Posted: 11/3/2007 10:31:16 AM EDT
| Wondering if carriers have a plan for running on a "skeleton crew" that can go non-stop literally for years and years. They're only achillies heal is food correct? |
Many limiting factors including spare parts, aviation fuel, etc., etc. 5sub A nuclear submarine is generally seen to be limited only by the food supply but not an aircraft carrier. 5sub |
|
Even though a nuke can go years without refueling, it's the rest of the parts that break down, Pumps, Evaps, cranes, elevators, etc...... ask me how I know? Actuallt I'll tell ya, I was stationed on a repair ship when I was in the Navy, U.S.S. Yellowstone AD-41 to be exact. And while the "fuel" will last for years the secondary equipment won't. Hence why ship have yard periods after a cruise. |
|
I served on the USS Nimitz. The only thing holding that old girl together is the constant labor of many men. Flight operations burn through JP5 really fast, and require even more labor. I suppose a carrier could steam around for an extended period with a skeleton crew but it wouldn't be combat capable and would slowly fall apart. |
It only becomes a skeleton crew after the rest have been eaten, so yes, you've answered the question of food as well. |
Not true. At least not on the USS Ranger (CV-61) while I was there. I'm not sure how close we got to full steam ahead, but I do remember seeing us hit 36 knots and it wasn't much different than normal. Doing that speed in high seas is a whole 'nother story though, just as making a VERY sharp turn at that speed. |
just trust me on this... I guarantee you guys are over estimating, how many of you have actually watched the gages at a flank bell? I have many times  this includes speed and power and sitting watch in the plants I also know how much power it takes to get every one of those knots near the top and how close we are to the limit of ships actual poweralso you DO NOT need 35 knots of wind to launch a plane it is actually quite a bit less than that, maybe things were different with the old cats but not on current Nimitz ships but yes they are damn fast in the open water and can leave their battle group in the dust especially -Mike |
Naw, not at all.  When I was on the Stennis one of the screws had a "slight" out-of-balance problem that really showed up when the nuke plant was running hot. My berthing was forward of and below AIMD and it sounded like 50 guys with jackhammers were going to town a few decks below us. |
that is not true, but on a good backing bell the ass end of the ship will really feel it, still not to the point of vibrating shit loose. if you are off a destroyer you should appreciate the fact that we really could get away with not stowing for sea 99.9% of the time, it is really like a large building except for the most extreme weather/maneuvering. flank ahead bells are not all that crazy at all, you dont even notice if you are inside the skin of the ship except maybe for the guys who are way aft and low -Mike |
At flank speed, the USS Midway would shake like you wouldnt believe. IIRC it was 30 some odd knots. We had a bent shaft I was on a Nimitz class carrier when we were going flank speed somewhere. The CO came over the 1MC stating he had received a message from the Coast Guard that we were exceeding the national speed limit 
|
The top speed of our carriers is classified, no need for everyone to know when we'll get wherever we're going in a hurry. It's a lot faster than most people think, it's a very long waterline and a whole lot of HP. |
Subs don't use strictly non-perishable food. We had a freezer and chill box, along with canned food and dry stores, just like any other ship. You should have seen what happened when we ran out of salt.  People hoarding salt packets, the supply officer was livid. Officers taking the remaining shakers and hiding them in the wardroom...Oh, and the only thing limiting a sub, is food and spare parts, and they can stay under water the whole time. Answering flank bells is fun, ain't it? Look at them gages and meters jump! Ring! Ring-ring-ring! All ahead flank CAVITATE! PSSSHHHHHH! Clunk, booom! Clunk boom! Clunk boom! Clunk boom! Whhhhheeeeeeee rumble rumble rumble! |
I've seen an aircraft carrier launch aircraft while anchored in the harbor at Diego Garcia. Depends on the aircraft and the load that they're aboard on how much wind/catapult power is needed to get them flying. Carriers rarely operate at speeds faster than 20-25 knots, no reason to sail around that fast. In the Persian gulf we'd make runs north in the morning and south in the evening to put distance between us and the bad guys ... saw a bit of speed at times during those sprints. USS Midway built in WWII and commissioned in 1946 was the fastest steamer (non-nuke) when I was aboard her in the 1980's. She was capable of some speed ... amazing what +250,000 horse power can do. ETA: San Diego's museum.  |
Yes. What you can do is override many of the safeties built into engines, but you won't go double the speed. It would take four times the power. ETA: The ship was the USS Yorktown. |