00X/004 future nuclear CATOBAR carrier thread

[defenceman]

Hi,
at the moment what’s the shortest nuclear ACC runway and one with the longest runway ? Probably with USN
anyone have any data on it.
thank you

 

[elevator]

For USN nuclear CATOBAR carriers, the shortest/longest overall deck lengths are all pretty close. USS Enterprise (CVN-65) was actually the longest at ~342 m overall, while Nimitz and Ford classes are ~333–337 m. Catapult launch stroke itself is usually around 90–100 m (300+ ft).

 

[AndrewS]

Yes, 370m/86m dry dock length and width. 337m/83m deck length and width with a 320m waterline.

Obviously, these are just the current estimates and can be off by some measure.

It's curious that the waterline beam is 2m wider and the flight deck is 5-6m wider than a Ford-class carrier, but the expected length of 337m is the same.

Perhaps the Ford carriers were designed with the 77.5m maximum width of the Panama canal in mind?
And that ideally, they would actually be wider, like the Chinese Type-004 carrier?

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

It's curious that the waterline beam is 2m wider and the flight deck is 5-6m wider than a Ford-class carrier, but the expected length of 337m is the same.

Perhaps the Ford carriers were designed with the 77.5m maximum width of the Panama canal in mind?
And that ideally, they would actually be wider, like the Chinese Type-004 carrier?

Nope. In fact, no US Navy carriers (proper CVs/CVNs) since the Essex-class have ever transited the Panama Canal.

While the Neopanamax canals have the following maximum allowed dimensions:
- Length: 366 meters
- Beam: 51.25 meters
Which are beyond the waterline length and beam of the Ford-class CVNs (~317 meters and ~40.8 meters, respectively) - Remember that the water levels inside the canal locks go up or down whenever a ship transits up or down the canal locks.

This means that the overhang structures of the flight deck of CVNs will strike the walls of the canal locks, either when the water levels inside the locks go down (when going from upstream to downstream) or when the CVN tries to enter the locks (when going from downstream to upstream). This makes any transit attempts through the Panama Canal by Ford CVNs unfeasible.

 

[AndrewS]

Nope. In fact, no US Navy carriers (proper CVs/CVNs) since the Essex-class have ever transited the Panama Canal.

While the Neopanamax canals have the following maximum allowed dimensions:
- Length: 366 meters
- Beam: 51.25 meters
Which are beyond the waterline length and beam of the Ford-class CVNs (~317 meters and ~40.8 meters, respectively) - Remember that the water levels inside the canal locks go up or down whenever a ship transits up or down the canal locks.

This means that the overhang structures of the flight deck of CVNs will strike the walls of the canal locks, either when the water levels inside the locks go down (when going from upstream to downstream) or when the CVN tries to enter the locks (when going from downstream to upstream). This makes any transit attempts through the Panama Canal by Ford CVNs unfeasible.

Whoops. I meant to say the Suez Canal

 

[HailingTX20]

A closer look at the hangar module:

 

[Deino]

Finally an update on the 004 Aircraft Carrier via ᵀ¹ᵐᵉ / @WZZJWZ on X

 

[banjex]

Just curious, is the release of such close, high res photos in broad daylight sanctioned? Or will the taker land in serious trouble?

 

[Deino]

Another one

 

[TheWanderWit]

A short brief analysis from CSIS about the Type 004 at Dalian, with some higher quality satellite images I don't believe have been posted before.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2057568039717986763