Another anecdote
I was told by a Navy chopper pilot about a speed run on a CV whose name escapes me. Coulda been the JFK or America. It was not a CVN. Anyway....
A VIP on board has suddenly become very ill, while they're steaming somewhere in the Atlantic. They are in a heavy storm, and it is thought that catapulting the VIP in a COD might kill him, but he needs off the ship and into a hospital ASAP. They brief my acquaintance, and he points to a location on the chart where he thinks it'll be safe to lift off in his chopper, headed for Mayport. He assumes it'll take the ship about 8 hours or so to reach the dparture point and retires to the bunk to be awakened in time for final preps. When he is awakened, much earlier than expected, he checks positions, times etc, and calculates that the ship has been steaming at well over 45 knots (my calculations, I think he said 55MPH) in heavy seas.
Dunno if this is true, but I think that modern carriers can hike up the ol' skirts and travel MUCH faster than we are led to believe. Mike, your calculations regarding displacement and SHP may be true, but I wouldn't be surprised if the true available SHP was higher than admitted to.
I was told by a Navy chopper pilot about a speed run on a CV whose name escapes me. Coulda been the JFK or America. It was not a CVN. Anyway....
A VIP on board has suddenly become very ill, while they're steaming somewhere in the Atlantic. They are in a heavy storm, and it is thought that catapulting the VIP in a COD might kill him, but he needs off the ship and into a hospital ASAP. They brief my acquaintance, and he points to a location on the chart where he thinks it'll be safe to lift off in his chopper, headed for Mayport. He assumes it'll take the ship about 8 hours or so to reach the dparture point and retires to the bunk to be awakened in time for final preps. When he is awakened, much earlier than expected, he checks positions, times etc, and calculates that the ship has been steaming at well over 45 knots (my calculations, I think he said 55MPH) in heavy seas.
Dunno if this is true, but I think that modern carriers can hike up the ol' skirts and travel MUCH faster than we are led to believe. Mike, your calculations regarding displacement and SHP may be true, but I wouldn't be surprised if the true available SHP was higher than admitted to.