On the subject of the movement of special forces to islets and islets or enemy coasts, which are under surveillance: we present the VICTA a hybrid submarine, essentially an advanced naval platform that can approach the coast at high speed, and shortly before entering the detection perimeter, dive.
The British SubSea Craft VICTA vessel is a very modern solution that may be of interest to the Special Forces of a country.
VICTA is a technologically advanced, hybrid vessel, built for operations in challenging coastal environments. The base model has been proven to achieve speeds of up to 40 knots on the surface for a range of up to 250 nautical miles. When needed, it can be dived in just 2 minutes, maintaining a subsurface cruising speed of 5 knots. In case of need, it can succeed for a short time, reaching 6 knots. Without wishing to expand further, under conditions, it is faster than a 214HN!
Thus it allows for quick and low-visibility penetration into enemy-held areas. After diving, it can travel 25 nautical miles underwater, while the maximum depth it reaches is 30 meters. Its length is 12 meters, while it fits inside a standard 40-foot container. It can be moved either directly from port due to long autonomy, but also transported close to the zone of operations by Chinook helicopter, or ship.
Its passengers must use oxygen cylinders while diving, but they are not required to be highly trained frogmen (knowing how to use the cylinders is enough). So it can stay submerged as long as the people on board have oxygen, 6 plus 2 crew. Most likely the range will be extended with experienced frogmen, while the vessel can also be enhanced with more batteries for greater autonomy underwater. The most experienced submarine destroyers, leaving the vessel using their diving suits and related equipment, will be able to advance even deeper into enemy waters thus expanding their radius of action.
The range of missions of such a vessel is limited only by the imagination of the command. For example, a VICTA can be loaded with missiles (SPIKE, AKERON, Javelin) and hit ships at anchor from a few kilometers away, undetected since it will have just surfaced (with a low surface footprint due to profile and synthetic materials). So who could stop such action? And as we have seen, asymmetric warfare operations can alter the flow of conventional operations, as seen in the ever-changing landscape of Ukraine.
And without the use of weapons, the craft can act as a laser pointing platform for the Air Force to wreak havoc on the enemy shore. That is, by targeting laser bombs that will be dropped by F-16/F-35 at a long distance. To cancel e.g. an abject enterprise at its inception. While in general it is an ideal platform for “quiet” observation, information gathering, etc.
As far as we could find out, the VICTA is capable of carrying up to 8 commandos. With fewer, more space is provided, allowing the ability to carry weapons, other cargo, or sensors. This option gives the flexibility for an even wider range of missions, e.g. using several boats together, to disembark a larger group of special forces. Where, of course, it can be used for a secret landing on a rock island or a small islet, when this is required. i.e. in a point crisis in such an environment.
It must be understood that a vessel like the VICTA cannot be attacked by enemy fire easily. When on the surface it moves very fast, and when it realizes it is targeted by the enemy, then it dives, so standard surface weapons (cannons, missiles) cannot damage it, especially at the depth it reaches. Essentially a VICTA moving mostly at night, unless surprised at low speed on the surface, is not in danger.
Of course, such a boat does not only have advantages. For example, as it is a high-tech design product, it requires a well-qualified and trained staff to maintain it.
The VICTA as a concept is more like the F-35 in a naval environment. That is, a stealth vessel, where SubSea also developed a digital control system that automates critical functions such as diving (with the push of a button) and maintaining depth. Advanced management systems make it easy to navigate, allowing commandos to focus on the threat, environment and mission.
The boat, as far as we know is not cheap but it costs a lot less than a Mark VI, and a fraction of the cost of a submarine.
