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Originally Posted by aaken
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You mean nuclear electric like the French subs? Interesting choice, especially with the developement of the next generation nuke-electric systems in the coming years, it will probably become the standard in the coming decades
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Don't know what Drebbel meant but I think he meant a completely electric boat, since also a nuclear-electric power plant has a steam engine. It has synchronous electric generators instead of the reduction gear but the steam turbines are still there.
Slightly OT: it is often stated that the Virginia is able to perform missions in a littoral environment. But isn't it a little too long to be a good littoral boat? I mean it can eventually go in a coastal environment but then would not be able to manouver that much due to its length. Plus it has a pumpjet which is a machine with high dynamic inertia compared to an unshrouded propeller, so it has higher response times to changes of speed. Is it sufficient to have good sensors to qualify a boat as coastal? |
Actually Littoral missions are exactly what the VA was intended for. Spying off coastlines and SoF insertions. But its not going to be doing somersaults while its in shallow water no.
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Last edited by LoBlo; 07-26-06 at 12:59 PM.
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