(USS) Truman Performs High Speed Rudder Test

USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs ^ | 7/9/2012 | Mass Comm Spec Seaman Taylor DiMartino

[gandalftb]

USS HARRY S. TRUMAN, At Sea (NNS) -- The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) conducted a full power run and rudder swing checks during sea trials July 8.

The ship rolled more than 13 degrees in each direction.

"After weeks of calibrations and testing, the ship's steering was finally put to the test," said Lt. Kasey Vowell, assistant auxiliary division officer for engineering department.

Truman maxed out at 30 plus knots during the run.

[bigbob]

Wow, a small city could water ski behind this baby!

[Tallguy]

I bet the Truman does 30 knots in reverse! That would be closer to reality.

[DuncanWaring]

Actually, it’s a “stern side-thruster”.

[VF-51vnv]

having been on a many AC (5) a 13 degree list would be a pucker factor of a plus 10 at 30 knots for ANYONE on deck. Now imagine a pilot strapped in an F-18,on deck with that same degree.Some would be in AB with tie downs still on knowing they were going overboard or as they thought so.

[gandalftb]

How would they keep the bow pointed into the turn?

My understanding is they were doing a “swing check”, a counter steer to stop the swing of the ship’s bow.

[tanknetter]

Just love how after all these years the USN can stick to these vague speed claims for our Nimitz-class carriers. It's a bit like if the USAF stopped making speed claims for their combat aircraft immediately after Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier.

Actually, that "30+" is pretty accurate. Unless the USN is outright lying about how much SHP the turbines generate, the later Nimitz-class (which is really broken into four subclasses with each ship being fairly unique) should have a hard time reaching 31 kts.

A lot of people get hung up on the concept that "nuclear" conveys some sort of mystical superpowers on ships. In reality, the reactors are just a highly complex way of boiling water in unlimited quantities. The limitations on speed are driven more by hull form and the turbines than on the reactors (which can generate much more steam than the turbines could possibly absorb).

[DuncanWaring]

My interpretation of the article is that they crank the rudder to the stop in one direction, and observe that nothing unanticipated happens, then crank the rudder to the stop in the other direction, and observe that nothing unanticipated happens.

While this is happening, the rudder causes a sideways force on the stern, and only the stern, so the ship turns.

Take a toy boat, put it in a filled bathtub, and push sideways on the stern; it will turn.

[tanknetter]

OK, it can turn. How are the brakes?

Google "uss wisconsin barn door maneuver".

Carriers have twin rudders as well, but they don't have the aft hull "tunnel" that the Iowas have. So while they can execute the same maneuver, it won't be as effective as what they did on the Wisky.

Which is bringing the ship from 30kts to a dead stop in about 800 feet. (With rudder damage.)

[Excellence]

But can the sailors water ski behind it?

[FreedomPoster]

I got a chuckle out of that, too. I bet it can do 40+kn.

The problem at higher speeds is that they outrun escorts and auxiliaries, and that they make a LOT of noise for submarine passive sonar to listen for.

[Don Corleone]

Truman maxed out at 30 plus knots during the run

That's almost as fast as "High speed Harry" went when he was on his morning walks.

[MIchaelTArchangel]

Wake me up when they test the Gabby Giffords.

[Grampa Dave]

“I think they have land guys, lol.”

Marines?

[Tallguy]

I’ve know guys that served on the Indy, Forrestal, Big E, Shitty Kitty — all of them saw these carriers outrun escorts when an aircraft went in the drink.

A neighbor served on destroyers on several WestPac cruises. He was a Boiler Tech. They literally had trouble keeping station during air ops when boilers & hull needed cleaning.

Spruance-class destroyers went so fast they threw rooster tails. But sea conditions limited the practical speeds more than it did with the carriers.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks. GEORGE: What about the Coast Guard? Seems like a lot of pride there, a lot of tradition.

JERRY: True. You mean, for you?

GEORGE: I think.

JERRY: What about your sea sickness?

GEORGE: Maybe I could be a land guy.

JERRY: I don’t know if they have land guys.

GEORGE: Someone’s have to unhook the boat before it leaves...the place!

(Elaine comes in.)

[RainMan]

Thanks, my boy is on the Truman. Last time they practiced this he was in his bunk and it rolled him onto the floor :)