Trump Orders Navy to Restore [Steam Catapults] in Aircraft Carriers(www.wsj.com)

10 pointsby dctoedt7 hours ago5 comments

JojoFatsani4 hours ago
The same naval genius who demanded the return of giant battleships which haven’t been able to project power since the 30’s
doener6 hours ago
"This is absolutely ridiculous. For all its potential pitfalls, the Ford aircraft carriers are built entirely around the EMALS system, and "replacing" it with steam catapults - which require large amounts of space and personnel - is simply not a realistic option."
https://bsky.app/profile/prchovanec.bsky.social/post/3msyl3m...
- doener6 hours ago
  "Ok, so reading the article, there's a partial answer: the three that have EMALS (one in service, two under construction) will keep it. The fourth ship will supposedly be redesigned, which could delay it - but its construction will probably outlive Trump's decision and could be rescinded."
  https://bsky.app/profile/prchovanec.bsky.social/post/3msylk4...
  "I'm sure Xi Jinping - whose new aircraft carriers #3 and #4 all have EMALS - is laughing himself silly."
  https://bsky.app/profile/prchovanec.bsky.social/post/3msylov...
cratermoon7 hours ago
Did the company that makes steam catapult technology grease the orange palms?
- pavel_lishin6 hours ago
  Well, the new system is electromagnetic, which probably means it's powered by wind or solar. But steam! Now that's good burnin' stuff.
  Either that, or he happened to have dinner the night before next to someone who reminisced about steam catapults.
  - dctoedt6 hours ago
    FTA: "By doing so, Trump is making good on a promise he made almost 10 years ago to go back to the steam system after hearing a sailor praise it while visiting a ship during his first term."
    cratermoon4 hours ago
    But also this: the White House said in a statement. “It will also reactivate portions of the maritime industrial base that are easier to scale.”
    Sounds remarkably similar to the justifications for re-activating coal-fired power plants.
dctoedt6 hours ago
FTA: "By doing so, Trump is making good on a promise he made almost 10 years ago to go back to the steam system after hearing a sailor praise it while visiting a ship during his first term.
"But since Trump said in an interview with Time in 2017 that he told the Navy to go back to “goddamn steam,” top Navy and industry leaders have resisted the move because of the enormous expense to tear out such a complex system that was integral to the design of the Ford class."
6 hours ago
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