Unmanned Vehicles Systems; Unmanned Vehicle Tactical memorandum (TM 3-22-5-SW): Report of Findings and Recommendation

Abstract

In response to a request by NWDC, the Naval Postgraduate School agreed to research and revise the current Maritime Tactical Memorandum (TACMEMO) TM 3- 22-5-SW for unmanned vehicles systems (UVS). The CRUDES fleet would immediately benefit by the removal of Captain's gigs/second RHIB in favor of a unmanned surface vehicle (USV) in order to increase warfighting capabilities. An analysis of N86 CRUDES ROC/POEs revealed no impact to primary or secondary warfighting missions by removing the gig/second RHIB. In today's capabilities-based warfighting, this replacement better supports the global concept of operations. The research was limited to sparsely deployed platforms, developmental project results, and test procedures as delineated in various UV concepts of operations. It was found that the preponderance of UVs remain largely experimental and not integrated into organizational Navy (SMD/FMD) or Marine Corps (TO&E) manpower management documents. The research found that unmanned vehicles are actually part of larger UV systems (which require human operators) and that simply adding UV's does not result in manpower cost savings. Some advantages of UVs are persistent on station time and removal of the human operator from potentially harmful and fatiguing environments. Research indicates that, though still in their infancy, Navy UV's are being employed by naval personnel but closely supported by contractors while operating on Naval platforms and in Naval units. Additionally, the majority of existing UV tactics and training address ISR and undersea missions with no definitive operational doctrine for unmanned combat vehicles (UCV). The report includes an UV acronym list (Appendix B) extracted from publications (Appendix C), a notional launch-and-recovery procedure and a notional estimate of USV manpower requirements and watch organization. Significant consideration must be made in the design and acquisition process as to who will operate these systems. The responsibility and spatial acumen required to operate UVs must be delineated prior to the acquisition phase so as to include key performance parameters (KPP) in unmanned vehicle design. An UV's size, tier of operational employment and payload play a critical role in determining level of operator autonomy, responsibility (i.e., paygrade) and supervision.