Fleet Maintenance Reduction Program

Riverine Patrol Boat Waterpump Impeller Status:  Complete/FleetAuthorized

Estimated Navy Cost Avoidance: Warzone Operational Issue This project is complete. The operational users have been provided with: 1) New guidelines for use by boat coxswains in freeing their craft from grounding situations; 2) New maintenance guidelines for determining whether or not the impeller and tailpipe must be replaced; and 3) a new inlet grating which significantly reduces the number and size of rocks being ingested into the waterpump. Laboratory testing showed that the optimum new impeller material did not provide sufficient improvement to offset the additional unit cost. Problem: The Naval Expeditionary Combat Command's Riverine Patrol Boat (RPB) is experiencing serious erosion in the waterpump propulsion system. This damage is preventing the boats from achieving full operational speed and therefore making them highly vulnerable in the warzone. Solution: MTTC, in conjunction with NSWC/Carderock and NECC, will research various methods of preventing erosion of the waterpump impeller blades. After one or more promising technologies are identified, samples will be tested in the laboratory to confirm vendor claims. The best solution will be identified and a prototype impeller will be produced and tested on a stateside operationally-equivalent range. As soon as all testing has verified the proposed modification, Navy will order sufficient units to backfit all boats assigned to Iraq. Fleet Impact: When a solution is identified and replacement impellers, incorporating the solution, are shipped to the field units, the RPBs will once again be capable of achieving their maximum speed. This capacity will eliminate the need to trailer the boats to repair facilities, using dangerous land roads. It will enable the crews to meet operational requirements while reducing exposure time. Applications: 10 RPBs in Iraq; 10 boats in CONUS and SOF boats with identical, or similar, waterpump systems Navy POC:  Scott Peterson, NSWC Carderock Div., Norfolk Det.,   •  Phone:  (757) 462-3107