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Re: the wierd ship Challenge

Posted: March 1st, 2014, 9:10 pm
by heuhen
that just so epic....

Re: the wierd ship Challenge

Posted: March 1st, 2014, 9:14 pm
by eswube
Very interesting, especially that Sprint class. :)

Re: the wierd ship Challenge

Posted: March 1st, 2014, 9:17 pm
by klagldsf
I don't know if it would really be feasible but I guess that's for you guys to determine. Or for that matter, figure out what it even is (though there are some decent hints).

Image

EDIT: I'm just going to tell you what this is.

This is the Nuclear Propulsion Test Frame (NPTF)(circa late 1970s) designed to test the Light-Weight Nuclear Propulsion installation in a large, detachable pod (so the pod would be serviced instead of pulling the LWNP out of the ship) for feasibility and radiation measurements. The funnels are for supplemental diesel propulsion. As it's strictly a powerplant test and demonstration article, it's strictly designed to cruise at high speed and return to a dock specially outfitted to handle its unique configuration. Additionally, it's completely unmanned. Two conning towers house the remote control equipment, the aft tower serving primarily as a back-up. The only other equipment is a modified SPG-49 missile director pulled out of storage and welded to a fixed forward position - standing in for a theoretical laser weapon emplacement its sole function is to pump out a high amount of energy to test the LWNP's ability to power high energy-draw weapons.

EDIT 2: Did some modifications including adding air intakes for the diesels, modifying the funnel and removing the anchor.

Re: the wierd ship Challenge

Posted: March 1st, 2014, 10:27 pm
by apdsmith
Hi RP1,

Just checking the drawing against the 3d model - would the aft foil not want to be a bit bigger (I presume to bear more of the load?)

Regards,
Adam

Re: the wierd ship Challenge

Posted: March 2nd, 2014, 1:09 am
by RP1
Hi,

The 3D model was done in about 5 minutes as a header image for a conference - "Rule of Cool" was in effect (and a canard arrangement is cool)! I just used the o/a dimensions. The SB version, as I actually bothered checking the numbers, uses the same foil arrangement as the basis vessel - the French ASW frigate - it has two sets of identical foils, which I think was chosen to help trim control (similar to a Delanne tandem-wing aircraft). That would be even more desirable here, with the variation in loaded centre of gravity due to the... inconsistency in declared container weights, and the fuel being used up.

RP1

Re: the wierd ship Challenge

Posted: March 2nd, 2014, 1:10 am
by RP1
That NPTF is awesome and vaguely terrifying! :-)

RP1

Re: the wierd ship Challenge

Posted: March 2nd, 2014, 1:14 am
by klagldsf
I'm glad someone likes it :P

Re: the wierd ship Challenge

Posted: March 2nd, 2014, 1:36 am
by apdsmith
Thanks for clarifying, Dr. Pawling!

The NPTF definitely looks cool, would have looked weird on a high-speed run, I think - from what I can work out, you'd get an big bow wave in the middle of nothing from the water displaced by the reactor compartment.

Regards,
Adam

Re: the wierd ship Challenge

Posted: March 2nd, 2014, 8:06 am
by eswube
Well, that NPTF definitely qualifies as weird ship. :D

Re: the wierd ship Challenge

Posted: March 2nd, 2014, 4:11 pm
by heuhen
come on an idea:

Schwerer Gustav gun mounted basically on center of an outranked battleship/dreadnought (and of course with enlarged torpedo bulkhead for helping stability) :D