Trump Orders Navy to Restore Older Tech on Aircraft Carriers, Costing Billions

[brovane]

The steam catapults are a lot bigger than the EMALS and need a steam buffer, and a lot of pipework. So retrofitting steam catapults is essentially a complete redesign between the flight deck and the keel. So 10 years. Fun factoid each launch uses the same energy as 4 gallons of diesel. The steam is desalinated water so you vastly increase the water usage. The catapults are only 5% efficient.

Wasn't one of the reason for going to EMALS that it allows you easily vary the catapult force from a unmanned drone to a fully load Super Hornet?

[Nightwatch2]

The steam catapults are a lot bigger than the EMALS and need a steam buffer, and a lot of pipework. So retrofitting steam catapults is essentially a complete redesign between the flight deck and the keel. So 10 years. Fun factoid each launch uses the same energy as 4 gallons of diesel. The steam is desalinated water so you vastly increase the water usage. The catapults are only 5% efficient.

Wasn't one of the reason for going to EMALS that it allows you easily vary the catapult force from a unmanned drone to a fully load Super Hornet?

so can steam

[Nik_SpeakerToCats]

Steam catapults are okay, but the plumbing 'tail' is horrendous.

Bit like pneumatic 'dynamite' guns, their time seems to have passed.

Especially with so many systems now demanding more and more electrical power, ranging from Radar, via anti-drone 'microwave' and 'laser' zappers to electric-driven CIWS turrets and their feed systems, to possible future rail-guns...

MilSpec seems to shun electric side-thrusters and 'podded' drives, but their time will come.

Snark:
I'm surprised 'King Coal' hasn't had a word in that trumpet-like ear to suggest reversion to trad stokers...
/

[Nightwatch2]

Steam catapults are okay, but the plumbing 'tail' is horrendous.

Bit like pneumatic 'dynamite' guns, their time seems to have passed.

Especially with so many systems now demanding more and more electrical power, ranging from Radar, via anti-drone 'microwave' and 'laser' zappers to electric-driven CIWS turrets and their feed systems, to possible future rail-guns...

MilSpec seems to shun electric side-thrusters and 'podded' drives, but their time will come.

Snark:
I'm surprised 'King Coal' hasn't had a word in that trumpet-like ear to suggest reversion to trad stokers...
/

Oh yea….

A better solution than King Coal that would avoid all of those plumbing and fuel issues would be -

Sails and galley oars