevator System (ADPES) that can be installed on an Expeditionary Base Mobile (ESB) so that aircraft and cargo can be transferred from the flight deck to the mission bay and watercraft like the Combatant Craft Medium (CCM) can be launched and recovered from mission bay to the sea. The ADPES consists of a submersible platform and transport mechanisms to place the platform off board into the water for vehicle launch and recovery and to lift cargos between decks as a conventional elevator. The system is reliable, quick and can be installed without dry docking the ship. An innovative combination of platform design and watecraft handling equipment mitigates lift line snatch loading. These carts enable safe and rapid launch and recovery of mission-ready fully manned watercraft for quick sortie turnaround greatly increasing the ESB strategic importance.