Naval Quiz

**surfgun** · 05 Dec 11,, 17:46

No problem Rusty, I was wondering if you would be cruel with the technicalities?

So the question is back to as originally built BB-55 (North Carolina) had how many blades on her screws. Big Ross was right on the later number of blades.

**RustyBattleship** · 05 Dec 11,, 17:53

When we got all the plans and microfilm in to reactivate the Iowa's in the 1980's one reel of microfilm was of the North Carolina for as (originally) designed.

It was interesting and I had copies made of some of the film frames and sent them to the ship. It showed her with three turrets, BUT with FOUR fourteen-inch guns in each rather than the three 16"-45 actually installed.

As for the props, I think (remember, I read that microfilm way back in 1982) it was two 4-bladed props and two 3-bladed props for a total of 14 blades.

**Dreadnought** · 05 Dec 11,, 18:15

Hmm, thought I could remember reading somewhere they went from 3 to 4 to a combo of 4 and 5. Since the next class the South Dakota used 4 and 5 due to the hull form and different machinery set ups.

**Ytlas** · 05 Dec 11,, 19:48

Ok, easy one.

However, it doesn't help anyone if someone who really knows the answer jumps in and ruins it for the other people who have never seen it.

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**RustyBattleship** · 05 Dec 11,, 20:39

I think I know what ship that is. When she was rebuilt/"repaired" as a flagship, her new boat davits were originally scheduled to be shipped to the Missouri for her reactivation. So the Mighty Mo's davit installation was done a few weeks past schedule but still done on time to commission the ship within schedule.

But I won't say what ship that photo is of except it caused us to add in a lot of certain types of structures in the Spruance class Destroyers. No, the ship in the photo is NOT a Spruance obviously.

**surfgun** · 05 Dec 11,, 23:47

USS Belknap after being run over by the JFK, then fire that took out her aluminum superstructure.
Rusty was correct 14 blades on BB-55; four blades on the outboard shafts, three on each inboard shaft.

**NavyDoc** · 06 Dec 11,, 00:55

Hint: As bad as it looks it is so much worse!
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**surfgun** · 06 Dec 11,, 01:12

Honda Point Disaster?

**NavyDoc** · 06 Dec 11,, 01:55

Originally Posted by surfgun

Honda Point Disaster?

Yep! USS S.P. Lee DD-310

**surfgun** · 06 Dec 11,, 04:07

Since the new LCS ships do not have reverse gearing. Are they capable of reverse?

**Gun Grape** · 06 Dec 11,, 04:12

per number of blades on the Props of the Showboat.

All of you are right. It depends on what time frame. As built she had two 3 blade props outboard and two 4 blade props inboard. But she had a bad shimmy at high speed.

Then they tried four 4 blade props. Still no joy.

She ended up with 4 blade props on the outboard shafts and 5 blade props inboard.

All the trials with her running in and out of the yard is how she got the nickname "The Showboat".

**Dreadnought** · 06 Dec 11,, 18:51

As far as the LCS goes I cannot imagine the Navy commisioning any ship that cannot go in reverse to either undock or manuver to avoid a collision besides the retractable bow thrusters. They are waterjet propusion so they should be well capable of indexing the water jets 180 degrees or more for reverse propulsion. Actaully they are called "axial" waterjets.

**RustyBattleship** · 06 Dec 11,, 22:31

Originally Posted by Dreadnought

As far as the LCS goes I cannot imagine the Navy commisioning any ship that cannot go in reverse to either undock or manuver to avoid a collision besides the retractable bow thrusters. They are waterjet propusion so they should be well capable of indexing the water jets 180 degrees or more for reverse propulsion. Actaully they are called "axial" waterjets.

The FFG-7 class Frigates had "bow thrusters", actually Auxiliary Propulsion Units (APU's) that could be lowered trhough the hull. Their original concept was to act as transversly mounted bow thrusters to aid in pulling up to a pier without tug boats. However, they came in REAL HANDY when the Roberts hit a free floating mine. The mine blew open the Auxiliary Machinery Room and bent the shaft of the single main propeller. The Captain used the APU's to back the ship out of the minefield and then was towed to Bahrain for inspection.

However, if a ship is powered by a gas turbine, they are equiped with variable pitch propellers where the blades can be rotated to travel in reverse.

**surfgun** · 06 Dec 11,, 23:03

The LCS, has a directional bucket design that drops behind the thrust nozzles and sends the impeller jet flow forward towards the bow.

GG- The BB-55 layout was 4 bladders outboard, 3 bladders inboard, with the three bladders replaced eventually to five bladders.