A JB-2 Loon sits forlonely [sic] on the desert floor at the White Sands Missile Range Museum. This American made copy of the infamous German V-1 Buzz Bomb was America's first cruise missile.
Posted on 10/23/2004 2:32:34 PM PDT by Mike Fieschko
NORFOLK, Va. -- With bells ringing and horns blaring, the Navy on Saturday commissioned the lead ship of its latest class of fast-attack submarines specifically designed for post-Cold War security threats.The $2.2 billion, nuclear-powered USS Virginia differs from other submarines because it can not only roam the deep blue ocean but also get close to shore in shallow water, which Navy officials say is important in fighting terrorism.
Lynda Robb Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon Johnson and wife of former Sen. Charles Robb, D-Va., gave the traditional order to "man our ship and bring her to life" in ceremonies at Norfolk Naval Station, the world's largest Navy base.
"Aye, aye, ma'am," the crew of about 130 responded. They then raced up both ends of the sub and lined up on deck as a Navy band played "Anchors Aweigh."
The 377-foot-long sub is the first to be built without a periscope, using a high-resolution digital camera instead. That meant the control room, which always had to be directly below the periscope, could be moved to a larger space in the sub's lower deck.
The Virginia also can launch unmanned undersea vehicles. Other improvements include a new computerized autopilot designed to reduce stress on the crew and a reconfigurable torpedo room that can hold extra beds for special operations forces.
In his keynote address, Sen. John Warner, R-Va., said the Virginia will help lead the fight against terrorism.
"We cannot ever blink. We cannot ever flinch. We cannot yield," said Warner, a former Navy secretary. "This ship will very definitely play a role in that war on terror."
The sub is the first of 10 Virginia-class submarines scheduled to be built through a partnership between Northrop Grumman Newport News and General Dynamics Electric Boat.
(Excerpt) Read more at wral.com ...
>> "What if the camera should fail for some reason? What is the backup process for taking a look?" <<
Open the screen door and look out????
Great Links!
Thanks
New-Q-lar power with a monoshaft pumpjet propulsor and a new hyperdrive physics package. The advanced neutron torque divertor is top secret, so they covered it with a tarp in all the pictures.
Rumor has it that this ship can perform supersonic maneuvers that result cavitation behind the hull, but the crew has to be strapped in, and wear G-suits like fighter pilots.
This is why they did away with the old fashioned periscope. You can't very well stand up and operate a periscope when your boat is pulling 8 G's.
From what I can tell two or three of the SSGNs are already on patrol. They are a major smart move. Talk about steath firepower.
Sub periscopes meet buggy whips.
Launch more missles.
Would somebody tell me why a rational person would want to beat a buggy with a whip?
"What kind of propulsion system does this beautiful machine use?"
A previous post referred to the "sail". ;-)
Lynda Robb Johnson
Shouldn't that be Lynda Johnson Robb?
"I need prints and specs, weapons accompaniment, weaknesses and all future locations, please....
Sincerely,
The Mullah of Iran"
Will send detailed specs on our JDAMs ...
Please input your exact coordinates so we can send them.
bump....
"You can't very well stand up and operate a periscope when your boat is pulling 8 G's."
LOL. I dont know if you are totally BSing or not, but either way, you ought to be a writer for Popular Mechanics!
LOL.......thus a subject matter expert on naval lint !
Sorry, I'll go away...........:o)
Whipping the horse upsets PETA,the Humane Society, and could result in horseshoe shaped welts on your body.......
"Up digital camera!!!".
Just doesn't sound right. Any suggestions?
LOL!
Thank you for those links. I haven't had time to go through all of them yet, but I'm gonna make time! They look very interesting. I'm hoping one or two of them have a discussion forum where I can lurk awhile -- and learn. :-)
I wonder if someday it'll be possible (or desirable) to completely seperate one or two (or more) camera/periscope system(s) from the sub and have them beam their images back to the submarine, which could be lying on the bottom or, for that matter, could be anywhere else in camera range? Sort of like a swarm of UAVs hovering around the mothership, lol.
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