Water worked at Windscale too. (once they turned the fans off). Windscale also reduces the size of the milk lake in the UK pre-EU entry.... had to wait another 30 years to have Cesium special milk in EUR (Windscales Heath Robinson filters let Po get into the grasslands, at least it has a short " 'arf lyfe" [Po 210: 138.376 days].
The operational advantages of a nuke boat are valid, but so are the issues that come with them, including having to work out whether to use English, Nuclear, or 'Merican, Nukular pronunciation. "Ze embarrassment would be unbearable"... The program cost plonked onto advanced non-nukes would increase the number of hulls to find swabbies to fill the bunks for, which helps with unemployment. The neat thing with boats is, even if you just hide them under the pier no one knows what the risk to their own plans are. That seemed to work for the Foxtrots that seem to routinely sink at the piers in parts of Asia, although if the bow is still above the low tide mark then it kind of negates the strategy.
Once pinged, the old Alfa/Akula would return a pong doppler on the second ping, and yup they do go, but then localization is reduced in importance, a flat-out Akula pretty much announces its presence. The latest boats are better, particularly with nozzles, but they still are going to be driving at modest speeds. (the fairwater work is much better now than before, but still, pushing 5000cu mtrs of water out of the way ends up with energy dumping into the oggin, at a square of the veeze, so silence still derives from caution. At least the anechoic coating tiles add to.... flow turbulence... huh? er, oops. wheres my spack filler and DP190.
My main concern with AUS nukes is just the fleet sizing, if we had a fleet of 16 boats, it would be a fashion statement. having a handful of what can only be described as capital ships is an option, just not what I would vote for. Of course, I would also like some refurbished F16s and even buy-back of the F/A18A/B's they still have a place. Better yet, buy a 10 score and 50 A10's, re-wing, and invite former marine drivers to come and spend time dunnunda at RAAF Bundaberg, RAAF Hamilton Island, and the satellite airport RAAF Airlie Beach, and RAAF Broome. Replace the 30 x 173 PGU-14/B ammo core with cane toads. Nothing says welcome like a GAU-8/A.Add chicken wire mesh over the rear of the blenders to stop getting fruitbat strikes on takeoff when overtaken by the bats.
While we are at it, naval surface vessels, (known as "targets") of capital value don't make much sense anymore. While not a fan of the LCS as they turned out, it was not because the concept was bad, the complexity added by the committees trying to make an "all things to all users" vessel didn't help, nor did missing out the point that ships need to be maintainable. Having to cut the boat in two to replace a poorly designed bearing is an "own goal". A low signature would seem to be a nice thing to have if you wish to avoid being a flaming datum. Our arsenal dunnunda is a carry-over of the 60's, and the technology and lethality of munitions make a rethink worthwhile. One man's capital ship is another's juicy target.
OH, year, the other great thing about the A10 is that afterward, the barrels can be used as flag poles. really strong flag poles.
Originally Posted by
tartare
For all those Australians whining about nuclear power not being safe - and nukular reactors sitting on docks in the middle of cities - there's an astonishing story buried in that submarine book.
HMS Valiant - in 1977 - under power when the Captain gets summoned back to the tunnel above the reactor compartment, and looks down through the thick window onto the reactor (a fascinating detail in itself).
He describes it as normally well lit and cathedral like - full of complex machinery - and radiation of course; completely sealed.
But in this case, the entire reactor compartment is full of seawater - due to a pipe leak - while the reactor is running!
They shut it down, drain the seawater - then restart it.
And it runs just fine - despite having being submerged in saltwater.
Testimony to the engineering.