What makes those speeds so hard for the crews to endure?
“What makes those speeds so hard for the crews to endure?”
Said the man who has never cut through 25ft swells, or worse, 40ft.
The sea gets a vote on your speed.
While these ships are extraordinarily well made, I’ve seen blue water over the flight deck of an LHA...and that’s 92ft above the water line.
I’ve been hit with white water on the signal bridge at 175ft. I’ve also been on a DDG when you could see submerged water out the portal on the main deck/mess decks.
It can get so bad the skipper orders everyone to strap themselves in to their bunks for an attempt at a few hours of sleep.
Broken bones are the principal obstacle.
What makes those speeds so hard for the crews to endure?
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Ships and subs, unlike land vehicles, do not have shock absorbers.
Imagine driving a car down a road with pot holes everywhere.
Now imagine you are driving your car at 46 mph (40 knots) over the same road - pretty bumpy, eh?
Now imagine driving that same car over that same road at the same speed without shock absorbers for hours on end.
Now imagine driving that same car over that same road at the same speed without shock absorbers for hours on end, while moving about the car doing various tasks, many calling for precision, focus, accuracy and concentration.
Now put the car on autopilot and grab some bunk time, while the straps on the bunk keep you from hitting the ceiling ...
That’s why.
“What makes those speeds so hard for the crews to endure?”
Shock and sudden velocity changes. As the boat tries to push through waves and water the boat shudders and that shuddering can send significant shock waves through the vessel or change the vessels velocity instantly. Those shocks waves and the ship’s velocity changes can break bones or throw people around. It’s like hitting a wall, breaking the wall, and continuing on. It can also be really loud. It’s not something you sleep through.