A Capable, Affordable 21st‐century Destroyer

Abstract

ABSTRACTA simple tumblehome hull of 4500LT lightship displacement carries 1200LT of military payload 6000NMi at 20kts with inherently‐low acoustic, infrared, and radar signatures, and with superior seakeeping, without seawater ballast. Its two intercooled, recuperated turbines replace the seven simple‐cycle engines of a comparably‐armed conventional destroyer and consume 59% less fuel; both ships share a 30kt sustained speed at 80% power. Use of stern flaps permits carrying more fuel; range is doubled to 12,000 NMi.Two removable, prealigned and pretested steerable propulsor modules are attached to the stern after construction and are pierside replaceable without drydocking; each includes a steerable pod aligned to the water inflow. Contrarotating tractor propellers are driven by a pretested integrated capsule which comprises seals, thrust bearings, contrarotating ring‐ring bicoupled epicyclic gears, and an alternating‐current electric motor. A streamlined strut connects each pod rigidly to a vertical steerable barrel which contains the individually‐replaceable propulsor auxiliaries. Two power modules are removable and are mounted in the helicopter hangar. Each module comprises a 26,400 HP intercooled regenerated gas turbine, a 3 Mw ship‐service generator, and a propulsion generator with a second high‐voltage winding for electrothermal guns.