F470 Zodiac

History

They are specialized vehicles such as the Zodiac Marine & Pool F470 Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (CRRC) that allow specialized vessels like the famous US Navy SEALs or USMC RECON to get the job done. Launched from underwater submarines, or air-dropped by medium helicopters or transport aircraft, CRRC operators can be ready to start their missions in seconds with skilful planning and excellent execution capabilities.

As far as inflatable boats go, the relatively light F470 is a complete evolution - engineered from the ground up with multi-mission capabilities in mind, while still being able to accommodate different engine sizes and cargo loads as needed.

The F470 features a high pressure deck system built around a rigid aluminum deck that supports engine sizes up to 55 hp. This is coupled with a pump jet "driver" which is essentially a pipe impeller rather than a traditional exposed propeller. Shrouded impellers have several inherent advantages in their design, reducing the risk of injury to personnel in the water while the engine is running, and reducing the likelihood of damage to the propeller itself when approaching unseen underwater hazards such as rocks.

The boat also wears a tear-resistant Duratane "skin" on the bottom for heavy duty use. The special deck design is lightweight, offering only a 2' 6" x 4' 11" loading footprint, giving the boat an excellent top speed while allowing passengers to carry extra gear.

A single F470 can be inflated to full size in under 2 minutes using compressed air from a scuba tank - a feature sure to be appreciated by fast-acting frogmen.

CRRC's design uses eight airtight chambers, five of which are interconnected in the main body, separated by internal baffles and valves. Such a design ensures that the ship will not capsize due to a single rupture of the hull.

Additional rooms were placed on the sides of the raft to allow for cushions. The V-shaped bottom of the hull enables stability at sea.

The CRRC is available for both 'blue' (open water) and 'brown' (river) water missions, capable of transporting up to 10 combat-ready special forces agents from the beach to oil rigs on the edge of the pier or against as needed stuck boat. The main advantage of this small and fast vehicle is its inherent stealth, especially when operating in low-light conditions, where surprise is key.

The F470 is also versatile enough for medical evacuation, hauling light cargo, and other tasks beyond insertion and extraction. It's this multitasking nature that has earned the respect of waterborne units like the Navy SEALs.

The F470 is normally operated by two helmsmen - one sits aft and steers the boat during operation, while the other maintains contact with the other boats. The rest of the space on the vehicle is taken up by the operator and his equipment, occupying a low profile on the side of the vehicle.

Missin gear is stored in the open deck space. While possibly equipped with machine guns, the F470 is generally vulnerable to small arms fire from enemy positions - thus a key type of camouflage required in such missions. The F470 is undoubtedly still the special vehicle for the special infantry.

Specification

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Performance

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