4 ms·
This is the type of ship that it will be mounted on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spearhead-class_Joint_High_Speed_Vessel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spearhead
by dm2 13y ago
This is the type of ship that it will be mounted on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spearhead-class_Joint_High_Speed_Vessel http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spearhead-class_Joint_High_Spee...
I always assumed it would be put on a Littoral class ship. I'm guessing that the ship is going to be dedicated to this weapon and that's why it wasn't put on a carrier or LCS for testing.
How is it going to be powered? Will it have it's own dedicated nuclear reactor and a huge array of capacitors? I wonder what the time between shots will be.
Here are some nice pictures of the latest version, still amazing that it has become compact enough for a ship in such a short time. http://www.gizmag.com/first-industry-railgun-prototype-launcher/21377/pictures#2 http://www.gizmag.com/first-industry-railgun-prototype-launc...
- icegreentea 13y agoThey pretty clearly say that its being put on the Spearhead for testing because it has the space for it. And given all the problems they're having on the LCSs, I think the last they want to do is is to do testing of experimental weapons on it. As for power, the LM2500 in the Aegis Destroyers put out 20MW. They have 4 of them. This gun puts out 32MJ of muzzle velocity. Assuming 10% efficiency, and you're at 320MJ per shot. If you ran a dedicated LM2500 per gun, that'll get you a shot every 16 seconds.
- dm2 13y agoThe Wikipedia page says the engines are this kind and only produce 9MW: http://www.mtu-online.com/mtu/products/engine-program/diesel-engines-and-gas-turbines-for-marine-main-propulsion-dieselelectric-drives-and-onboard-power-generation/diesel-engines-for-yachts/detail/product/472/cHash/4ff3806e0fd02da8b2018163b14381d1/ http://www.mtu-online.com/mtu/products/engine-program/diesel... But I see what you are saying, that seems like plenty, I had always assume that it would take a huge amount of energy (I know pretty much nothing about electricity).
- greedo 13y agoThe LCS doesn't have the room, nor the power output to use a railgun. The gun "barrel" doesn't take up much room compared to a normal 5" system, but it's the power supply that makes it unsuitable for anything short of a Burke class DDG.
- alistairSH 13y agoIt sounds like it will be tested on the Spearhead cargo platform. I assume as testing progresses, it will end up on other types of ship.
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- chiph 13y agoHow is it going to be powered? If the ship can't provide enough power, they'll probably just put some diesel generators in the cargo area.