The US Navy Should Start Weaning its Reactors off Bomb-Grade Uranium

[Marlin]

The US Navy Should Start Weaning its Reactors off Bomb-Grade Uranium


http://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2018/03/its-time-wean-us-navy-reactors-bomb-grade-uranium/146648/

[Chimera]

Wow . . . I wonder what the author would consider to be an optimal refueling cycle for a Navy warship.  Nowhere in the article does the author mention the strategic reasons for the high-enrichment cores and the advantages they offer.  I wonder if the road techs could get involved in the refueling cycles for the Navy - all them ships every two years?

[Marlin]

Wow . . . I wonder what the author would consider to be an optimal refueling cycle for a Navy warship.  Nowhere in the article does the author mention the strategic reasons for the high-enrichment cores and the advantages they offer.  I wonder if the road techs could get involved in the refueling cycles for the Navy - all them ships every two years?

I don't think this has any wheels. The new Columbia class of missile boats will not need a refueling for the life of the submarine. This allows making mission commitments with fewer subs due to much shorter maintenance periods in the shipyards. I believe the fourth and fifth block of Virginia class of fast attack submarines will also be life of the boat, greater than 30 years.

[Marlin]

I believe the fourth and fifth block of Virginia class of fast attack submarines will also be life of the boat, greater than 30 years.

Well maybe >30 years I heard or read of new captains being told to "Drive it like you stole it". EFPH like MPG YMMV. 


Boomers probably. Fast attacks maybe not so much.