Watch A Combat Ship Get Dropped Into The Sea On It’s Launch
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Watch as the new USS Detroit combat ship gets dropped into the sea during it’s October launch. Would certainly hate to be aboard at the moment of impact.
This fine ship was built by Lockheed Martin-led and is America’s sixth vessel to be that was given the name Detroit. It is a Freedom class littoral combat ship that ways 2.862 tons with a full load.
The USS Detroit (LCS-7) is powered by two Rolls-Royce MT30 36 MW gas turbines four Rolls-Royce waterjets and two Colt-Pielstick diesel engines. It can reach speeds up to 45 knots (52 mph; 83 km/h) and can stay at see for 21 days.
Despite it’s size the USS Detroit also carries aircraft, 2 MH-60R/S Seahawks and a MQ-8 Fire Scout.
MQ-8 Fire Scout.
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The ship was launched into the waters in a ceremonial ship launching process which is an old tradition which has been done in many countries for centuries. This method of launch is a sort of blessing and is supposed to give the vessel good fortune for its journeys on the seas.
There is also another naval tradition were a bottle of champagne is broken over the bow during it’s launch and it’s name is shouted out loud.
Sideways launches like the one in the video above are only done if the bay doesn`t have enough room for a stern first launch. This method is effective, gives a much bigger spectacle but can put immense stress on the ship so engineers have to ensure the ship can handle this type of launch.
Types of Launch of Vessels
LONGITUDINAL CAREERS The vessel’s blocks are placed on a rail that goes to the sea and is held by several cables. Once it is fully constructed, the cables are released all at once and oil or grease is added to the rails so that the ship slides into the water. The advantage of this method is that it is simple and can be used to launch ships of any weight and type, on the other hand, the oil used on the rails can pollute the water. In addition, there is a danger of high frontal pressure on impact of the ship when entering the water.
TRANSVERSAL CAREERS This method is similar to the longitudinal one, the difference is that instead of the ship going down the tracks forward, it slides and goes down to the sea on its side and balances itself based on its own stability. This requires the ship to have high strength and stability, otherwise it can capsize.
IRON ROLLING RAIL This type is also based on rails, but instead of using oil to make the ship slide, it is placed on top of several steel rollers, in addition to various safety devices and a steel plank. The plank serves to protect the ship from the steel rolls as it slides. The rollers take the ship to the water and are pulled back by nets so they can be reused. This method is more effective and quicker to get started, but it is very expensive.
DIKE Dike or dock, it is a kind of empty “pool”, where the ship is. This dike is separated from the sea by a large floodgate. When the ship is ready to be launched, the dock is filled with sea water by pumps. When the dock is full, the gate is opened and the ship floats out to sea. This is the safest method and is mainly used in large shipyards. This is also the most expensive method.
