Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire U.S. Aircraft Carrier Speed

I peruse a boating or fishing website or two. One has a thread going regarding the top speed of an aircraft carrier.

Folks are throwing out some numbers that at first blush look hard to believe to one uninitiated, but damn, I bet they're not far off.

What ya say Navy boys? What'll the Nimitz do with the sticks pushed to the stops and all 8 reactors makin' chit glow?

Cuban George?

Can't speak for the nuke boats but I know the ole Midway could do at least 30 kts which she exceeded on a high speed run after a dry dock period. She was shakin' like a _itch and IIRC the engineers said the prop shafts were twisted a turn and a half from the turbines to the props.

This old Navy guys says it is classified info. I really do not know but if I did there is no way I would let it out.

Over 30 knots and 260,000 shp.

I suspect you won't ever get a number you could take to the bank, MM. Years ago I had a former Navy nuke sub driver as a student worker at NU Law, and while he'd share wee snippets and anecdotes, was tight-lipped, as he well should've been. One I recall well when I asked him about the rough speed and maneuverability of the boat went like this: 'they're a lot more agile, faster and will run deeper than you'd ever believe, probably, but that stuff is classified. I will say though that I used to love when we drilled on emergency blows. I could make that bitch sit up and bark for me!"

P.S. His uncle was lost on the USS Scorpion.

I remember when I was a kid, I asked my father if he had been through a hurricane while on the USS Constellation. He said no that she was so fast that they just ran around the big storms.

I do know the speed and max depth on some classes of subs and I know why some are so quiet but will die with that info.

Don't know about the carriers, but we used to fish the horseshoe off Long Beach, and it was just awesome to watch the Tico class cruisers creep past the breakwall and goose it. The turbines would wrap up and the stern would squat down, and they would just take off, right there.

I'd swear they would do it just to show off.

The smoothest application of power I've ever seen.

I bet it was impressive. Here's the maneuver the gent I wrote about was talking about in his submariner days; 'emergency blow' as he called it. The USS Greeneville.



Edit: oops.



Just might want to make sure you don't do it when there's a vessel above you when you breach...

As a goal, an aircraft carrier should be able to do at least 40 knots because it needs that airspeed across its deck to launch planes. The USS Midway was capable of that in the late 70s although you'd think she was coming apart. I'm sure the nuke ships are capable of much more.

When I was in college, 1980 - 1985 on the central coast of California my roommate and I came to befriend a Navy pilot out of Lemoure (sp?) that flew A6's off of a carrier. Can't recall the carrier he ran off of on a tour. We would get him drunk beyond belief and query him an carrier speeds, and though he could not stand up, he would never say. Cocky little sawed off [bleep] and the only Navy man I can say that I kicked his azzz in what started as a bit of wrestling. I must admit that his visits were always welcomed as he brought the suckers for us po'boys.

Sounds like a guy who'd be fun to pound beers with.

Here's the facts on top speed for nuke powered carriers. They are slower than piston powered helicopters.

-phffft-

lol

Doubt it is much over 35 to 37 knots, but their is a formula that supposedly gives a fair estimate of maximum hull speed which I believe is 1.34 x the sq of water line distance between the bow and stern waves at speed. Or a close estimate just using the length at water line. Just guessing waterline at around 900' which would put close at 40 knots. Even with 4 screws, don't see it reaching much past that even if wanted. Damn sure they're not going to let it our run their support group.

Phil

35 plus when I was on temporary duty on the JFK. It was the only Nimitz class that wasn't a nuke(thank you Jimma Carter).

He is also the only guy I drug out of bed drunk when he dove into it with my wife to be (1984) and I, he more than stumbling. Not a good representation...Tossed him in the hallway, as I said he was a little chtitt, and went to bed. Married her three years later and we, last week, banged (oops ) 28 years celebrating here in Idaho.

Scott,

With your back ground and interest in subs, you might be interested in reading about Operation Barmaid
Its amaazing to think just how quiet our subs are..

For a modern nuke boat (the only ones left) think highway speeds. There's nothing on the ocean that can keep up including all the escort cruiser/destroyers.

Uh, the JFK was commissioned in 1968. Jimmy Carter wasn't in office until 1977.