USS George H.W. Bush Begins construction

[p0ntif]

Originally posted by: XZeroII

Originally posted by: ScottyB
Bill gates should build a fleet of Bill Gate ships. That would just rock 🙂

The MS Battleship Windows 🙂 That would scare those terrorists back into shape!

Whats it gonna do? Crash into them?

sorry . . .had to say it . . . 😉

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
That pricetag is just to build the carrier. There are many more ships that will be needed to support and protect it.

Ding, remember. Carriers don't go out alone, they go in carrier groups. Usually consisting of two Cruisers(guided missle), 2 destroyers, 2 frigates,2 subs, and a supply ship.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: XZeroII

Originally posted by: ScottyB
Bill gates should build a fleet of Bill Gate ships. That would just rock 🙂

The MS Battleship Windows 🙂 That would scare those terrorists back into shape!

Unfrotunately they would go blue screen and be defensless for a few hours until they reboot. Then after a few times they'd have to dock the ship for a reformat. 😀

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: charrison

Also this will be the last Nimitz class carrier. CVNX class is next. If you thought the b2 was expensive, just wait for the pricetag on a stealth carrier.

😕

Linky?

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: charrison

Also this will be the last Nimitz class carrier. CVNX class is next. If you thought the b2 was expensive, just wait for the pricetag on a stealth carrier.

😕

Linky?

linky

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: ElFenix
the carrier is a bit more useful than the b-2s


i'm amazed it takes that long to build it though... 7 years?!?

Well it does have over a billion parts.

doesn't take that long for a skyscraper

Yeah, but a skyscraper does not have nuke power plants and steam catapults 😀

Also this will be the last Nimitz class carrier. CVNX class is next. If you thought the b2 was expensive, just wait for the pricetag on a stealth carrier.

The CVNX is not a stealth ship. IT will be a much more automated vessell, reguiring less sailors to operate.
From Northrop Grumman(the designer and builder):

CVNX is the new class of aircraft carriers.
A new nuclear propulsion plant will power the next class of aircraft carriers. The new plant will require fewer operators thereby lowering life-cycle costs, and will provide increased electrical power that will be available for technology insertion.
A redesigned propulsion plant will afford a more efficient and powerful electrical distribution system that will support the replacement of high maintenance cost steam systems with electrical auxiliaries.
Smart sensors will assist in further reducing Navy watch standing requirements and in automating damage control functions such as detecting fire and flooding situations.
Flight deck redesign and a transition to an advanced aircraft recovery system (AARS) will reduce crew workload, enhance safety and reduce the costs of operating and maintaining a carrier throughout its 50-year life.

 

[KenGr]

Anybody know if they will still use the steam catapults on this one? Electromagnetic technology is supposed to replace the steam at some point.

4.5 billion is an incredible bargain. Two nuclear reactors, a city for 5000 to 6000 people and quarter mile of floating steel.

Yeah, the planes are an add-on. Probably doesn't even come with batteries.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: ElFenix
the carrier is a bit more useful than the b-2s


i'm amazed it takes that long to build it though... 7 years?!?

Well it does have over a billion parts.

doesn't take that long for a skyscraper

Yeah, but a skyscraper does not have nuke power plants and steam catapults 😀

Also this will be the last Nimitz class carrier. CVNX class is next. If you thought the b2 was expensive, just wait for the pricetag on a stealth carrier.

The CVNX is not a stealth ship. IT will be a much more automated vessell, reguiring less sailors to operate.
From Northrop Grumman(the designer and builder):

CVNX is the new class of aircraft carriers.
A new nuclear propulsion plant will power the next class of aircraft carriers. The new plant will require fewer operators thereby lowering life-cycle costs, and will provide increased electrical power that will be available for technology insertion.
A redesigned propulsion plant will afford a more efficient and powerful electrical distribution system that will support the replacement of high maintenance cost steam systems with electrical auxiliaries.
Smart sensors will assist in further reducing Navy watch standing requirements and in automating damage control functions such as detecting fire and flooding situations.
Flight deck redesign and a transition to an advanced aircraft recovery system (AARS) will reduce crew workload, enhance safety and reduce the costs of operating and maintaining a carrier throughout its 50-year life.

CVNX will have stealthier features than current carriers but will not be a completely stealth design.

 

[UltraQuiet]

Also this will be the last Nimitz class carrier. CVNX class is next. If you thought the b2 was expensive, just wait for the pricetag on a stealth carrier

It's being called CVN21 vice CVNX. This will be the last Nimitz class carrier however it will have much of the new technology that CVN21 will have including a crew that may be as much as a third smaller.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Serious question. With increasing reliance on automation, arent they more susceptable to EMP bursts?

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

there's a diffrence between stealth, and stealthier. stealth implies radar absorbing or deflecting materials, not making the superstructure less obvious with giant attena masts, and rotatating Radar masts.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: DaveSohmer

Also this will be the last Nimitz class carrier. CVNX class is next. If you thought the b2 was expensive, just wait for the pricetag on a stealth carrier

It's being called CVN21 vice CVNX. This will be the last Nimitz class carrier however it will have much of the new technology that CVN21 will have including a crew that may be as much as a third smaller.

Interesting, It was my understanding the new tech was going to be phased into the first 2 of the CVNXs. But I also read Rumsfeld was telling the Navy they needed to skip on of those implentation phases.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
there's a diffrence between stealth, and stealthier. stealth implies radar absorbing or deflecting materials, not making the superstructure less obvious with giant attena masts, and rotatating Radar masts.

Stealth means alot of things.

 

[HappyPuppy]

At what point will aircraft carriers become functionally obsolete and serve only as an arm flexing exhibit?

 

[UltraQuiet]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: DaveSohmer

Also this will be the last Nimitz class carrier. CVNX class is next. If you thought the b2 was expensive, just wait for the pricetag on a stealth carrier

It's being called CVN21 vice CVNX. This will be the last Nimitz class carrier however it will have much of the new technology that CVN21 will have including a crew that may be as much as a third smaller.

Interesting, It was my understanding the new tech was going to be phased into the first 2 of the CVNXs. But I also read Rumsfeld was telling the Navy they needed to skip on of those implentation phases.

Rumsfeld has thrown the acquisition regs out the window. "Spiral development" is the new buzzword in the acquisitions community and the acquisition process has been "streamlined". The 77 and the 78 will have a lot of CVN21 technology onboard, the 78 so much so that our goal is to man the 78 as we think the CVN21 will be manned or very close to it.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
At what point will aircraft carriers become functionally obsolete and serve only as an arm flexing exhibit?

When they become too big of a target like battleships did in WWII, or when airpower can be projected worldwide without a building a carrier.

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
At what point will aircraft carriers become functionally obsolete and serve only as an arm flexing exhibit?

I was wondering the same thing. I admit to not knowing what a lot of what they do...but 6000 people for a 75 plane floating base seems awfully inefficient.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
At what point will aircraft carriers become functionally obsolete and serve only as an arm flexing exhibit?

When cruise missles can travel 12,000 miles and can shoot down enemy planes on the way.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
At what point will aircraft carriers become functionally obsolete and serve only as an arm flexing exhibit?

When they become too big of a target like battleships did in WWII, or when airpower can be projected worldwide without a building a carrier.

We are already somewhat there, aren't we? Don't we have bombers that took off from the U.S., bombed Iraq and then returned home?

Pilot/crew fatigue was a huge problem, naturally. The next step is to make them remote controlled.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
At what point will aircraft carriers become functionally obsolete and serve only as an arm flexing exhibit?

When they become too big of a target like battleships did in WWII, or when airpower can be projected worldwide without a building a carrier.

We are already somewhat there, aren't we? Don't we have bombers that took off from the U.S., bombed Iraq and then returned home?

Pilot/crew fatigue was a huge problem, naturally. The next step is to make them remote controlled.

We have 24 B-2s that do this, the B-1 Fleet probably can as well. The total sortie time to afganistan and back was about 45 hours for the B-2. This is not counting required maintance that would be needed after landing.
18 hour latency to target is not very appealing either.

 

[UltraQuiet]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
At what point will aircraft carriers become functionally obsolete and serve only as an arm flexing exhibit?

Part of their strength is that they are so visible. Whether they are in the Gulf, the Med or the Taiwan straits, the mere fact that they are there is in itself a diplomatic tool and a show of strength. They are a "force projection" tool that cannot always be duplicated by land based aircraft.

 

[charrison]

Originally posted by: DaveSohmer

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
At what point will aircraft carriers become functionally obsolete and serve only as an arm flexing exhibit?

Part of their strength is that they are so visible. Whether they are in the Gulf, the Med or the Taiwan straits, the mere fact that they are there is in itself a diplomatic tool and a show strength.

Speak softly and keep 12 carriers in the fleet?

 

[everman]

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: charrison

Also this will be the last Nimitz class carrier. CVNX class is next. If you thought the b2 was expensive, just wait for the pricetag on a stealth carrier.

😕

Linky?

linky

"Additionally, the ship's more capable electrical power distribution system supports the future addition of directed energy weapons that can provide enhanced shipboard self-defense, to an already highly survivable design"

Directed energy weapons? 😎

 

[So]

Originally posted by: Lucky

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
At what point will aircraft carriers become functionally obsolete and serve only as an arm flexing exhibit?

I was wondering the same thing. I admit to not knowing what a lot of what they do...but 6000 people for a 75 plane floating base seems awfully inefficient.

Actually, they are quite effieicent when you think about it. Sure, if you are just going to drop a few bombs on a nation (ie, Iraq, Yugoslavia, etc...) you can launch your planes from anywhere on earth (b52's usually take off from north carolina [I believe]). But, if there is a military situation (like Afghanistan) where you have troops on the ground, and they need support (i.e. fighters) and you do not have easily accessible bases in the area, or do not want to impose on the local population, the only viable solution is to have a carrier nearby. Remember, if you have troops on the ground calling "we need help...fast" you don't want to have to say:

"A b-52 is taking off from the continental US now, it will be there in eighteen hours"

You want to say:

"A fighter is going to lift off from a carrier in ten minutes and will be overhead eight minutes after that"

see the advantage? Until we have weapons that can hit anywhere in the world, precisely, in seconds, and with little collateral damage, carriers are necessary.

A similar use for carriers can be seen in a time of a real war (that is between defined armies and navies) -- how better to protect merchant shipping than with air cover 10 minutes away, not hours away, on land?

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: everman

Originally posted by: charrison

Originally posted by: Zakath15

Originally posted by: charrison

Also this will be the last Nimitz class carrier. CVNX class is next. If you thought the b2 was expensive, just wait for the pricetag on a stealth carrier.

😕

Linky?

linky

"Additionally, the ship's more capable electrical power distribution system supports the future addition of directed energy weapons that can provide enhanced shipboard self-defense, to an already highly survivable design"

Directed energy weapons? 😎

😀