Freedom and Independence: on board! by Silvia Szarkova

Independence, a brand new warship built in Alabama, which lenght is enourmous 418 feet, is a new challenge of U. S. Navy. Together with Freedom, 378-foot long build in Wisconsin by a competitive contractor , there are the base of new generation of warshipes of the Navy. According to the requirements of the competition, they should be fast enough, but still able to go throught the shallower drafts or in coastal waters. It seem like they are both able to reach perfect numbers. Independence was able to reach the speed of 45 knots, which is the same as 52mph in excess, but was able to hold the speed of 44 knots for unbelievable four hours, during the tests in Gulf Coasts. Free! dom put up similar results. Both of them use powerful diesel engines combined with gas turbines for extra speed. They use waterjets instead of traditional propellers and rudders and have shallower drafts letting then to reach the coastal waters easier. And that is exactly what Navy wants- strong warship being able to operate in littoral waters. The stakes are high for both of the competitors- Navy plans tu bulid 55 more ships by the winner company. Independence is build by General Dynamics´ susidiary Maine´s Bath Iron Works. Lockhead Martin Corp. is the leading constructor of Freedom. And Navy wants just one builder, cannot keep both of them. Also, there is a question of money. Early estimated costs were 220 million dollars per piece, but because of the Navy requirements of the spees and construction, the costs spiraled at 460 million. It seems like we are facing something revolutionary.

related story (sgx15700): http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091022/ap_on_bi_ge/us_speedy_wa...

by Silvia Szarkova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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