We can't refuel an aircraft carrier?

Aren't aircraft carriers run on nuclear power? Originally Posted by pyramider

Yes. Summarizing from the article: The Nimitz-class boats are designed for a fifty-year service life. Their reactors are intended to be refueled after 25 years of service. The "Lincoln" is due.

The Navy budgeted for this in their 2012 budget. It is now not clear whether the money will be there, for this and a lot of other things, and they're tightening their belt while they wait to see if Congress can get off its collective duff and do its job.

Don't blame Congress. Sequestration was the idea of the White House. The House has produced more than one budget but the Senate refuses to give any of them a vote. This particular, current problem belongs to the Senate and Obama. Overspending in general belongs to both parties. But like I started this, we are going to spend more this year than we did last year and somehow we don't have the money put gas in the tank or food on the table. Since the years of Clinton were so good as we have been told by the media, the democrats, and Obama then lets go back to that spending level. Of course if the House just freezes all spending then Obama will take it out on the military again to scare people.

I could be wrong, but I believe that the only petro - fuel on a carrier is for the aircraft. ALL the rest of the power on board a nuke boat comes from the power of ther reactors. Hopefully no one in the Persian Gulf would have fuel for one of our carriers. Originally Posted by carguy1989

Yes, all of the essential equipment is run from electricity created by generators run by steam turbines, which of course is made by water heated by the reactor.

The main engines are steam turbines, the Horsepower is classified, but do the math on displacement and estimated speed of 40+ knots, and it comes out to about 400,000 shaft horsepower.

Did you do some reading Jackie or are you familiar with Orlando and the Orange Blossom Trail?

I know a LOT about ships, or anything else that floats and has propulsion.

Without seeming too ignorant, I do not know what you mean by your question.

How is having one more aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf defending the United States? It's keeping the price of oil low, perhaps, but not defending out country. Perhaps the U.S. petroleum industry should pay to have it refueled. Originally Posted by TexTushHog

Wow! I hate agreeing the TTH, but he's right. We're over there defending oil, let the oil companies pay for it.

If you knew what I was talking about it would answer my question. Of course you might be younger and know about King's Bay.

If you knew what I was talking about it would answer my question. Of course you might be younger and know about King's Bay. Originally Posted by JD Barleycorn

I got it now.

But I will admitt that I know a lot more about building these things than what they do with them afterward.

As for The Orange Blossom Trail. When I was in the Army, I did most of my serious whoring at The Wall in old Nurnburg Germany.