Posted on 02/29/2008 5:35:53 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Losing steam: US Navy carriers go electric
By Rebecca Christie
27 February 2008
Half a century after the introduction of steam-driven catapults, the US Navy (USN) aircraft carrier community is entering an era that trades steam and hydraulics for advanced electronic circuitry.
Construction of the first in a new line of carriers, Gerald R Ford (CVN 78), is due to begin in 2008 and the USD10.5 billion ship will use electricity instead of steam for launching combat aircraft, cooking meals and heating sailors' living quarters. Its nuclear reactors will produce more electricity than any other warship, powering a maintenance revolution as well as one of the navy's 'floating cities'.
The CVN 78-class carriers - the fruit of the CVN 21 design and development programme - will have powerful new radar, upgraded landing systems and larger flight decks than their Nimitz-class predecessors. The ship's company plus air wing will number a relatively meagre 4,660 personnel, between 1,000 and 1,200 fewer than the total required in the older carriers.
Many technological advances contribute to the manpower efficiency gain. For example, radars in the new ship will not need to rotate, dramatically reducing wear and tear; and the USN says its new electromagnetic launch system can be operated by about 90 sailors, compared to the 120 needed for steam-driven catapults. Pilots on take-off may reap the most noticeable benefits as the new catapult will push them smoothly aloft, in contrast to the steam-driven jolt of the existing carriers.
(Excerpt) Read more at janes.com ...
I guess my big rubber band idea was shelved.
CVN’s are capital ships. If they are to be named after men, then they should be truly great men. Franklin, Madison, Adams, Reagan, Ike, etc.
And oh yea, the rail gun catapult is great. I used to ride the old non-progressive one’s. That was a real jolt.
Building on my last post:
Given the current war we’re in, we should name a CVN “Charles Martel” or “Roland”. That would shake the muzzies up.
Electra Glide in Blue.
Can Navy cooks be trusted with nuclear power?
The new catapult works on the same principle as the amusement ride “The Incredible Hulk” I believe. Huge electric linear motors programmable like many machine tools are going to instead of ball screws, things are quite fun to work with and are almost maintenance free compared to a steam piston system.
ping
Papers Relating to Gerald Ford's U.S. Navy Service, 1941‑1975.Gerald Ford initially applied for a commission in the active Naval Reserve less than a week after the Japanese bombing of the American fleet at Pearl Harbor . . . .
I was hoping for the USS Calvin Coolidge.
Seriously. He was one of our better presidents.
Call the Secretary of the Navy
“On 3 March 1819 an act of Congress formally placed the responsibility for assigning names to the Navy’s ships in the hands of the Secretary of the Navy, a prerogative which he still exercises.”
http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq63-1.htm
Is this the same technology as rail guns only way bigger?
Can you say EMP?
Wow! White men can jump...at least, they could in the 1940s.
George H.W. Bush???
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