They're sticking with the Trident D-5.
US Navy News and updates
- Thread starter AegisFC
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RubiconNZ
The Wanderer
It seems a shame to me to design a brand new submarine and only do a 12 ship run, by the end of the run both the SSGN will be gone and the Seawolf design will be up for decommissioning. I imagine the Special Forces will miss the Jimmy Carter & the SSGN's.
Why not build an extra 6 boats with the SSBN hull fit out etc with purely spec ops & or a heavy VLS fit out. Or even a Prompt Global Strike system, though incapable of SLBM carriage avoiding any arm limitation treaty issues.
I think it would be advantageous I mean I don't know the specs of the new boomers and the current Virginia's might better more effective in the roll. But economy of scale alone, an 18 boat run would seem more cost effective than 12.
Why not build an extra 6 boats with the SSBN hull fit out etc with purely spec ops & or a heavy VLS fit out. Or even a Prompt Global Strike system, though incapable of SLBM carriage avoiding any arm limitation treaty issues.
I think it would be advantageous I mean I don't know the specs of the new boomers and the current Virginia's might better more effective in the roll. But economy of scale alone, an 18 boat run would seem more cost effective than 12.
They are but the tube diameter on the common missile compartment is larger - for D5 they'll sleeve it all down but potentially a larger, wider missile could be utilised. That might give the result of allowing the Navy and USAF to develop a common missile.
Good point. There are reports that the new boomers,are,being designed to have significantly longer service lives than the Ohios so future-proofing to accommodate new technology is a good idea.
fretburner
Banned Member
These are the same VLS where they can quad-pack Tomahawks?
Has this decision been made already? These new tubes are supposed to be common with the UK boomers right?
Yup, CMC in packs of 4 tubes as standard of which the UK will be using 2 packs per boomer.
Any successor to the Trident D-5 needs to be compatable with the Vanguard successors too, so it was the right + smart thing to do.
Navy Matters: SSGN - The Navy's Best Strike Platform
... The currently discussed solution is the addition of a Virginia Payload Module (VPM) to stretched versions of the Virginia class. Four modules would be added to each Virginia. Each module holds 7 missiles which would add 28 missiles to the 12 already present in Virginias for a total of 40 missiles per sub. Thus, four of the stretched Virginias would provide the same strike capacity as a single SSGN. The Navy estimates that the conversion would add about 20% ($400M) to the cost of a Virginia. Bear in mind that Navy cost estimates are notoriously underestimated.
fretburner
Banned Member
So just 8 Tridents per UK boomer?
The current SSGNs already have 7 TLAMs per tube? Or are these for the proposed(?) stretched Virginias only?
My understanding is as follows:
- Early Virginia builds have 12 VLS cells each containing a missile.. cells are located forward of the sail
- current Virginia build have 2 payload modules each containing 6 missiles for a total of 12. The 2 modules replace the 12 VLS cells in,earlier subs
- the proposed stretched virginias will retain the 2 X 6- missile modules and have 4 X 7-missile modules aft of the sail resulting in 40 total number of missiles.
fretburner
Banned Member
Upon googling some more, it appears that you are right. Based on p.7 of this link, Virginia Payload Modules (VPM) will be added aft of Virginias starting 2019. It's getting some resistance though: U.S. Senate Panel Curbs Navy Effort to Add Missiles to Attack Submarines
Yeah, it was originally 12 but this got revised downwards to 8 again fairly recently I think.
Well, the day finally arrived and the Big E has been put out to pasture. Perhaps the only realistic question is whether she will be scrapped and melted down or sunk to provide a home for marine life. I'm hoping for the latter.
On the bright side, SECNAV Mabus has announced that CVN 80 will carry the famous Enterprise monicker, money allowing of course.
The king is dead, long live the king.
On the bright side, SECNAV Mabus has announced that CVN 80 will carry the famous Enterprise monicker, money allowing of course.
The king is dead, long live the king.
She'll be scrapped - there's no way they can effectively decommission her reactors and leave anything resembling an aircraft carrier remaining.
John Newman
The Bunker Group
I can still remember as a kid (about 6yrs old) looking in absolute awe at the sight of the Big E when she came to Sydney, such an incredible sight for all, let alone a kid like myself at the time.
Yes the cost and practicality of saving her would be enormous, but it would be nice to see if her unique island superstructure can be saved and restored back to the original configuration and mounted in an appropriate place.
Certainly not on the same scale, but here in Sydney we have the mast of the original HMAS Sydney mounted at Bradleys Head looking out to the harbour. (see pic)
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #516
100%
The third Ford class ship.
Very well, that's good news for the superstitious folks in the Navy who believe their must always be an Enterprise.
Question, will the Ford's come in Blocks with different additions and modifications and such tuck onto the original design? And what is the difference between a Nimitz and a Ford?
The only difference that I've seen is that the Fords are larger, more automated, have better computing equipment, and are built for Gen 5 Fighters and UAV's. Are they any better armed themselves or better armored? Did the designers rethink the automated Damage Control Systems? And are its engines and generators more efficient?
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- #518
Those people don't exist and several decades came and went between Enterprises.
EMALS, completely different combat system, more automation, less crew, longer times between refuelings.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #519
DDG-1000 is about 80% complete and the super structure has been mated to the hull.
Biggest pieces of ZUMWALT (DDG 1000) come together in the night
Biggest pieces of ZUMWALT (DDG 1000) come together in the night
Fantastic photos, a real step to the future. (sorry for the one liner)