This is an idea that I've been knocking around in my mind for a while now...
BLUF - to have either an Alaska design that makes sense and have one hull built as a technology testbed or to do the same with the Iowa class Kentucky....the overall idea is to have a capital ship that is economic to operate (particularly in peacetime) and can be used to integrate new propulsion and gun systems...
that all being said, here are my modest proposals (as I pull out my steel pot and earplugs and dive into my very deep foxhole
)
Couple of different PODs could be used:
Potential POD 1: early on in the design of the Alaska class, some modeling tests are done over at David Taylor and the problems with the single rudder design surface and a redesign is ordered...
In the meantime, common sense comes to bear and the decision that designing a new 12 inch gun is a waste of money and three twin 16 inch mounts are selected for main battery...and the 5in 54 single mounts as secondaries (initially MK 16's, but replaced later by the MK 42)
however, a lot of thought is put into automating as much of the ammunition process as possible...therefore the first two aren't ready until late in 1944...with the third kind of slowly coming together on the ways...
two ships are built with steam turbine propulsion however Hawaii sits at about 50% completion
then the decision is made to use her as an "economy" testbed ship, electric drive is chosen for the propulsion system, with a combined diesel/steam power system...the idea is to test ideas for new technologies that can reduce manning requirements...
Potential POD 2: Kentucky is chosen for the same testbed role vice Hawaii
BLUF - to have either an Alaska design that makes sense and have one hull built as a technology testbed or to do the same with the Iowa class Kentucky....the overall idea is to have a capital ship that is economic to operate (particularly in peacetime) and can be used to integrate new propulsion and gun systems...
that all being said, here are my modest proposals (as I pull out my steel pot and earplugs and dive into my very deep foxhole
)Couple of different PODs could be used:
Potential POD 1: early on in the design of the Alaska class, some modeling tests are done over at David Taylor and the problems with the single rudder design surface and a redesign is ordered...
In the meantime, common sense comes to bear and the decision that designing a new 12 inch gun is a waste of money and three twin 16 inch mounts are selected for main battery...and the 5in 54 single mounts as secondaries (initially MK 16's, but replaced later by the MK 42)
however, a lot of thought is put into automating as much of the ammunition process as possible...therefore the first two aren't ready until late in 1944...with the third kind of slowly coming together on the ways...
two ships are built with steam turbine propulsion however Hawaii sits at about 50% completion
then the decision is made to use her as an "economy" testbed ship, electric drive is chosen for the propulsion system, with a combined diesel/steam power system...the idea is to test ideas for new technologies that can reduce manning requirements...
Potential POD 2: Kentucky is chosen for the same testbed role vice Hawaii
