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Gas Turbine Propulsion Plant News

11 Nov 2021

U.S. Navy: Constellation-class Brings Frigates Back to the U.S. Fleet

Artist’s concept of the new Constellation class of guided missile frigates.  (Fincantieri Marinette Marine)

Introducing a new class of warship can be fraught with pain, and the first ship is always the hardest – almost always behind schedule and over budget. And trying something new and transformational is even harder.The U.S. Navy knows this from experience. That’s one reason why the Navy is opting for a lower risk design for its next class of guided missile frigates (FFGs).Just about every new class has experienced a rough start. Although the USS Arleigh Burke-class of guided missile destroyers (DDGs) today represent the largest and most successful class of warships…

24 Jul 2020

USS Tripoli (LHA 7) Commissioned

Amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) transits the Gulf of Mexico during builder's trials in July 2019. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of HII by Derek Fountain)

The U.S. Navy commissioned USS Tripoli (LHA 7) Wednesday without the typical fanfare and traditional public commissioning ceremony due to public health and safety restrictions on large public gatherings amid the conronavirus pandemic.Delivered in February, USS Tripoli is the U.S. Navy's second America-class amphibious assault ship built by Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. The warship was commissioned administratively and transitioned to normal operations…

28 Feb 2020

USS Tripoli Delivered

The U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) conducts builder's trials in the Gulf of Mexico in July 2019. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Huntington Ingalls Industries by Derek Fountain)

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division delivered the newest America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) to the U.S. Navy on Friday. Tripoli will be commissioned later this year before sailing to its homeport of San Diego.Amphibious assault ships project power and maintain presence by serving as the cornerstone of the amphibious ready group or expeditionary strike group. These ships transport elements of the Marine expeditionary unit or Marine expeditionary brigade with a combination of aircraft and landing craft.

15 Sep 2017

US Navy to Christen Tripoli

The US Navy will christen its newest America-class amphibious assault ship, the future USS Tripoli (LHA 7), during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony, Sept. 16, in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Thomas Dee, performing the duties of the Under Secretary of the Navy, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Lynne Mabus, the wife of the 75th Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Ray Mabus, will serve as the ship's sponsor. The ceremony will be highlighted by Mrs. Mabus breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow to formally christen the ship, a time-honored Navy tradition. "When USS Tripoli, the newest America-class amphibious assault ship, joins the fleet, we'll be a stronger, more flexible, and better Navy and Marine Corps team," Dee said.

23 Jan 2013

USS Makin Island: Proven Fuel Efficient

USS Makin Island (LHD 8) is the last in a series of 8 amphibious assault ships of the WASP-class built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding at its Pascagoula, Miss. shipyard. Though last, it is the first in the series fitted with hybrid electric gas turbine propulsion, and recently returned to its San Diego homeport after its first deployment. “During the seven-month deployment, the ship’s hybrid-electric propulsion system saved more than four million gallons of fuel resulting in an estimated cost savings in excess of $15 million,” the Navy claims.

17 Oct 2012

Navy to Christen Amphibious Assault Ship America

The Navy will christen the amphibious assault ship, America (LHA 6), on Oct. 20, during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony in Pascagoula, Miss. The Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Mrs. Lynne Pace, wife of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace, will serve as the ship's sponsor. From the American Revolution through the first Gulf War, three warships have sailed with the name America. The first America was a 74-gun ship-of-the-line built for use by the Continental Navy and then presented to the king of France as a gift to show appreciation for his country's service to the new nation. The second America transported troops during World War I.

07 May 2012

USS Tripoli Name Chosen for Next Amphibious Assualt Ship

USS Tripoli: Artist's image courtesy of USN

Like the future USS America (LHA 6), LHA 7 has an increased aviation capacity to include an enlarged hangar deck, realignment and expansion of the aviation maintenance facilities, a significant increase in available stowage for parts and support equipment, and increased aviation fuel capacity. The LHA 7 will use the same gas turbine propulsion plant, zonal electrical distribution and electric auxiliary systems designed and built for the USS Makin Island, replacing the maintenance intensive steam plants of earlier ships.

18 Jan 2010

HPI Digital Control System for U.S. Navy

HPI, supplier of turbine control solutions and turnkey power plants, announced the successful commissioning of a digital propulsion, power and steering control system aboard the ex-USS Foster Self Defense Test Ship (SDTS). HPI designed the system to replace the existing analog controls, creating a fully integrated remote control system allowing the SDTS to operate un-manned at sea. Called the Digital Remote Interface Vector Equipment (DRIVE), the system has been built using multiple Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), and includes computer workstations connected via a redundant fiber optic network. The high reliability control system will provide shore-based personnel with the ability to control the ships speed, course and machinery during weapons trials.

09 Dec 2009

HPI Automated Control System for USS Foster

HPI, supplier of turbine control solutions and turnkey power plants, announced the successful commissioning of a digital propulsion, power and steering control system aboard the ex-USS Foster Self Defense Test Ship (SDTS). HPI designed the system to replace the existing analog controls, creating a fully integrated remote control system allowing the SDTS to operate un-manned at sea. Called the Digital Remote Interface Vector Equipment (DRIVE), the system has been built using multiple Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC’s), and includes computer workstations connected via a redundant fiber optic network. The high reliability control system will provide shore-based personnel with the ability to control the ships speed, course and machinery during weapons trials.

20 Jul 2009

Keel Laid for USS America, LHA 6

A keel laying ceremony for the future USS America (LHA 6) was held July 17 at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. The keel was authenticated by ship's sponsor Lynne Pace, the wife of retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace, who confirmed that the keel was truly and fairly laid. The America Class will replace the aging Tarawa Class and will increase the aviation capacity of future big deck amphibious ships in order to maximize the Navy's investment in future aircraft. LHA 6 will use the same gas turbine propulsion plant, zonal electrical distribution and electric auxiliary systems designed and built for the just-delivered USS Makin Island (LHD 8), replacing the maintenance intensive steam turbines of earlier ships.

11 Sep 2008

Freedom Gets Underway

The U.S. Navy's new Littoral Combat Ship will be commissioned in ceremonies at , on Nov. 8, 2008. LCS 1, christened Freedom, is the first of a new class of high-speed, modular and reconfigurable focused-mission ships. LCS is designed to counter threats including mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast, armed surface craft in the littoral or coastal regions of the world. Built by Lockheed Martin at Marinette Marine of , , Freedom recently completed builder's trials on , where the ship's diesel and gas turbine propulsion plant was tested along with communications, navigation and mission systems. The Navy is building two different designs for LCS, each designed and built by different industry teams. The 378-ft. Freedom is a semi-planing monohull.

10 Jul 2008

LCS 1 Begins Final Dockside Testing

The propulsion plant of the nation's first Littoral Combat Ship, Freedom (LCS 1), has completed testing in preparation for dock trials. The ship is now ready to begin dock trials -- the final stage of testing before underway trials. The 378-foot Freedom is powered by an innovative, combined diesel and gas turbine propulsion plant, with steerable water jet propulsion. This system will power the ship at cruise speeds out to ranges exceeding 3,500 nautical miles and will also allow the ship to sustain sprint speeds over 40 knots. Dock trials includes a series of demonstrations of propulsion, navigation, communication and other systems conducted to ensure the ship is ready for sea trials. There has been rapid progress on Freedom since the beginning of the year.

24 Mar 2008

NG to Outfit Amphibious Assault Ship

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Sperry Marine business unit has been selected to supply the Machinery Control System (MCS) for LHA 6, the first of a new generation of large-deck amphibious assault ships for the U.S. Navy. Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding awarded Sperry Marine a contract valued at approximately $47.6 million. LHA 6 is being built at the Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding facility in Pascagoula, Miss. auxiliary systems. The network will include more than 50 data acquisition units at strategic locations around the ship, as well as 25 operating consoles, 10 electric plant and propulsion plant controllers, and multiple redundant local-area network switches.

09 Sep 2003

Meyer Werft Delivers to RCCL

The most recent addition to Royal Caribbean's (RCCL) fleet of vessels is the 90,090-gt Serenade of the Seas, which was delivered to the cruise line by Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg, Germany on July 30, 2003. The third member of the Radiance-class fleet, Serenade, along with its sisterships, is a luxury cruise vessel boasting a very slim, yachtlike design with extensive use of glass on the outside, as more than 80 percent of the vessel's cabins are designated as outside cabins. Serenade features advanced technology designed to make the ship efficient, and to ensure it is as quiet and vibration free as possible. To this end, it features an advanced gas turbine propulsion plant, and its 15 decks employ the latest in sound dampening technology.

21 Nov 2005

Lockheed Martin Team Completes Milestone for LCS Ship

ship's two main propulsion gas turbines. launch in the summer of 2006 and deliver to the U.S. months after the start of construction. propulsion plant, with steerable water jet propulsion. loaded. distances. maneuverability for mission execution. and optimum crew comfort. Shipping. international teammates to provide a flexible, low-risk warfighting solution. assembled in precise order as the ship continues to take shape.