What-If BBRGN(x)

[CSGN138]

OK, so here we go with something different. First of all, Im not sure if the designation, BBRGN, would be correct. Here is the basic plan:

A nuclear powered battleship sized ship with rail guns as the primary armament.

I have been researching this like crazy, on the internet anyway. I have a buddy that has actually worked on the system in Dhalgren. But he is a busy man and i dont get to talk to him very often.

What I do know so far is (besides that the funding was cut ((i only read one actical that said that so more investigation is required))) this system requires a power supply that can make unbelievably high current, and one of the problems they are having is keeping the barrels cool, thus making barrel life exceedingly and prohibitively short.

So, with that in mind, my ship will have three aircraft carrier sized nuc plants. One being dedicated solely to the railguns. Also it will have some kind of coolant plant dedicated to making super cooled coolant which will be circulated through the barrels, much like coolant that circulates through the cylider and heads of a liquid cooled engine.

The primary armament will be three tripple turrets. The layout will be classic battleship style, two forward and one aft. AAW capability will be defencive only. Something like 32 MK41 VLS cells full of ESSM forward and aft., searam, and possibly phalanx 1B. She would require escorts for more extensive AAW, perhaps a CSGN-138 class ship

Possible radars will be AMDR, SPQ-9B, and SPS-49

She will have and extensive air wing, mostly UAV's since her guns will FAR outrange her radars.

Aesthetically, she will be a very angular ship. This will be good for RCS lowering and for adding an additional armor thickness.

I have a picture of her in my mind and I will see if I can bring that picture to life.

I look forward to any and all discussion....

Thank you all

Joe

[oldnavyguy]

An interesting idea Joe. Two CVN reactors would suffice. The new carriers are all being designed with rail gun catapults and they still use 2 reactors. I would create a more balanced air defense with missiles for offense. Say 128 or so cells of VLS, Aegis, RAM, and small caliber guns for AAW and swarm defense. It is my thought that every ship ought to be able, to some extent to stand on its own in battle. Designers just cannot anticipate every issue a ship may face over a 50 year life.

I take it the primary mission would be land attack? It would be fairly effective at ASuW as well, out to 100nm or so. Beyond there you would need to use missiles.

The issue with barrel cooling isn't a matter of colder coolant. If the barrel gets too cold it becomes brittle. It is more a matter of getting the heat away from the coils. That calls for efficient heat sinks with a large volume of coolant.

The government is getting more and more involved with UAV type systems. They have the advantage of no pilot to parade before the camera's AKA Gary Powers. A gun is the ultimate UAV in this regard. Big guns also impress the natives more, I think, than a CVN does. Battleship guns are visceral. Can't wait to see a model.