Pentagon Eyes New 'Robot Ship' Concept for Low-Profile, All-Domain Logistics (opens in new tab)

Autonomous low-profile logistics vessel will transport 18,000 pounds of cargo over 2,000 nautical miles without a crew, supporting long-range maritime resupply missions. The vessel must be able to sail on its own for over four days, while still allowing human operators to take control remotely during critical moments such as port departure and approach. Ha - drug runners probably been using such vehicles for years - including similiar concept micro subs ?

> Built for extended missions, the ship should operate at ranges up to 2,000 nautical miles (3,704 kilometers/2,302 miles), maintain speeds of 12 knots (22 kilometers/13.8 miles per hour), and navigate rough seas and tight waterways.

WWII's Liberty Ships were originally capable of 11 knots or so.

Even at the sedate pace of things in WWII, that proved to be too damn slow. The next generation of cargo ships - entering service about mid-1944 - were capable of 16-ish knots.