| Development took place at Atlantic College in Wales and the patented was awarded to Admiral Desmond Hoare in 1969. It wasn't long before Special Operations COMmands (SOCOM) from all over the world saw the inherent military applications for a lightweight, inflatable vessel sporting a fiberglass rigid hull. The RIB's characteristics are such that it allows the craft to fulfill sport and most military requirements with relative ease. RIB's come in a variety of sizes and most range between 13- and 40-feet in length. In 1997, US SOCOM chose the contractor USMI to manufacture the NSW RIB. |
