Initially conceived as a replacement of the now retired
Mark V Special Operations Craft until that
RFP was canceled in April 2010. The revised proposal specified a
C-17 transportable replacement for the discontinued Naval Special Warfare
RHIBs, which were originally transportable on the smaller
C-130 aircraft. Designed by Michael Peters Yacht Design, the CCM evolved from
Oregon Iron Works'
Alligator and
Sealion concepts, initially in cooperation with
Israel Defense Forces. Oregon Iron Works and United States Marine, Inc were awarded initial contracts to develop their existing concepts into the CCM in September 2011, with Oregon Iron Works winning the selection process to produce a total of 35 CCMs over 7 years by
United States Special Operations Command in February 2014. In May 2014, Oregon Iron Works announced its merger with fellow Oregon shipbuilder
Vigor Industrial in order to facilitate the $400 million contract, as well as subcontracting
marine electronics systems to
Leidos. The first CCMs were delivered and commissioned in 2015, featuring a
low observable profile, with longer range, operable in higher sea states, and with increased protection and shock mitigation for its crew and passengers than the NSW RHIBs it replaces. Its electronics package includes a
remote weapon station and sensors,
Blue Force Tracker, a
DAGR jam-resistant GPS receiver, and advanced tactical radios. Each hull is individually numbered, though not named; the vessels are operated by
SWCC Boat Teams. ==References==