LA's with pumpjet propulsors... [Archive]

View Full Version : LA's with pumpjet propulsors...

LoBlo

01-28-07, 02:29 PM

Read this from the USNI.org site

SSN 768 and later have improved sound quieting and improved propulsion systems. Several late units (including SSN 773) have shrouded pump-jet propellers.

http://www.usni.org/resources/LAclass/ssnlaclass.htm
That's a interesting mental image... an LA with a pumpjet propulsor.... oooo I want one. :)

SeaQueen

01-28-07, 09:32 PM

One of the things I think is interesting about ships and submarines is how each one is unique. There's the baseline, which is usually what you see on things like globalsecurity.org, but as they build a class of ships, they usually integrate some advances in technology. On top of that, as ships go in for maintanence, they add improvements and make changes as well, so in the end, no two vessels of the same class is exactly alike.

Linton

01-29-07, 05:01 AM

If you transfer from one boat to another do you get a briefing first on the current mod state of the boat you are going to?

SeaQueen

01-29-07, 08:23 AM

If you transfer from one boat to another do you get a briefing first on the current mod state of the boat you are going to?

I dunno. I've never been in the service. From talking to people, my sense of things is that it's much more like hands-on training at sea combined with classes ashore so that you ought to be capable of operating whatever you find there.

Some ships, particularly older ones, are pretty obviously modified. Like that old Spruance with the odd looking radar mast. They also had other less obvious modifications. Another example is the LAs with dry deck shelters. Another example is the Arleigh Burkes. There's at least three different variants out there right now. When you see ships tied up at the pier, you'll notice they all have different numbers of machine guns and grenade launchers mounted on them. A lot of it is little things like that, which aren't necessarily massive changes to the whole system that require programatic changes. There's things like different software versions, and minor hardware changes which might not effect functionality from an operator's end, but affect performance. P-3s are REALLY bad as far as all of them being different.

The whole thing is called "spiral development." It's expensive but it keeps engineers working, which makes Congress happy. :-)

Henson

01-29-07, 01:19 PM

We earn our dolphins only once, but are required to 're-qualify' on each Submarine we are assigned to, as well as every watchstation we stand. Consider that process to be 'differences training.'

Avatar

01-29-07, 01:53 PM

So what's the answer? I posted a similar thread in the gen. dis. section. At Ron Martini's website there are pictures of the USS Columbia when she was launched and it looks like there is a pumpjet propulsor shroud on her.
oh yeah, Columbia is 771.

LoBlo

01-29-07, 02:07 PM

Avatar

02-02-07, 04:38 PM

Sorry for the late reply
here's the link:
http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08771.htm

Avatar

02-02-07, 04:43 PM

It's the first picture.

Sub Sailor

02-03-07, 10:48 AM

Many years ago we attempted to model every class of ship and sub. The problem was new gear kept coming out so e.g. the first LA class was one way but because of lag time you reach boat seven let's say and we need to accommodate this or it would be better if this was placed here. So, while they are similar you have the differences caused by long time contracts and delays. Then usually the first over haul or in some cases major refit we would up date the first of class.
Qualifying was already covered by some one, going from boat to boat in the same class in USUALLY just of matter of being aware of the, in most cases, minor differences.
I was on the SSBN 602, which had the Skip Jack fast attack engineering plant they were quite similar, but then you had the missile compartment to learn. The propulsion plant was not difficult at all.
But you have the basics and it does not take long to qualify. But, if you make the jump from LA class to Seawolf or Virginia, well I have never been on the either of the latter but would guess major differences.
And, I have no explanation, every boat has it's on characteristics, sounds etc. and I have never heard an explanation for this.

Ron Banks MMCM(SS), USN(SS)