- Joined
- 1 February 2011
- Messages
- 2,619
- Reaction score
- 2,603
I've recently found this document:
https://lynceans.org/wp-content/upl...Power-1939-2018_Part-2B_USA_surface-ships.pdf
Marine Nuclear Power: 1939-2018 - Part 2B United States - Surface Ships by Peter Lobner
It is basically a data sheet and some extra info on the USN's Surface ships both Nuclear and-Non nuclear despite what the title implies though it mostly revolves around nuclear power, in the first part it mentions a Nucelar Reactor design not yet heard of and which predates both the C1W used on Long Beach and the D1G on Bainbridge and A2W on Enterprise:
The LSR/CVR (Large Ship Reactor/Carrier Vessel Reactor)
The document has some info about it: (Compare it C1W,A1W and A2W)
Now question is did any large surface combatant, Cruiser or carrier design existed before Long Beach and Enterprise which was destined to use this reactor? It predates the first naval surface reactors by a decade which brings us to the design and construction of the Forrestals.
Sidenote:
I do found two early nuclear carrier designs predating Enterprise:
Study CVAN 4/53 and Study CVAN 9/5
https://lynceans.org/wp-content/upl...Power-1939-2018_Part-2B_USA_surface-ships.pdf
Marine Nuclear Power: 1939-2018 - Part 2B United States - Surface Ships by Peter Lobner
It is basically a data sheet and some extra info on the USN's Surface ships both Nuclear and-Non nuclear despite what the title implies though it mostly revolves around nuclear power, in the first part it mentions a Nucelar Reactor design not yet heard of and which predates both the C1W used on Long Beach and the D1G on Bainbridge and A2W on Enterprise:
The LSR/CVR (Large Ship Reactor/Carrier Vessel Reactor)
The document has some info about it: (Compare it C1W,A1W and A2W)
Reactor | Estimated Reactor Power (MWt) | Estimated Propulsion Power per Reactor (shp) | Initial ops | Application |
CVR | 390 | 75,000 | Not built | Proposed land-based prototype PWR for a single propulsion train rated at about 75,000 shp. Authorized in 1952 & cancelled in 1953. Became the basis for the design of the 1st full-scale US commercial nuclear power plant at Shippingport, PA. |
C1W | 200 | 40,000 | 1961 | 2 x C1W used only on USS Long Beach (CGN-9), yielding 80,000 shp total propulsion power. Reportedly derived from A1W. |
A1W, A2W | 165 | 35,000 | 1958 | 2 x A1W at the prototype at NRF Idaho (A1W-A & A1W-B) 8 x A2W on USS Enterprise (CVN-65), yielding a total reactor power output of about 1,320 MWt and propulsion power of 280,000 shp |
Westinghouse CVR
Large ship reactor (LSR) / carrier vessel reactor (CVR)
- “This project, known as the CVR, was instituted on the basis of a military requirement set up by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. That requirement stated that the CVR was to be a shore-based prototype of a single shaft for a large naval vessel such as an aircraft carrier, and to be used after completion to produce power and plutonium.” *
- CVR was a light-water cooled and moderated pressurized water reactor (PWR) design with an expected propulsion output of 75,000 shp (56 MW). Reactor power would have been about 390 MWt.
- CVR was authorized in 1952.
- April 1953: The CVR was eliminated from the FY 1954 defense budget.
- “Cancellation of the aircraft carrier reactor resulted in a letter appeal from the (Atomic Energy) Commission to the President (Eisenhower) and a special appearance before the Joint Committee (of Congress). As a result, a completely civilian version of the aircraft carrier reactor was put back in the fiscal 1954 budget…..” *
- The AEC transferred the entire development team to the new civilian project, while maintaining Naval Reactors is a leadership role.
- In their testimony before Congress, the AEC noted, “We are convinced that substantial delays would result if an attempt were made to develop some other reactor system for this first civilian powerplant.” *
Now question is did any large surface combatant, Cruiser or carrier design existed before Long Beach and Enterprise which was destined to use this reactor? It predates the first naval surface reactors by a decade which brings us to the design and construction of the Forrestals.
Sidenote:
I do found two early nuclear carrier designs predating Enterprise:
Study CVAN 4/53 and Study CVAN 9/5