Ogle sweeps the decks with new boat models

Atlas Elektronik UK supplies systems to the UK Ministry of Defence, the Royal Navy and to other defence departments and corporate customers internationally. Based in Winfrith, Dorset, the company’s products and services cover all aspects of underwater technology and systems and are sold both in the UK and around the world.

Sonar systems, harbour security, towed arrays and their associated handling systems, underwater communications, mine countermeasures and unmanned vehicles are just a few of their capabilities.

One of Atlas’s new developments for countering the threat from naval mines is ARCIMS. The boat is capable of detecting and detonating underwater mines in an unmanned mode, therefore removing personnel from a potentially dangerous environment. The system uses an 11m remote controlled boat capable of being launched and operated from the shore or from a ship.

Atlas has delivered two ARCIMS variants into naval service. The first is an unmanned minesweeping system that emits signals into the water to detonate mines in a controlled manner. Two systems have been accepted into service by a foreign navy.

The second variant is named the Royal Navy Motor Boat (RNMB) Hazard, which incorporates an automatic launch and recovery system for a range of underwater vehicles, and which is now in operation with the RN Maritime Autonomous Systems Trials Team (MASTT).

The brief for Ogle Models and Prototypes was to build two accurate scale models of the ARCIMS boat: a 40cm long model mounted on a presentation base and a 1m long model for use as a display model at exhibitions. The larger model was to include the launch and recovery system and three unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs).

Ogle began the project by using the CAD drawings for the full-sized boat and resizing the drawings to create accurate and detailed plans for the two models. The same processes were used to create both models.

The hulls were CNC machined from model board, while the cabin sections were created from stereolithography (SLA) printed parts. Machined acrylic glazing panels, complete with frames, made up the windows, which were then bonded into place. The main mast, engines and interior details were again produced via the SLA process.

On the larger model, the UUV mounting rig was hand made from Perspex and aluminium, while the towed arrays themselves were turned on a machine lathe from solid resin bar. They also had additional details added, including propellers, towing eyes and stabilisers.

Both models were finished to a very high standard, with finer details extending to deck furniture, such as cleats and handrails, as well as the seats, screens and steering wheel inside the cabin. The job took a total of three weeks to complete.

Atlas Elektronik UK was delighted with the final models and will be demonstrating the ARCIMS product in the coming weeks and months at events around the world.