US Navy News and updates

[ngatimozart]

Apparently the USN test fired 20 Hyper Velocity Projectiles through a DDG's 5 in Mk 45 gun at RIMPAC last year. Standard 5 in gun powder charge was used as the propellant.

Navy Quietly Fires 20 Hyper Velocity Projectiles Through Destroyer’s Deckgun - USNI News

 

[Ranger25]

I just read the same, interesting they used the existing MK 45 deck guns. If they can make that a fieldable solution for the HVP it could significant Would certainly increase Mag depth against ASHm attacks

 

[Systems Adict]

Apparently the USN test fired 20 Hyper Velocity Projectiles through a DDG's 5 in Mk 45 gun at RIMPAC last year. Standard 5 in gun powder charge was used as the propellant.

Navy Quietly Fires 20 Hyper Velocity Projectiles Through Destroyer’s Deckgun - USNI News

Hmmm... HVP + Automated Handling System = Nirvana ???


Will the Rate of Fire decrease in a similar way to the 'standard' round, if operated in continuous fire mode ?

 

[ngatimozart]

Hmmm... HVP + Automated Handling System = Nirvana ???


Will the Rate of Fire decrease in a similar way to the 'standard' round, if operated in continuous fire mode ?

Presume it will because the powder monkeys in the magazines will tire as the action lengthens.

 

[Systems Adict]

Presume it will because the powder monkeys in the magazines will tire as the action lengthens.

Mmmmm...

That's why I threw in the automated Handling System (AHS). A gun with an AHS 'auto-loads' from a pre-filled rack / carousel, for example the ring below the 76mm/SR from Oto-Melara (Part of the Leonardo group), can be pre-loaded with around 50 shells & the gun put into continuous fire mode, so that the gun doesn't stop firing until...

A. the carousel is empty, or
B. The trigger man takes his foot off the pedal, or
C. A mechanical malfunction jams a round in the mechanism.

Appreciate that most of the 5"/54 Mark 45's currently in use across the world are still manually loaded by powder monkeys, but wondered if the USN might think about this going forward, as part of a deep maintenance refit ??

Or am I becoming too 21st century with that sorta thinking ?

SA

 

[StingrayOZ]

Don't the 62's feature a 20 round auto loader?

Isn't that all DDG 81-112?

Going into the future it would seem that this will happen naturally. Thats 33 in service currently and 9 additional ordered and in construction and that is before we get to the flight III burkes (what 10+?).

 

[ngatimozart]

Mmmmm...

That's why I threw in the automated Handling System (AHS). A gun with an AHS 'auto-loads' from a pre-filled rack / carousel, for example the ring below the 76mm/SR from Oto-Melara (Part of the Leonardo group), can be pre-loaded with around 50 shells & the gun put into continuous fire mode, so that the gun doesn't stop firing until...

A. the carousel is empty, or
B. The trigger man takes his foot off the pedal, or
C. A mechanical malfunction jams a round in the mechanism.

Appreciate that most of the 5"/54 Mark 45's currently in use across the world are still manually loaded by powder monkeys, but wondered if the USN might think about this going forward, as part of a deep maintenance refit ??

Or am I becoming too 21st century with that sorta thinking ?

SA

You would think that they could autoload the carousel though. Can't be that difficult even with the safety concerns around powder.

 

[barney41]

Unfortunately, the story provided zero feedback on how the HVP performed during the tests.

 

[the concerned]

Could you use these projectiles to shoot anti ship ballistic missiles. Obviously the ships have the ability to track them.

 

[ngatimozart]

Could you use these projectiles to shoot anti ship ballistic missiles. Obviously the ships have the ability to track them.

Tracking yes, but I believe targeting and intercepting is somewhat difficult due to the velocity and physical size of the inbound warhead.

 

[John Fedup]

Could you use these projectiles to shoot anti ship ballistic missiles. Obviously the ships have the ability to track them.

Maybe for now. If Russian claims about their new HVMs are true, then current anti-missile defence systems will be hard pressed to perform successful intercepts.

 

[Todjaeger]

Maybe for now. If Russian claims about their new HVMs are true, then current anti-missile defence systems will be hard pressed to perform successful intercepts.

Actually achieving a useful, guided hypersonic flight has been a bit of an engineering and physics conundrum, due to phenomenon which happens at those speeds in atmosphere.

As a part of that, detecting an inbound hypersonic projectile (missile, shell, whatever) can be a bit of an issue. While I do not recall any recent reports, I do remember that several countries were conducting hypersonics tests at the Woomera range. Loss of vehicle telemetry after achieving hypersonic speeds was a chronic issue IIRC.

 

[colay1]

Could you use these projectiles to shoot anti ship ballistic missiles. Obviously the ships have the ability to track them.

A HVPs fired from an EMRG would have a greater chance of success as they could engage any incoming threat at longer distances.

 

[John Fedup]

Here is a trashing article on the Zumwalt class destroyer by POGO, not an exactly unbiased defence reviewing organization. While some of the criticisms are fair, I will leave it for the Pros to comment on the overall review. I guess one evaluation tool would be an estimate of how much hacking the Chinese did on this project? If it was minimal then maybe the article rings true.

The U.S. Navy's Titanium “Tin Can”

 

[ASSAIL]

Here is a trashing article on the Zumwalt class destroyer by POGO, not an exactly unbiased defence reviewing organization. While some of the criticisms are fair, I will leave it for the Pros to comment on the overall review. I guess one evaluation tool would be an estimate of how much hacking the Chinese did on this project? If it was minimal then maybe the article rings true.

The U.S. Navy's Titanium “Tin Can”

The same type of criticism was leveled against F35 and still is.
Just saying.

I’ll stay patient and watchful for some time yet.

 

[colay1]

Was there ever any military program that POGO loved?

 

[John Fedup]

Was there ever any military program that POGO loved?

Not that I am aware of!

 

[John Fedup]

This article discusses the Fort report, the USN’s initial investigation into the USS Fitzgerald collision. Its grim conclusions must have been unsettling to USN brass and their political oversight pollies.

Worse than you thought: inside the secret Fitzgerald probe the Navy doesn’t want you to read

 

[ASSAIL]

This article discusses the Fort report, the USN’s initial investigation into the USS Fitzgerald collision. Its grim conclusions must have been unsettling to USN brass and their political oversight pollies.

Worse than you thought: inside the secret Fitzgerald probe the Navy doesn’t want you to read

That report is tragic and if correct, once again makes the case for specialist officers in the USN.
The disfunction reported was so extreme that I fail to see how she passed her Operational Readiness Evaluation or whatever it’s called these days.
I guess the Command who sent her on deployment in that state has already been dealt with.

 

[John Fedup]

This article discusses the USN’s options for a 6th Gen to replace the SH fleet. Perhaps the recent Zumwalt and Ford experiences may result in a more conservative approach wrt jamming too many new technologies into a new airframe. An AI fighter...name guess anyone? How about “Terminator”

Navy Sees Stealthy, AI-Enabled 6th-Gen Fighter to Come After F/A -18 - Warrior Maven