Naval Pictures Forecastle: Laying siege to the poop deck!

[ANS Kamas P81]

Always nice to see under the skin of a Kirov class. And the trajectory of the Granit was cool.

I wonder what's behind that shower curtain on the bridge.  CIC?

[worktroll]

KGB ...

[I am Belch II]

Didn't they remove the SS19 missile launchers form the carriers so they could hold more fighters??

Still a awesome shot!

[sadlerbw]

Also interesting, the VL AA missile at around 4:17 - using reaction rockets at the nose to tip it over quickly. I don't recall seeing that trick before - do US VL missiles do the same?

Sort of. The ESSM makes a similar turn, but uses thrust vectoring to do it:

https://youtu.be/C_3iq8ECuNM?t=1m8s

Also, the Patriot (at least the PAC3 model) CAN use forward thrusters to make a turn, but I don't think it is an automatic part of every launch. Of course, the Patriot is built with a bunch of single-use rocket thrusters just behind the nose that is uses to maneuver since it doesn't have much in the way of control surfaces, so maybe that isn't exactly the same either.

You can see one fire at about 1:39 in this video:

https://youtu.be/kmb5FPS9TYE?t=1m13s

Then, although it is really another Russian design at heart, the Brahmos does a similar trick:
https://youtu.be/iRyOWawaT_U

[kato]

Sort of. The ESSM makes a similar turn, but uses thrust vectoring to do it:

For VL ESSM they're using a cheaper trick: There's an attachment behind the rocket motor whose only function is to, at a certain moment, after reaching about 20m altitude, tilt a metal pane (as a jet control surface) directly into the path of the rocket motor's exhaust, reflecting it in a certain direction to tilt the missile over. Other than this attachment VL-launched ESSM are identical to non-VL-launched ESSM.

Once it has done its job as above that attachment is immediately jettisoned and usually falls straight back on the launching ship - and yes, they've had these hit and damage stuff, including hole-in-oneing VLS tubes themselves. The JVC jettision is supposedly part of the reason why VL ESSM are not used on carriers due to the possible impact (sic) on flight operations.

--
French Aster missiles for comparison use actual small rocket engines that are mounted mid-missile exactly at the center of gravity so they can shift the missile's entire body with minimal effort. That's why, when you look at an Aster launch, the missile always seems to make a far more "rounded" turn into a certain direction (from the moment its clears the VLS tube!), with the TVC engines shifting the missile so that its main motor propels it as perfectly as possible directly to the target vector.

[sadlerbw]

I never said it was a FANCY thrust vectoring system!  :)

[Weirdo]

http://www.navweaps.com/index_tech/tech-031.htm

Some interesting reading on how stealthy a full carrier group can be...

[Kidd]

Graf Spee after the battle and before the scuttling.

[Daryk]

http://www.navweaps.com/index_tech/tech-031.htm

Some interesting reading on how stealthy a full carrier group can be...

For a guy who says he isn't going to talk about deception any more, he sure talks about it a lot...

[Wrangler]

When you to do a OPV  (aka a Patrol Boat) used by the Indonesian Navy. You do it with style!
The Klewang-Class Stealthy 63 meter trimaran patrol boats.

These are strange ships to look at, look like their not armed but they are.

The ship have their weapons hidden are fully armed with hidden 40-57mm cannons, rapid fire CIWS as well as missiles.  I wasn't able find out exactly what it's armed since the navy has kept it's weapons capacities classified.  The ship can at as a commando carrier ship, with accommodations for special forces troops. 

The KRI Klewang, the lead of the Class of four ships, was lost to fire only weeks being launched in 2013, but was replaced.  There actually a youtube video of the fire, which look pretty bad. Thankfully no one was injured. Though makes me think that the construction materials for the ship is pretty lousy.   

[kato]

The ship have their weapons hidden are fully armed with hidden 40-57mm cannons, rapid fire CIWS as well as missiles.  I wasn't able find out exactly what it's armed since the navy has kept it's weapons capacities classified.

Generally assumed to be an AO-18 CIWS (AK-630 clone) in a stealthed cupola and a set of either 4 or 8 C-705 AShM. No 40/57mm guns, the statement regarding these is worded such that it "can" mount such on the superstructure, presumed in place of the AO-18 (as in, it actually doesn't mount them).

Realistically, the trimarans aren't patrol boats though but instead will likely replace their Parchim class corvettes. For the patrol boats - and missile boats - Indonesia is building conventionally-hulled ships with a series of 60m boats to replace German FPB57 and Korean PSMM Mk5 missile boats, and two series of (ultra-cheap) 40m and 43m boats to replace older Australian and domestically built boats.

For offshore patrol they're planning to buy a series of proper OPVs in the 100m size region, although that procurement is fraught with financial problems.

Though makes me think that the construction materials for the ship is pretty lousy.   

Standard carbon fibre composites. Burns even better than aluminium.

The New Zealandian designer and Indonesian shipyard have since gotten together with Swedish company Saab to design a successor model that basically marries this Trimaran design to the electronics, weapon systems and fire-****** vinyl ester construction materials of Saab's Visby class corvettes.

[Wrangler]

The New Zealandian designer and Indonesian shipyard have since gotten together with Swedish company Saab to design a successor model that basically marries this Trimaran design to the electronics, weapon systems and fire-****** vinyl ester construction materials of Saab's Visby class corvettes.

Has that been done by now or they still working on it?

[kato]

Has that been done by now or they still working on it?

They advertised it at Indodefence 2014 in Indonesia and DSA 2014 in Malaysia. Since they didn't find buyers they also tried to downscale the concept into a RHIB-sized armed USV, and shortly thereafter the cooperation fell apart.
PT Lundin / North Sea Boats pretty much applied the materials science of that cooperation as they've been building the replacement for KRI Klewang since then.

North Sea Boats is advertising the redesign as the default version and is still trying to sell it. Factsheet for the redesign from mid-2015 can be found here:
http://www.northseaboats.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/63m-FAC-Trimaran.pdf

[Giovanni Blasini]

You know, if it wasn't for maintenance costs and slip fees, I'd be seriously looking at buying the former USCGC Ewing as a liveaboard for only $29,000:

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1927/Custom-USCG-Steel-Cutter-2547069/Seattle/WA/United-States#.WdlmOkLn8pA

At 125 ft, it's damned huge for a boat, and it's already converted in essence.  Best I could find for slip fees, though, in San Diego is around $2600/mo for a live-aboard.  That doesn't include maintenance, and while they tell you 10% cost/year, somehow I suspect that's a bit low this time.  Not to mention, any time you leave the pier it's around 2 gallons/nautical mile of diesel at 8 kts.  That might be fine for short trips around the bay, but any long distance stuff would make keeping that 7000 gallon tank filled an expensive proposition.

Edit: added a couple then and now pics.

[Daryk]

The living spaces look nice, but she definitely needs some work.  And the fact they didn't include a photo of the bridge is a little worrying...

[Giovanni Blasini]

The living spaces look nice, but she definitely needs some work.  And the fact they didn't include a photo of the bridge is a little worrying...

Oh yeah.  And both ladders to the pilot house would need replacing.  Also, having no access to the pilot house without going out on deck is irritating.

[Wrangler]

For something not seen often these days, a Light Ship!  Former Coast Guard Light Ship, Nantucket.
She is currently only fully operational Light Ship remaining in the United States.  She in private ownership and can move under her own power.  She currently moored in New York City's Brooklyn Bridge Park.

When I was working in Boston back in late 2000s, I got to see her parked next to the place i was temporarily assigned work.  Which was a treat since I am such nautical fan.

[JadeHellbringer]

For something not seen often these days, a Light Ship!  Former Coast Guard Light Ship, Nantucket.
She is currently only fully operational Light Ship remaining in the United States.  She in private ownership and can move under her own power.  She currently moored in New York City's Brooklyn Bridge Park.

When I was working in Boston back in late 2000s, I got to see her parked next to the place i was temporarily assigned work.  Which was a treat since I am such nautical fan.

Well there's a ghost from my past.

For those who don't know me, my mom's side of the family are scattered over New England, with a good portion living on Martha's Vineyard (my parents actually retired there several years ago, and own a good-sized chunk of land in the northwest part of the island). Since I was a kid, I've spent portions of my summer visiting my grandparents (and these days my parents) out there- it's home away from home.

The lightship Nantucket has, on several occasions, made visits to Vineyard Haven harbor on the north end of the island, where she tends to moor up on the east side of the harbor. She's easy to spot, with that bright red hull. One of my favorite childhood memories is visiting the ship with my grandfather when I was... god, maybe six or seven? I'll have to try to find the photos I took last time she was visiting at the same time I was, hopefully get them this weekend if I can find what folder they're saved in.

A wooden half-hull model of the ship, meanwhile, sits on the wall of the main library of the house on the island, and another (crudely painted by a young Hellbie) is on a desk in one of the guest rooms. She's been a part of my life as far back as I can remember, so seeing her pop up in here was a jarring, if very pleasant, moment. Thank you!

[God and Davion]

I saw one of those light ships in Boston Harbor on august. I believe it was the Nantucket. Also, there's another lighthouse ship preserved as a museum in Baltimore. It is a good visit and has a small museum inside.

[Liam's Ghost]

Since we're talking lightships...



The Columbia River Lightship, currently residing at the maritime museum in Astoria.

[DoctorMonkey]

picture chosen somewhat at random from Google images

[worktroll]

Entering US service as the USN Dolly Parton? ;)

[Phobos101]

I wonder what's behind that shower curtain on the bridge.  CIC?

Nothing too fancy I'm afraid. One of them is over the ladder bay leading off the bridge, to prevent light from other areas entering the bridge at night. From what I can see in the video, the ones over the instrument panels are there for the same reason, to hide lamps and indicators. If you want to see an Officer of the Watch do a blood vessel, all you need to do is turn on a white torch on the bridge at night....

[Wrangler]

Those red lights are easier on the eyes at night.  I didn't appreciate until i got older when people put on the regular lights on at night nearly blinding me.  With red battle lanterns, you can see fairly well when you slip between and totally dark weather decks.

[DaveMac]

Graf Spee after the battle and before the scuttling.

Various pieces of the wreck have been brought up including this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4765360/Uruguay-set-sell-bronze-eagle-saved-Nazi-ship.html

[Sharpnel]

The newest USS America (LHA-6)



her most recent predecessor (CV-66)

[sadlerbw]

If I'm counting correctly, that is ten F35's on the deck of that Amphib. Thats...actually kinda respectable. No clue what the payload and range are like compared to the old Harriers, but that seems like a fairly legitimate threat to a whole lot of things that might need threatening. Time will tell if the air-only amphib idea is a good one or not, but looking at that picture, I have to admit I'm giving the idea a little more respect than I might have previously.

[kato]

No clue what the payload and range are like compared to the old Harriers

Suggested figures i've seen:
AV-8A : 3,000 lbs to 200 nm
AV-8B : 4,000 lbs to 300 nm
F-35B : 4,000 lbs to 450 nm (USMC requirement) / 5,500 lbs to 490 nm (advertised)

The ship is virtually the same size as the French CVN, which carries a comparable air group of Rafales. Which - with catapults - have a bit more throw-weight.

[DoctorMonkey]

Suggested figures i've seen:
AV-8A : 3,000 lbs to 200 nm
AV-8B : 4,000 lbs to 300 nm
F-35B : 4,000 lbs to 450 nm (USMC requirement) / 5,500 lbs to 490 nm (advertised)

The ship is virtually the same size as the French CVN, which carries a comparable air group of Rafales. Which - with catapults - have a bit more throw-weight.

needs a ski ramp

[glitterboy2098]

Suggested figures i've seen:
AV-8A : 3,000 lbs to 200 nm
AV-8B : 4,000 lbs to 300 nm
F-35B : 4,000 lbs to 450 nm (USMC requirement) / 5,500 lbs to 490 nm (advertised)

The ship is virtually the same size as the French CVN, which carries a comparable air group of Rafales. Which - with catapults - have a bit more throw-weight.

assuming it actually delivers what is promised. so far the F35A hasn't quite managed to meet the specs for either the range or the payload.. though to be fair, those are probably closer to being fixable than the maneuverability issues and the various technical problems it's been having. the F35B has had some problems in those areas too.