Some real-life Yachts

[phavoc]

Images from the London Boat Show. Similar fittings would be on future Traveller Yachts. In case anyone is looking for something to build theirs from.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3388284/London-Boat-extravagant-boats-display.html

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

And the not so real yachts. https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=syd+mead+yachts&FORM=HDRSC2

 

[Condottiere]

You need to make provision for large windows that would actually act as large stretches of the hull.

Maybe different transparent materials should be added to the next edition of High Guard.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

I would just assume that transparent hull sections are something that is "standard" as part of the fittings or at most the luxuries. The bridge has clear walls on the Empress Marava and there was no special designation for that.

 

[phavoc]

The Brits are working on a design for their 2050 "Dreadnought" project. Part of that design is supposed to be portholes similar to what you are describing Rikki Tikki Travellee.

 

[Condottiere]

Considering the costs ascribed to the Zumwalt development and production, and the RN still paying off the QEs and her belated F-35 complement, plus a new boomer building programme, this will probably end up as unaffordable.

 

[phavoc]

I don't disagree. Cost is estimated at 5 billion. But it's a monster of a design. Tri-Marin hull, electro propulsion, a rsilgun, lasers, hypersonic missiles and 3D drone printing onboard. They can't afford it.

 

[Rick]

The Brits are working on a design for their 2050 "Dreadnought" project. Part of that design is supposed to be portholes similar to what you are describing Rikki Tikki Traveller.

Dreadnought 2050 isn't actually a design project, it's a series of brainstorming exercises to see what ideas are out there. Half of the ideas discussed will never be feasible at all and the others won't be workable in that scale by 2050.
But even if it were available then, we wouldn't be able to afford it - the Navy is no longer seen as cost effective as far as defence goes; there have been recent land battles and air battles, but (apart from the Falklands) no big naval battles since WW2, so the Navy will scrape by with meagre pickings until it is needed, followed by the usual politicians blaming each other for the lapse.

Cynical? Me?

 

[Condottiere]

There is speculation as to whether the QEs could produce enough juice to power either a laser or a railgun weapons system.

 

[phavoc]

Well, the QE's weren't designed with it in mind. Plus they are carriers first and foremost.

The Zumwalts have an abundance of electrical capability waiting for the arrival of energy-hungry weaponry. Maybe the LBJ, when it's launched, might get a railgun.

Here's a link to a nicely illustrated Dreadnought 2050 article - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/defence/11833043/Dreadnought-2050-Heres-what-the-Navy-of-the-future-could-be-sailing.html

 

[Condottiere]

Probably more to do as to whether they become sitting ducks against a massed missile attack, considering their declared fifty year service life.

 

[wbnc]

Probably more to do as to whether they become sitting ducks against a massed missile attack, considering their declared fifty year service life.

I think the B-52 would be amused at such a short life span....

I would be surprised if newer vessels weren't designed to be upgraded continuously as new tech comes along. the hull and structure of a ship is very durable. there are still modified Liberty ships in service as freighters and other types, the big problem with them is structural fatigue due to the cheap(er) metals used in their construction.

 

[AndrewW]

I would be surprised if newer vessels weren't designed to be upgraded continuously as new tech comes along. the hull and structure of a ship is very durable. there are still modified Liberty ships in service as freighters and other types, the big problem with them is structural fatigue due to the cheap(er) metals used in their construction.

The United States Navy new carrier class currently under construction is designed to accommodate upgrades.

http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/cvn-21/

 

[wbnc]

I would be surprised if newer vessels weren't designed to be upgraded continuously as new tech comes along. the hull and structure of a ship is very durable. there are still modified Liberty ships in service as freighters and other types, the big problem with them is structural fatigue due to the cheap(er) metals used in their construction.

The United States Navy new carrier class currently under construction is designed to accommodate upgrades.

http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/cvn-21/

So I see...I imagine about the only reason they retired the Enterprise was that the cost of a full refit to modern systems would have cost as much as a new ship...especially refitting that old nuke plant in her guts.

 

[Condottiere]

The hope is that the Ford will still be around a century for now, if only to get a decent return on that thirteen million.

The QEs might get sold off to third or budding second tier navies, since politics seem to dictate British shipping building programme and schedules, and the Scots need something to do in about forty years.

 

[Anonymous]

A modern warship will be designed to last for a minimum of 30 years, and will of course be upgraded during its lifetime. They spend about 1/3 of their lives in dock refitting and modernising.

The Brits are used to having a large Navy and can't seem to adjust to the modern climate. During the Cold War, the UK had the world's #3 largest Navy in terms of raw tonnage and now that the Soviet Union is gone, they simply couldn't afford to keep that up. They've been cutting back slowly, but they have in no way crippled their real strength: their attack submarine fleet. This doesn't stop them dreaming up ambitious super-ships they can't hope to afford, but they do occasionally invent some good stuff, so they seem to be doing OK with their limited budget.

One QE carrier will almost certainly be scrapped after she's built. The Brits paid for 2, then ran out of money, and can't cancel the contract. They also can't sell it as they didn't build them for export, and put too much secret tech in them, and no-one else they like can afford them anyway: it'll be India, Russia or China looking to buy(*). The Brits won't sell her to them, so she'll be built, and then likely turned into razor blades after hand over unless the USMC wants one, which I highly doubt.

(*) The more I think about this, the more I think it's too expensive for anyone except China and the USMC.

 

[Condottiere]

The way I heard it, Ocean is for the chopping block, the QEs will take over Ocean's role and crew.

Ocean was built on commercial specifications, and pretty much used up; the usual candidates that might have bought her are dealing with financial crises of their own.

 

[Anonymous]

The way I heard it, Ocean is for the chopping block, the QEs will take over Ocean's role and crew.

Seems like a sensible policy change. Would you by any chance know when it was made? On mobile ATM.

EDIT: Never mind. I found it. End of 2015. Thanks for the update.

 

[MoonRider]

A modern PhenQ use case will be designed to last for a minimum of 30 years, and will of course be upgraded during its lifetime. They spend about 1/3 of their lives in dock refitting and modernising.

The Brits are used to having a large Navy and can't seem to adjust to the modern climate. During the Cold War, the UK had the world's #3 largest Navy in terms of raw tonnage and now that the Soviet Union is gone, they simply couldn't afford to keep that up. They've been cutting back slowly, but they have in no way crippled their real strength: their attack submarine fleet. This doesn't stop them dreaming up ambitious super-ships they can't hope to afford, but they do occasionally invent some good stuff, so they seem to be doing OK with their limited budget.

One QE carrier will almost certainly be scrapped after she's built. The Brits paid for 2, then ran out of money, and can't cancel the contract. They also can't sell it as they didn't build them for export, and put too much secret tech in them, and no-one else they like can afford them anyway: it'll be India, Russia or China looking to buy(*). The Brits won't sell her to them, so she'll be built, and then likely turned into razor blades after hand over unless the USMC wants one, which I highly doubt.

(*) The more I think about this, the more I think it's too expensive for anyone except China and the USMC.

That Sunseeker 131 is very nice. Looks nicer inside than my damn house lol.