 Groton, Connecticut 5 June 2004 |
Posted on 04/13/2014 8:31:03 PM PDT by BenLurkin
The U.S. Navy on Saturday christened the first ship of its newest class of destroyers, a more than $3 billion, 610-foot-long warship sporting advanced technology and a stealthy shape designed to minimize its visibility on enemy radar and reduce the size of its crew.
...
Among the 15,000-ton warship's cutting-edge features are a composite deckhouse with hidden radar and sensors and an angular shape that officials say will allow it to be confused for a small fishing boat on radars. It also sports wave-piercing hull designed to reduce the ship's wake. It's the first U.S. ship to use electric propulsion and produces enough power to one day support the futuristic electromagnetic rail gun, which will be tested at sea in 2016.
So told to me by a group of career US Navy officers. One said there was a absolute sturdy feel to being on the deck of a Bath built ship that was unlike any other.
I was impressed to say the least.
When I lived in Maine people who managed to secure a job at Bath Iron Works were very proud of the position and took the job seriously.
The Maine work ethic is still alive and well in many parts of the state.
Maybe long-term, but other US Navy craft have had electric propulsion. I'm thinking of all the diesel-electric subs in WWII...
Bump
“Maybe long-term, but other US Navy craft have had electric propulsion. I’m thinking of all the diesel-electric subs in WWII...”
The aircraft carriers Saratoga and Lexington (Built in the 1930’s) used a Diesel Electric propulsion system like a locomotive. Would those count?
Can we stop naming warships after people? It used to be only dead people. Now we name carriers after living people. Before 2017, we will probably have a U.S.S Barry Soetero and/or a U.S.S Barack Hussein Obama.
I prefer we stick to cities and states and persona names.
I prefer we stick to cities and states and NON persona names.
That was actually (steam) turbo-electric. Several battleship classes, like the Colorados, had it.
The Saratoga and Lexington used a turbo-electric drive, not diesel electric. Power was provided by 16 steam boilers to the four electric-driven drive shafts.
Zumwalt was a disaster as CNO. Here’s hoping his namesake class does better.
All that said, I agree with you about about naming things after living people. The honoree should always be deceased and therefore unable to bring dishonor to or gain advantage from the naming.
Oh, it’s only going to get worse, much worse....
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/26/uss-harvey-milk-navy-ship_n_1456486.html
Wonder why the religious intolerant haven’t objected to the use of the word “christened” in these official events.
An excellent example to eliminate peoples names. How about the U.S.S Maragaret Sanger?
Isn’t there a sub named the U.S.S Jimmy Carter?
This is good news, it sounds like...
But it is my understanding that of our TEN carrier fleets, only TWO or THREE are active at this time. The others are supposedly bunched up all at one place being sitting ducks. I also understand that the administration is also planning to kill the hellfire missiles program...and I think I heard also the tomahawks.
Tickle Me.
The Cleveland class light cruisers were 10000 tonners. The length is right though.
This “destroyer” has the displacement of a Baltimore class heavy cruiser.
You know, the Army can put 6 and 8 inch guns on twenty odd ton armored vehicles put the modern Navy cannot to better than 5 inch on massive platforms.
Will the crew be allowed to wear beards?!
My problem with ship names is throwing in politician names when every other ship in the class follows a recognizable pattern. The Seawolf class subs are a prime example. Three boats, using a fish name, which is traditional for subs, a state, following current practice, and Jimmy Carter. Stennis and Vinson get carriers named after them, while famous carrier admirals like Halsey and Spruance are limited to destroyers? Stick to a system, and don’t compromise it so that some career politician or their family can get an honor that should be reserved for true heroes and leaders.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.