Test-S-Boat SES 200 (Surface-Effect-S-Boat)

Surface-Effect-S-Boat SES 200 - Picture: Archives Förderverein

During the time from 11. April to 31. May 1986 the SES-Boat "SES 200" of the US-Navy was teted by Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung (BWB) at the testground Erprobungsstelle 71 at Eckernförde. The trials with this new, unconventionel type of ship - SES stands for Surface Effect Ship (Sidehull-Hovercraft) was a common project of Canada, France, GErmany, Spain, Great Britain, and USA. The US-Navy had made available "SES 200" for the trails. 

The hull of SES 200 has been built as a Katamaran, the sidehulls together with integrated flexible aprons between the sidehulls forward and aft close the aircushion, by which the boat is mostly lifted out of the water. The advantage of this technique - as it is already known for conventionel hovercraft - lies in better performance and smaller expenditures. By the Bundemarine the boat was tested on seaworthiness, manoeuvreability and effects of explosion-tests.

Technical data of this combination of Katamaran and Hovercraft are: 

Length appr. 48 m, 

Maximum speed 28 - 30 kn, 

Displacement 206 ts. 

The project was given up.