OCEAN SCIENCES AND NATIONAL SECURITT 53 



speed or reduce power requirements just as the Jetstream is utilized 

 by high flying aircraft. 



Another system of sea transportation now being enthusiastically 

 investigated is the use of hydrofoil craft. Such vehicles are essentially 

 ship hulls fitted with underwater wings. When the ship is propelled 

 with sufficient speed, the wing or foil develops forces that lift the hull 

 up out of the water and thus permit its horizontal motion, free of 

 most of the frictional losses that the hull normally sustains. Not 

 only are higher speeds thus attained, but the hull is far less subject to 

 rolling, pitching, and heavmg, and otherwise responding to the random 

 motions of the sea surface; the hydrofoil cuts through the waves 

 and is designed to adjust itself automatically to their local variation 

 provided they are not too severe. Any such operation, of course, 

 presupposes knowledge of the sea surface, and long distance routes 

 for hydi'ofod operation would strongly benefit by wave forecasting 

 in the same fashion that ship routing now so benefits. 



In this regard, mention should be made of the behavior of conven- 

 tional ship hulls in the sea. In general, the hull form has been opti- 

 mized thi'ough emphical tests with small scale models so as to develop 

 the most economical performance in a smooth sea or in regular waves. 

 The ocean itself, however, is irregular and it is only now becoming 

 realized that it is possible to develop a mathematical description of 

 this apparently random and confused pattern. As a consequence, the 

 effects of the sea may be subject to far more scientific analysis, either 

 as they produce motions of the ship as a whole or as they may induce 

 stresses in the hull. With improved information, the shape of the 

 hull and internal construction might be so improved that a ship would 

 prove far more comfortable riding and able to sustain the impact 

 of seas than is presently the case. In storms, ships would then be 

 able to continue on course and at speed, rather than to slow down 

 and head into the wind as is now common practice. 



In this regard, recent use has been made of forecasting sea state so 

 that merchant ships may select the route which, although not geo- 

 metrically the shortest, would still permit the vessel to travel between 

 two ports in the least time. Such operations are now standard prac- 

 tice for the Military Sea Transport Service, saving approximately 10 

 percent in time at sea with increased passenger comfort.^^ 



The same benefit has been found by improved information on sea 

 ice. Whereas the cost from ice damage and delay to MSTS vessels 

 was estimated in 1951 to be about $17 million, it has apparently been 

 reduced through improved oceanographic data and ice prediction to 

 less than $1 million per year.*° 



Digressing for a moment to the general subject of economies result- 

 ing from oceanic research, even larger amounts have been saved by 

 studies of marine borers that degrade ship hulls and marine structures; 

 both lives and property have been saved by study of tidal waves that 

 lead to warning systems. Further study of economies resulting from 

 oceanic research is beyond scope of this current report but obviously 

 a factor in justifying increased expenditures. 



" " Tbe Oceans as the Operating Environment of the Navy," paper by John Lyman to ONR symposium , 

 San Diego, Calif., March 1959. 

 " Ibid. 



56612—60 5 



