Power Limited Design Approach for Combatant Ships

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe usual design approach for combatants is to select the combat system and ship performance parameters and then determine all of the ship characteristics including the power plant size. Described in this paper is an alternative design approach wherein the power plant and electrical plant are selected after a sustained speed is chosen. Then the hull design, propulsor, transmission system and the various other subsystems can be selected to maximize the payload. The payload items are selected to match the weight and space available. The implication of the hull, mechanical and electrical (HM&E) selections are discussed. A series of examples is used to illustrate the importance of sustained speed, hull form, drag reduction approaches, propulsor and subsystem selection on payload size or combat system capability. The approach can also be used to assess the merits of various HM&E technologies for increasing the size of allowable payload. Twenty technologies are assessed using this approach and compared to each other for payload weight and volume increases. Four power limited ship designs, all using two gas turbine engines for main propulsion power, are compared in detail as examples of the approach. The designs are compared and assessed using survivability and mission effectiveness analyses. This assessment may assist and guide future design efforts. The viability and value of the power limited approach is discussed and conclusions are drawn.