Page 10: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 15, 1985)

Navy (continued from page 11) heavily armed ships the U.S. Navy has fielded since World War II. The contract could be awarded at any time for the lead and name ship of the class, funded in FY 1985 at $1,189.1 million (including $139.9 million in RDT&E money). Long- range Navy plans project construc- tion of 60 ships in the class—about half of them "improved" Arleigh

Burkes. The current FYDP calls for funding 17 DDG-51s over the next five years, including two in FY 1987 (at a combined price tag of $2,246.8 million), and five in each of the three years thereafter. The FY 1986 budget request seeks $118.8 million in RDT&E funds, plus $164.3 mil- lion for advance procurement mon- ey-

Some of the more important ship specifics: displacement, 8,500 tons full load; length, 512 feet; beam, 60 feet; power plant, four General Elec- tric LM 2500 gas turbines, two shafts, 50,000 shaft horsepower; air- craft, two LAMPS helicopters; ar- mament, Harpoon, Tomahawk, and

Standard missiles, antisubmarine rockets, two 20 mm Phalanx close-in weapon systems (CIWS)—guns, two 5-inch 54-caliber guns, and two tri- ple torpedo tubes.

LHD-1 Amphibious Assault Ship:

The LHD-1 Wasp-class amphibious assault ship program is described-

SureSite Level Indicators

An alternative to cloudy sight glass problems on shipboard day tanks.

Provides highly visible, accurate, safe, continuous indication. Externally-mounted: liquid within float housing. Used with water, oil, or corrosive, flammable or explosive liquids.

Can incorporate switches or

B colored interlock n i m tgnet • igs change co >.• as transducers for remote indication, alarms, etc. f • ial

Non-electric DIPSTICK &• DRUMSTICK Level Indicators

For on-the-spot use in storage tanks or drums where power is not available.

Operate manually in chemicals, oils, fuels, etc.

Only float and stem in contact with liquid.

Choice of materials and mountings. Indicating lengths from 6" to 72" in 1/4 increments*

Temperatures to 230°F.; pressures to 750 psi. "Longer units available consult factory., Circle 125 111

It

DIPSTICK calibrated ndic if: >r I fts unt magneln interlock with

Hi) it /. telt 'i>i h ghl\ accur, ih• readi mt

DHL '.'5* - ,- ed n e rher ver! c i or hoi : nta dr typrc : V 30 or 55 gallons,

Sounding Tape

Portable tank gauging in stationary tanks or barges.

An easy-to-read, fractionally-marked tape reels out of gun into a tank, or hollow nonferrous, tank-mounted tube or pipe.

Powered by a 9V battery, unit features a magnetic float which rides with the liquid level and interfaces with a reed switch within the plumb bob to provide physical sounding for accurate (1/8") ullage readout

Coast Guard accepted for restricted or closed loading use. FM-approved for intrinsic safety with hazardous cargoes. ii (I [ D

Circle 126

For application information, call toll-free: (800) 321-6070.

In Ohio call (800) 441-7733. rr Transamenca

I Delaval

GEMS SENSORS DIVISION

Plainville, Connecticut 06062

Telephone: (203) 677-1311; Telex: 99306

The 1985 Annual

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Circle 185 on Reader Service Card by Secretary Weinberger as "the cornerstone of our plan to expand amphibious lift capacity." Similar in design to the already operational

Tarawa-class multipurpose assault ships (LHAs), the 40,000-ton LHD- 1 is designed for the transport of troops, vehicles, and cargo. Its key feature, though, is the capacity to carry three LCACs and a large num- ber of helicopters, both of which platforms are considered essential for assault strikes launched from safe "over-the-horizon" distances.

The Wasps also could serve as "con- vertible carriers" for V/STOL (ver- tical/short takeoff and landing) air- craft. The lead ship was authorized in FY 1984 and a contract awarded to Ingalls Shipbuilding. FY 1986 funding of $1,513.2 million (includ- ing $6.0 million RDT&E) is re- quested for the second of the twin- screw ships; $381.7 in long-lead funds will be requested in FY 1987.

The Defense Department said the

FY 1986, 1988, and 1989 ships "will be competed on a three-ship multiyear basis."

Some additional specifics: dis- placement, 39,500 tons full load; length, 817 feet; beam, 106 feet; speed, 20-plus knots; power plant, gas turbines, two shafts; aircraft, mix of 30 helicopters and 6-8 AV-8B

Harrier V/STOL aircraft; arma- ment, not yet decided—but proba- bly will include three 20 mm Phal- anx CIWS guns.

Landing Craft, Air Cushion: The smallest but in many respects most exciting of all the ship and craft in the current FYDP, the LCACs will be capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots, and will be able to operate (on a cushion of air) over land as well as on the water. Designed to carry the combat and logistical vehi- cles of a Marine landing force from ship to shore, the LCAC will give

Navy and Marine Corps amphibious forces the ability to launch an as- sault, from over the horizon, in a matter of minutes. The Navy plans to buy at least 90 LCACs over the next decade or so. Of the 21 funded through FY 1985, one already has been delivered and is now undergo- ing a rigorous series of tests in the waters off Panama City, Fla. Fleet operations are scheduled to begin in the summer of 1986. Prime contrac- tor for the first run of LCACs (a sec- ond source may later be named) is

Bell Aerospace Textron of New Or- leans.

Other LCAC specifics: weight, 149.5 tons gross, 87.2 empty; pay- load, 120,000 pounds; range, 200 nautical miles, length, 88 feet (on cushion); beam, 47 feet (on cush- ion); draft, 2.9 feet (off cushion); obstacle clearance capability, four feet; main engines, four Avco-Ly- coming TF40B gas turbines; complement, five enlisted person- nel.

LPD-4 Landing Platform Dock:

The 1960s'-vintage Austin-class

LPD-4s are being renovated in an- other SLEP program to give them another 10-15 years of useful service life and postpone their retirement until well beyond the turn of the century. "This will ease a major block retirement problem facing the amphibious fleet, "Secretary Wein- 12 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News