US Navy News and updates

[spoz]

QE actually had to put into port due to a crack in a thrust block on her trials - everyone on that trial was pretty much relieved they'd caught it on trial as it was a relatively easy fix but the consequences were potentially "oh crap, abandon ship" if it failed in some circumstances. Somewhere along the line the specs for the block had slipped down to an assumed 100% possible load, leaving no margin at all - so a component that was built correctly (to spec with no manufacturing defects) failed very early on in it's lifetime.

There's an overview of what these things do here if anyone's interested:

https://www.brighthubengineering.co...ngine-thrust-block-prop-shaft-and-stern-tube/

It's not an "Oh crap, abandon ship" issue at all. QE had a problem many ships have with their stern glands; and while the repair might be somewhat complicated and it is always better to find such issues before going on operations, the danger to the ship is low. Many ships go through their lives with weeping stern glands and in some case the weep is closer to a deluge; HMAS Melbourne for example had a fairly significantly leaking stern gland on one shaft for years. What the stern seal does is in the name; provide a seal where the propeller shaft penetrates the hull. The nature of something like that is to leak. QE's was leaking more than the specified rate and had to be fixed. A stern gland does not take thrust, that's what the thrust block is for.

The thrust blocks are a different kettle of fish. As Assail has said they transfer the thrust from the propellers to the fabric of the ship (via the propeller shaft); they are indeed complex items which are intrinsically under high loads. A manufacturing fault, or indeed any fault, while rare, does tend to show up fairly dramatically when it occurs. However, what failure does is to potentially disable that shaft, it isn't a hazard to the ship unless it seizes completely and for that to happen many warning signs would have to be ignored.

 

[StobieWan]

It's not an "Oh crap, abandon ship" issue at all. QE had a problem many ships have with their stern glands; and while the repair might be somewhat complicated and it is always better to find such issues before going on operations, the danger to the ship is low. Many ships go through their lives with weeping stern glands and in some case the weep is closer to a deluge; HMAS Melbourne for example had a fairly significantly leaking stern gland on one shaft for years. What the stern seal does is in the name; provide a seal where the propeller shaft penetrates the hull. The nature of something like that is to leak. QE's was leaking more than the specified rate and had to be fixed. A stern gland does not take thrust, that's what the thrust block is for.

The thrust blocks are a different kettle of fish. As Assail has said they transfer the thrust from the propellers to the fabric of the ship (via the propeller shaft); they are indeed complex items which are intrinsically under high loads. A manufacturing fault, or indeed any fault, while rare, does tend to show up fairly dramatically when it occurs. However, what failure does is to potentially disable that shaft, it isn't a hazard to the ship unless it seizes completely and for that to happen many warning signs would have to be ignored.

I wasn't referring to the stern gland leak which was very much "ah well. never mind" - I was referring to the cracked thrust block on the QE - the block had large, visible cracks present when inspected and if it'd failed under load would certainly have been a bit more interesting than a slow leak. They were testing under fairly severe trials loads and had they not had the issue with one of the propeller blades, the spec issue with the thrust block might have gone unnoticed until it failed - thankfully, it was picked up and that's what trials are for.

 

[ngatimozart]

USN and Sri Lankan doctors used a robot during surgery aboard the USNS Mercy. First time that this has been done at sea.

US Navy, Sri Lankan surgeons perform first ever robot-assisted surgery on ship

 

[Ranger25]

Some additional updates for the USN.

RIMPAC 2018 will see US Army integration and demo of the NSM launched from land based trucks as part of the ongoining Cross Do Son Fires effort. Given the NSMs range it could be very useful in areas like the second island chain.

http://www.navyrecognition.com/inde...hemtt-coastal-battery-during-rimpac-2018.html


The first of potentially 22 DDG-51 flight III has been laid down. Raytheon claiming the new SPY-6 is up to 35 times more powerful than SPY-1. Flight IIIs will also be more surface oriented.

https://www.themaven.net/warriormav...weapons-sensors-radar-j_9pvZ0RVEe54-pxR6qywA/

 

[John Fedup]

The article mentions the flight III DDG51 will be powered by RR turbines, I wasn’t aware of this change.

 

[Volkodav]

The article mentions the flight III DDG51 will be powered by RR turbines, I wasn’t aware of this change.

MT30, same as Freedom class, DDG1000, Type 26, QE and I believe a Japanese or Korean design or two. This may see the MT30 set up as the replacement for the LM2500.

 

[StingrayOZ]

It's bigger and has significant growth potential. But not sure if it is going into the flight III.

GE Ships LM2500 Marine Gas Turbine for 1st Flight III DDG 51 Destroyer

LM2500 have been delivered for the first flight III (I assume four). But it will be interesting if this continues, or if they go to a dual MT-30 DDG10000 arrangement.

 

[Volkodav]

It's bigger and has significant growth potential. But not sure if it is going into the flight III.

GE Ships LM2500 Marine Gas Turbine for 1st Flight III DDG 51 Destroyer

LM2500 have been delivered for the first flight III (I assume four). But it will be interesting if this continues, or if they go to a dual MT-30 DDG10000 arrangement.

Actually come to think about it, it's probably the RR GT generators as they defiantly needed to be upgraded with the increased power requirements of the new radars.

 

[MrConservative]

MT30, same as Freedom class, DDG1000, Type 26, QE and I believe a Japanese or Korean design or two. This may see the MT30 set up as the replacement for the LM2500.

The future JMSDF 30FFG will be using the MT30. Which is an endorsement in my view because they do know what they are doing vessel wise.

 

[John Fedup]

Actually come to think about it, it's probably the RR GT generators as they defiantly needed to be upgraded with the increased power requirements of the new radars.

Yes, after a second look, it is not clear whether the RR turbines are for electrical generation or propulsion.

 

[swerve]

The future JMSDF 30FFG will be using the MT30. Which is an endorsement in my view because they do know what they are doing vessel wise.

And have experience with both the LM2500 & older RR GTs.

 

[Volkodav]

And have experience with both the LM2500 & older RR GTs.

One class has both LM and Spey. Most use either LM or Spey and older designs made use of Olympus and Tyne.

 

[John Fedup]

It's bigger and has significant growth potential. But not sure if it is going into the flight III.

GE Ships LM2500 Marine Gas Turbine for 1st Flight III DDG 51 Destroyer

LM2500 have been delivered for the first flight III (I assume four). But it will be interesting if this continues, or if they go to a dual MT-30 DDG10000 arrangement.

An IEP system, if it proves successful with the DDG1000, would make sense for future Flight III DDG 51s as a Zumwalt dervived future DDG will likely retain the MT30 IEP propulsion system.

 

[John Fedup]

The Zumwalt has MT30s for its IEP system but additional power comes from RR4500 GTs. I guess it is these GTs that are referenced in the earlier posted link regarding GTs for the Flight III Burkes so it must be LM2500s for propulsion and RR4500s for electrical power.

 

[ngatimozart]

USN announcement for the 2018 iteration of RIMPAC which is from 27 June 2018 to 2 Aug 2018. Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam are the participants with Brazil, Israel, Sri Lanka and Vietnam being first time participants. The program looks quite interesting with an airborne LRASM launch and the US Army NSM launch from a palletised launcher.

 

[Meriv90]

Three different articles on the FREMM visiting the USA for the FFG(X).

The Navy’s Potential New Frigate Connects Crew, Lots of Space for Commandos

Some extracts from the first

During a tour of the ship on Wednesday in Baltimore, one of the things that struck me first was the amount of space belowdecks. Company representatives said they used lessons learned in the commercial shipbuilding world to ensure that sailors could reach critical machinery and hardware quickly, without having to take apart parts of the ship to perform repairs. That means wide walkways with wires tucked away (though visible) and lots of machinery stacked along the walls that can easily be pulled out, repaired, or replaced.

Since the ship is networked to a degree that we haven’t seen in U.S. naval vessels, sailors are able to access the internal network from almost anywhere onboard by literally plugging a laptop into ports located throughout the vessel and entering their unique login information. It’s an innovation that keep the crew connected, and gives engineers the ability to monitor and adjust systems from wherever they are.

The Alpino has already tracked Russian submarines in the Mediterranean, the ship’s captain, Cmdr. Davide Da Pozzo, told me, and has also run counter-piracy missions off the Libyan coast.

And if you think about Kilo class specification (shallow waters) that could mean that it tracked the "Black Hole"

One particularly interesting aspect of the ship is a separate command center set apart from the bridge, built for visiting commanders and their staffs to make use of. Da Pozzo and Bisconti said the room — fully networked with a large conference table and a host of built-in electronics and spaces for laptops to be plugged into the system for both classified and unclassified data to be processed — is critical for the dozens of special operations forces who can be housed onboard, or for visiting brass to use, making each FREMM a mini flagship.

Not only is there extra berthing for special operators or Marines, but each ship carries two rigid-hulled inflatable boats for commando ops — a seven-meter one to starboard, and another 11-meter boat to port.

Second article
We spent 3 days on a top contender for the Navy’s future frigate. Here’s what you need to know.

Damage control

The damage control system is highly sophisticated.

The ship is equipped with an incredible camera system that exists almost everywhere except the living spaces and spaces like central control that are constantly manned. If fire or flooding is detected in any space, a live video feed will automatically pull up on the screen of the damage control system monitors.

Fire boundaries on the main deck can be set automatically from central control with the flip of a switch, which releases the magnetized door stops, and the damage control officer can see when anyone breaks fire boundaries (he will let you know).

The primary fire system is highly pressurized water sprinkler system that sprays atomized demineralized water that decouples the fire from its fuel source. About a gallon of water is sufficient to handle most spaces, including main-space fires and the demineralized water protects electronics.

There is also a fixed gas system as a backup in the main spaces. All the fixed systems have mechanical back-up systems should the ship lose power completely.

If the sprinkler and gas systems fail, there are dozens of fire stations — 87 to be exact — throughout the ship for the fire-party’s use.

The stations are fully equipped with several kinds of fire extinguishers and canisters of agent, including AFFF and F-500, and in-line eductors for extracting them.

Navigation

The bridge is state-of-the-art, but in a way that makes your job easier, not in the way that saves people by lumping too many functions in one watchstander

Takeaways

The ship is pretty darn cool: It’s built to fight and has plenty of power to go around. An AEGIS version of the FREMM being pitched by Fincantieri has an even greater power capacity.

It is very quiet. Compared with the Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burkes, there is just very little in the way of ambient noise, and there is almost no noise in the berthings. Even the engine room is quiet enough that hearing protection is not required to enter.

The ship has also integrated a ton of technologies that cuts down on manning. Foremost among them is the damage control system but there are others. For instance, during underway replenishment the lines are reeled in with winches rather than with a team of line handlers as is done on U.S. Navy ships.

Third article

Photo Gallery: Fincantieri Pitches Frigate Design in Baltimore - USNI News
And since we are talking about Italian ships which better way to end the post if not with a bidet? (bath of 4 crew members room)

 

[Ranger25]

In no surprise the NSM has been awarded by the USN as the OTH missile for the LCS platform




Raytheon Awarded LCS Over-the-Horizon Anti-Surface Weapon Contract; Deal Could be Worth $848M - USNI News

 

[serger989]

I can't believe there is a bidet there lol

 

[StingrayOZ]

Quite a fan of the NSM. Hopefully this means it and the JSM will be tightly integrated across the fleet (sea, air and land).

FREMM is so Italian. Bidets, hair driers, coffee machines. I half expect a wood fired pizza oven and scooter parking on the deck.

I think the FREMM is a great ship. It is certainly serviceable. Will be interested to see what the USN think of it.

US ships are notoriously man power intensive. I think the US could see some advantage on modernising in this area.

 

[ngatimozart]

The USN has inducted the MQ-4C Triton into service.
US Navy officially inducts Triton UAV into service | Jane's 360