the aluminum version of the vessel. Nicknamed the MAKO, the vessel was developed by a subsidiary of Hodgdon Yachts, in collaboration with the University of Maine's Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center. It features a hull made of layers of carbon fiber, a foam core, and an outer layer of Kevlar for additional strength. It was constructed and launched at the Hodgdon Yachts' East Boothbay facility. The MAKO is lighter than the current Mk V. The Office of Naval Research funded the prototype "to compare the properties of composite construction with aluminum" versions of the same craft. The tests did not suggest continuing the vessel with a composite structure. Instead, the decision was to retire the Mark V in 2013 in favor of its replacements. The Mark V was replaced in 2015 by several craft: the Combatant-Craft Assault (CCA), Combatant-Craft Medium (CCM MK1), and Combat-Craft Heavy (CCH MK1) SEALION (SEAL Insertion, Observation and Neutralization). Missions The Mark V's primary mission is medium range insertion and extraction platform for Special Operations Forces (primarily SEAL combat swimmers) in a low to medium threat environment. The secondary mission is limited Coastal Patrol and Interdiction, specifically limited duration patrol and low to medium threat coastal interdiction. The typical Mark V SOC mission duration is 12 hours. For example, in 2003, in one of the first actions of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Mark V SOCs operating out of Kuwait disembarked at least two platoons of Navy SEALs to capture Iraqi offshore oil terminals. Capabilities The Mark V has the capacity to carry sixteen fully equipped SEALs to missions away from where they are based. They ride on seats that are designed for maximum comfort and shock mitigation in high seas or heavy maneuvering, and allows occupants to either stand or sit. With a beam of 17½ feet, the craft has enough room to carry four Combat Rubber Raiding Crafts with six outboard motors (2 spares) and fuel, to deploy forces from a clandestine distance. The ramp on the stern allows SEAL teams to ride their CRRCs right up the stern of the boat, for fast extraction and insertion. To support the SOF missions in a medium to low threat environment, the Mk Vs are outfitted with five gun mounts for small caliber weapons supporting any combination of: M-2 .50 cal heavy machine guns, M240 or the M60 7.62 mm machine guns or Mk19 40 mm automatic grenade