Seals in the Whitsundays!

20 July 2023

No, not the animals that can balance beach balls on their noses, but US Navy SEALs.

These high-speed craft slipped stealthily into a berth near us during the night. The vessels, known as CCMs (combatant craft medium), are used by the US Navy’s Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC). They are here for a couple of weeks for joint military exercises.

• 60ft, double skin aluminium hull
• Twin 1,250HP MTU diesel engines
• Top speed 50+ knots
• Range 600 nautical miles in 4ft seas
• 4 crew + 19 SEALs + 5 tons gear

I thought they were a new tourist thrill-ride!