Posted on 04/16/2022 10:21:40 AM PDT by logi_cal869
**But does it have automatic gender pronoun detection?**
That is a must. Some crew members could go ballistic if they are misidentified.
It makes complete sense.
A sub like that is more likely to get to launch it’s weapons than the fixed sites that could be taken out in a first strike. The reaction time for the enemy is far less since we can park them in much closer proximity than Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado or North Dakota are to anywhere in the world.
They continue to load the Trident D5, first deployed circa 1990. This because it has achieved essential perfection as an SLBM.
It has greater range, greater lift and is far, far more accurate than any of our land based missiles.
The only reason to replace the current Trident boats is that they are old and nearly decrepit. But they are STILL better than any SSBN in the world.
Yes, the combo is that good.
Any reason it hasn’t been cancelled yet?
“Too big to fail”??? /s
Perhaps the US Navy should look into the hi tech Russian style Reversible BattleCruiser / Submarine model of ship.
I read your sarcasm, but it may be that the Chinese are already thinking about a submersible surface warship missile platform (this looks far too extreme to be a Zumwalt copy and certainly not a submarine).
https://twitter.com/sugar_wsnbn/status/1493862238620295173
I recall a similar concept among US planners a number of years ago (but I believe that predated the Ohio-class SSGNs).
I did wonder as I was looking at the Columbia-class if they were planning on converting the other Ohio-class boats to SSGNs, but didn’t come across anything.
“Steam Jet Secondary Propulsion”?
Interesting. Kind of like feeding Nitrous to an ICE for short periods.
I missed that.
“Invented by Australian engineer Alan Burns before development in the UK by Pursuit Dynamics, the system uses a continuous steam feed to accelerate a jet of water providing thrust or, in the case of a pump, fluid transfer.
Steam is injected into the water within the jet unit to create a region containing steam and water droplets moving at supersonic speeds. The steam condenses, creating an instantaneous pressure drop and subsequent shockwave as the velocity returns to the overall flow rate. Controlled air drawn into the unit by the low-pressure zone can enhance the process, increasing the efficiency of the energy transfer.”
Fascinating. Nitrous, indeed. In a combat situation, it’s ‘war power’ on steroids.
https://newatlas.com/steam-propulsion-set-to-make-a-comeback/1734/
I wonder if they have an auxiliary steam generator for making the propulsion steam. Water quality is very tightly controlled for the nuclear steam generators to prevent corrosion and I suspect is too precious on a sub to squirt out the back for a secondary propulsion burst. Even an auxiliary steam generator would need some water treatment. I also wonder if they have an accumulator charged with steam for this secondary purpose or if they can make enough on-demand.
Why do I find it rather odd - that they want to retire the Ohio Class fleet... with a submarine that costs $billions to build (each) -
For the cost of $8 BILLION PER BOAT... can the Ohio-class subs not be overhauled and totally updated/refurbished for FAR FAR FAR FAR FAR less$$$???
In comparison, the Ohio-class boats are noisy.
As a practical matter, I wouldn’t find refurbishing to be realistic, and probably more expensive, with dubious results.
Besides: If we just eliminate the Dept. of Education and cease payments to illegals, it pays for the whole program.
I assure you that the secondary propulsion system does NOT scavenge steam from the primary system.
You do know how they eject the Trident missiles from the launch tubes, right? They utilized a rocket motor in the past. The patent below outlines the modern method:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US7451680B1/en
And this sums it up:
https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA601329.pdf
“[0007] A variant to the conventional gas propellant launching system is a submarine steam generator missile ejection system as described in United States Patent No. 7,451,680 issued to Pelto. The Pelto ejection system was likely developed to eliminate explosive ordnance safety concerns as well as concerns of hazardous material disposal costs.
[0008] The Pelto system has a vessel containing water in which the water becomes a pressurized steam source for missile ejection. However, the size of the vessel is prohibitively large and the delay for heating the water to create sufficient steam pressure prior to launch is undesirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, it is a primary object and general purpose of the present invention to provide a system and method of use for launching a missile or other payload.
[0010] It is further object of the present invention to provide an environmentally-acceptable launching system.
[0011] It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a launching system which reduces maintenance requirements.
[0012] To attain the objectives listed; a system is provided for ejecting a missile from a submerged submarine and includes a tube or capsule for housing the missile. The system also
includes a tank for storing atmospheric gas as a pressurized liquid; whereby, a valve is connected to the tank to allow release of the gas into the tube to eject the missile.
[0013] A microwave emitter located within the liquid in the tank; inputs heat energy to maintain evaporation of the liquid into a gas. The microwave emitter is activated simultaneously with the release of the gas into the tube. The launching system does not require the microwave emitter component although the addition of the emitter ensures full evaporation of the liquid in the tank.
[0014] The system can also include components such as multiple valves for storing and releasing gas throughout the system; an expansion chamber that allows pockets of liquid in the tank to
expand into a gas; a pressure regulator to ensure that the missile does not accelerate beyond specifications; and a diffuser plate to distribute the gas evenly around the base of the missile during launch.
[0015] A method of ejecting a projectile includes the steps of: storing an atmospheric gas as a pressurized liquid in a tank having a valve; ejecting the projectile from a tube by opening the valve to allow the liquid to evaporate into gas in the tube; and maintaining evaporation of the liquid during ejection of the projectile by activating a microwave emitter within the tank when the valve is opened.”
It’s an ingenious method of ‘boost’ for a submarine. I am, however, wondering how noisy it is.
Noisy...any you have to carry a lot of consumables. But I guess you have a finite number of missiles to launch, and, with very high pressure gas storage, it’s manageable.
My Dad led the design project for the first Polaris missile inertial guidance system back in the 50s!
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.