"Yes Ploycrates. I just want to go over the plan with you one last time before we laugh."
Moving over to the chart table and pointing he continued; "We are currently just over 2 hours to the lauch site. At this point we will slow to 15 knots (OOC: just under 20 miles per hour) and trial the lauch-on-the move where we will then move onto the testing for its main role: 'the capability to perform shoreline reconnaissance when the risks may be deemed too high, or conditions unsuitable, for human operators.'"
Pausing, he indicated to another chart with the route pottel on it, " The vehicle can be re-programmed in mid-mission by satellite, and here is the route that my countrymen will program into it. As you know, a features is the carbon fibre hull giving it a stealth-like profile and low observability. Now, you and your men are to search for the Talisman along the route to see how good it really is."
"That is phase 1 over. If that is successful, we will see about phase 2 with the such as image capture, sonar sensors, launching other UUVs or mine counter measures."
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OOC:
Programme history
The Talisman programme was launched in late 2004, and was developed and managed by The Templarian/Collosean Robotics Programme and went from paper to initial trials in less than a year.
Talisman has undergone a series of trials in the Templarion Seas, with 100 per cent success rate. During further trials in late 2006, Talisman has become the first UUV to successfully fire and control weapons at sea during trials.
The Vehicle
The Talisman vehicle is based on an innovatively-shaped carbon fibre composite hull, with internal pressure vessels containing the electronics systems and payload. The vehicle weighs 1800kg, is approximately 4.5m long by 2.5m wide, can dive to 300m and has a top speed of 5 knots (9 km/h).
It is fitted with vectorable thruster pods, which allow it to manoeuvre very accurately in difficult conditions, including strong currents, and over an extended period of time: the Talisman can be deployed 50 miles offshore and remain in operation for 24 hours. The precise handling in all directions comes from six thrusters, two at the front, and four at the back in two pairs. A rotary actuator is used to vector each pair of thrusters and to operate the hydroplanes.
Talisman has been designed with a software architecture, which allows easy and rapid re-configuration of the mission systems. All mission parameters are pre-settable before launch, for full autonomous operation, with the possibility of operator intervention throughout the mission.
Communications to and from the vehicle are via RF while the vehicle is surfaced and via acoustic communications systems when the vehicle is underwater.
Payloads
As standard the vehicle is equipped with a suite of environmental sensors. Other payloads are mission or role specific and can include sonar systems, mine countermeasures and even other UUVs.
