Jura The idiot
General
FORBIN, about one year ago (?) I tried to ask here about USN carriers' reactors, their fuel etc. but
bd popeye
explained to me that ... I Don't Need To Know
bd popeye
explained to me that ... I Don't Need To Know
US Nimitz Class Carriers: News, Pics, INfo
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
They improved the design of the core for those reactors and then used them. Probably deal with the cores density.
They have been improving overall reactor design, including the core design, ever since.
That's why ultimately all of the Nimitz A4W nuclear reactor cores have core refueling after 25 years. Originally the design was for 13 years, to be improved to 25 years...but the improvements made it into the Nimitz and ever carrier after.
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FORBIN, about one year ago (?) I tried to ask here about USN carriers' reactors, their fuel etc. but
bd popeye
explained to me that ... I Don't Need To Know
Yep.. despite what the US Navy may publish the true life span of those reactors is classified.
Nimitz was refueled from 29 May 1998 to 28 Jun 2001. So she was 25 years old when her RCOH began. Wow.. great engineering.
Well, I go by commission date, which was 1975. So 1975 to 1998 makes 23 years in commission. If you go by launch date, then yes, 25+ years.
I looked back at this, and popeye is exactly right. Apparently upgrades to the core design DID make it into the first three NImitz. Their original core design was older and would have been only 13 years...but the advances were made before they fueled the Nimitz the first time and she got the better cores, as did all the rest.
I will go back and fix that in my original post.
So far, the RCOHs have gone like this:
USS Nimitz, CVN-68, RCHO 1998-2001 (Commisionmed 1975) 23 years
USS Dwight Eisenhower, CVN-69, RCOH 2001-2005 (Commissioned 1977) 24 Years
USS Carl Vinson, CVN-70, RCOH 2005-2008 (Commissioned 1982) 23 years
USS Theodroe Roosevelt, CVN-71, RCOH 2009-2013 (Commissioned 1986) 23 years
USS Abraham Lincoln, CVN-72, RCOH 2013- (Commissioned 1989) 24 years
Four complete...the fifth underway.
Abraham Lincoln Installs Catapult Covers, Marks Another RCOH Milestone
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- Another step towards the completion of the refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) was achieved May 18 when the covers for catapult one were installed on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).
The installation of the covers lasted three days and was performed by Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS). Getting the four catapults back to an operational state is the current focus of Lincoln's Air Department.
"The biggest advantage to the covers being installed is that it gives our junior Sailors a chance to see what the catapults look like once they're back together," said Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate Larry Pugh, V-2 division's maintenance chief. "We've been able to go up to the flight deck and actually have them put eyes on what we've been trying to explain to them."
The catapult covers on an aircraft carrier bridge the catapult trough to provide a smooth, continuous flight deck and provide support for the shuttle that launches aircraft. They also provide a channel for the grab that retrieves the shuttle after a launch.
With the catapult covers in the process of being installed, Lincoln's flight deck now has more space and a new look.
"The metal sheds covering the catapult were removed to facilitate the trough cover installation," Cmdr. Timothy Tippett, Lincoln's Air Boss said. "It is a visible change to the flight deck and it gives Lincoln the look of a true aircraft carrier rather than a ship under construction."
The catapult overhaul process started at the very beginning of the RCOH, and Lincoln is scheduled to start catapult testing this fall.
"With the covers being installed it is allowing NNS to perform critical alignment tests," Pugh said.
Lincoln's Air Department has already saved more than $8 million in man-hours and parts by recycling parts from the decommissioned USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) and removing and replacing old lagging on the ceiling of hangar bays 1, 2, and 3. These are just some examples of the hard work they have been putting in throughout the RCOH process.
"Air department has worked tirelessly to restore their spaces and equipment throughout the ship during this RCOH process," Tippett said. "They have dedicated themselves towards getting Lincoln out of the yards on time and their hard work is paying off and is not going unnoticed. I couldn't be more proud of my Sailors."
Lincoln is currently undergoing a RCOH at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News.
Lincoln is the fifth ship of the Nimitz-class to undergo an RCOH, a major life-cycle milestone. Once RCOH is complete, Lincoln will be one of the most modern and technologically advanced Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in the fleet and will continue to be a vital part of the nation's defense.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- Another step towards the completion of the refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) was achieved May 18 when the covers for catapult one were installed on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).
The installation of the covers lasted three days and was performed by Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS). Getting the four catapults back to an operational state is the current focus of Lincoln's Air Department.
"The biggest advantage to the covers being installed is that it gives our junior Sailors a chance to see what the catapults look like once they're back together," said Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate Larry Pugh, V-2 division's maintenance chief. "We've been able to go up to the flight deck and actually have them put eyes on what we've been trying to explain to them."
The catapult covers on an aircraft carrier bridge the catapult trough to provide a smooth, continuous flight deck and provide support for the shuttle that launches aircraft. They also provide a channel for the grab that retrieves the shuttle after a launch.
With the catapult covers in the process of being installed, Lincoln's flight deck now has more space and a new look.
"The metal sheds covering the catapult were removed to facilitate the trough cover installation," Cmdr. Timothy Tippett, Lincoln's Air Boss said. "It is a visible change to the flight deck and it gives Lincoln the look of a true aircraft carrier rather than a ship under construction."
The catapult overhaul process started at the very beginning of the RCOH, and Lincoln is scheduled to start catapult testing this fall.
"With the covers being installed it is allowing NNS to perform critical alignment tests," Pugh said.
Lincoln's Air Department has already saved more than $8 million in man-hours and parts by recycling parts from the decommissioned USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) and removing and replacing old lagging on the ceiling of hangar bays 1, 2, and 3. These are just some examples of the hard work they have been putting in throughout the RCOH process.
"Air department has worked tirelessly to restore their spaces and equipment throughout the ship during this RCOH process," Tippett said. "They have dedicated themselves towards getting Lincoln out of the yards on time and their hard work is paying off and is not going unnoticed. I couldn't be more proud of my Sailors."
Lincoln is currently undergoing a RCOH at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News.
Lincoln is the fifth ship of the Nimitz-class to undergo an RCOH, a major life-cycle milestone. Once RCOH is complete, Lincoln will be one of the most modern and technologically advanced Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in the fleet and will continue to be a vital part of the nation's defense.
Shipyards
Only shipyards which build US carrier since 50+ years and all CVN is Newport News to some km of Norfolk base and Shipyard. It is also the only to do RCOH.
Have build also a part of Kitty Hawk/Kennedy and Forrestal classes others US Supers carriers but conventionnal with 2 New York shipyards.
Newport News have the more big dry dock for build this very big ships :
Dry Dock specifications
Length (Feet/Meters) Width at Keel Blocks Depth of Water (Feet/Meters
(Feet/Meters) Over Sill Over Blocks
Dry Dock 1 650 / 198.2 92 / 28.0 33 / 10.1 28 / 8.5
Dry Dock 2 862 / 262.8 116 / 35.4 31 / 9.5 29 / 8.8
Dry Dock 12 2,170 / 661.6 250 / 76.2 33 / 10.1 31 / 9.5
Floating Dry Dock 600 / 182.9 140 / 42.7 43 / 13.1 38 / 11.6
Pier and Outfitting Berth specifications
Length (Feet/Meters) Width (Feet/Meters) Depth of Water (Feet/Meters)
Pier 2 982 / 299.4 70 / 21.3 45 / 13.7(South) 35 / 10.7 (North)
Pier 3 1,038’/316.4 92 / 28.0 45 / 13.7(South) 25 / 7.6 (North)
Pier 5 1,160 / 353.7 80 / 24.4 35 / 10.7
Pier 6 850 / 259.1 82 / 25.0 35 / 10.7
Outfitting Berth 1 1,670 / 509.1 N/A 40 / 12.2
All US nuclear ships : CVN, CGN, SSBN, SSN are are dismantled to Puget Sound Naval
Shipyard with sometimes the removal of the reactor elsewhere.
Only shipyards which build US carrier since 50+ years and all CVN is Newport News to some km of Norfolk base and Shipyard. It is also the only to do RCOH.
Have build also a part of Kitty Hawk/Kennedy and Forrestal classes others US Supers carriers but conventionnal with 2 New York shipyards.
Newport News have the more big dry dock for build this very big ships :
Dry Dock specifications
Length (Feet/Meters) Width at Keel Blocks Depth of Water (Feet/Meters
(Feet/Meters) Over Sill Over Blocks
Dry Dock 1 650 / 198.2 92 / 28.0 33 / 10.1 28 / 8.5
Dry Dock 2 862 / 262.8 116 / 35.4 31 / 9.5 29 / 8.8
Dry Dock 12 2,170 / 661.6 250 / 76.2 33 / 10.1 31 / 9.5
Floating Dry Dock 600 / 182.9 140 / 42.7 43 / 13.1 38 / 11.6
Pier and Outfitting Berth specifications
Length (Feet/Meters) Width (Feet/Meters) Depth of Water (Feet/Meters)
Pier 2 982 / 299.4 70 / 21.3 45 / 13.7(South) 35 / 10.7 (North)
Pier 3 1,038’/316.4 92 / 28.0 45 / 13.7(South) 25 / 7.6 (North)
Pier 5 1,160 / 353.7 80 / 24.4 35 / 10.7
Pier 6 850 / 259.1 82 / 25.0 35 / 10.7
Outfitting Berth 1 1,670 / 509.1 N/A 40 / 12.2
All US nuclear ships : CVN, CGN, SSBN, SSN are are dismantled to Puget Sound Naval
Shipyard with sometimes the removal of the reactor elsewhere.
kwaigonegin
Colonel
I believe that the last US Navy Carrier not built at Newport News was the USS Constellation, CV-64. She was launched from the Brooklyn US Navy Ship yard in 1960, 55 years ago.
The Brooklyn Naval Yard produced a number of carriers...and of course the last three were Forrestal and Kitty Hawk class super carriers.
USS BENNINGTON, CV-20 , 27,1000 tons, 6 Feb 1944, Essex Class
BON HOMME RICHARD, CV-31; 27,100 tons, 29 Apr 1944, Essex Class
USS FRANKIN D ROOSEVELT, CV-42; 45,000 tons, 29 Apr 1945, Midway Class
USS KEARSARGE, CV-33, 27,000 tons, 5 May 1945, Essex Class
USS ORISKANY, CV-34, 37,000 tons, 13 Oct 1945, Essex Class
USS SARATOGA, CV-60, 56,000 tons, 8 Oct 1955, Forrestal Class
USS INDEPENDENCE, CV-62, 56,300 tons, 6 Jun 1958, Forrestal Class
USS CONSTELLATION, CV-64, 60,000 tons, 8 Oct 1960, Kitty Hawk Class
The Brooklyn Naval Yard produced a number of carriers...and of course the last three were Forrestal and Kitty Hawk class super carriers.
USS BENNINGTON, CV-20 , 27,1000 tons, 6 Feb 1944, Essex Class
BON HOMME RICHARD, CV-31; 27,100 tons, 29 Apr 1944, Essex Class
USS FRANKIN D ROOSEVELT, CV-42; 45,000 tons, 29 Apr 1945, Midway Class
USS KEARSARGE, CV-33, 27,000 tons, 5 May 1945, Essex Class
USS ORISKANY, CV-34, 37,000 tons, 13 Oct 1945, Essex Class
USS SARATOGA, CV-60, 56,000 tons, 8 Oct 1955, Forrestal Class
USS INDEPENDENCE, CV-62, 56,300 tons, 6 Jun 1958, Forrestal Class
USS CONSTELLATION, CV-64, 60,000 tons, 8 Oct 1960, Kitty Hawk Class
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Ahh Jeff I think you mean 55 years ago.
Brooklyn at one time was a major port for the USN on the east coast.
Oops...bad math going on there...yes, of course it is 55 years ago. Fixed it above. Thanks.
Not all that long actually. within both your and/or my lifetime Brooklyn Naval shipyard launched three super carriers.
Add another 11 years and that means between 1944 and 1960 (16 years) Brooklyn Naval Shipyards launched eight US Navy carriers. Not a bad production rate at all for carriers.