Chinook - Underslung RIB

A Royal Marines rigid inflatable boat (RIB) hangs as an underslung load beneath a Chinook helicopter above waters of Studland Bay, Poole, Dorset.

This photo demonstrates a method of rapidly inserting and extracting personnel to and from the water's surface.

When extracting, the Chinook hovers directly over the RIB, and lowers strops which the RIB crew attach to the boat. With the RIB's occupants still onboard, the Chinook then lifts off. The RIB's personnel are then winched aboard one by one.

Insertion of an underslung RIB is performed by bringing the Chinook into a low hover over the water, with RIB suspended beneath. The RIB personnel then fast-rope down through the Chinook's belly hatch. Once fast-roping has been completed, the Chinook lowers the RIB into the water, the stops are detached and both RIB and helicopter continue on with their respective missions.

Such techniques may employed by water-borne special forces units such as the Special Boat Service.