7/26 - July’s Qual question is pretty easy to explain but in each of the possible answers is a bit of deception (tricky the way those Navy instructors put their “distractors” together). So let’s look at each of the possibilities one at a time.

A.   This could have been a correct response but there is no direct evidence that the Crescent shipyard in Elizabeth New Jersey ever received a shipment of steel from the Carnegie works. It’s possible but it also might have been steel from the Bethlehem mills. In any event Andrew Carnegie ever gave a price break to anyone.

B.   Yes other materials could be used but the Russians have some experience welding Titanium. It’s not easy and it requires an atmosphere void of Oxygen. That means the welders must wear oxygen masks and work inside an Oxygen-free space. Sounds expensive to me. Judging by the Russian example it makes for very slow work and lots of rework.

You might make a case for Aluminum or Carbon fiber materials but remember the Aluminaut and Alvin weren’t warships. They were research vessels. And as far as Carbon fiber is concerned, we really don’t have a good handle on the technology yet. Remember the Titan ( OceanGate Expedition’s 21-foot vessel that they used to take paying customers down to look over the wreck of the Titanic). How’d that go for them?

C.   This is the closest to being right of the distractors. It’s quite true that the shipbuilder works to the specs the Navy hands out but it’s also true that there is always room for the contractor to make suggestions for improvement. That usually leads to questions about money. As in, “How much more will it cost if…” Money talk usually leads the Navy back to, “Let’s do it the old fashioned way.”

D.   This choice is pretty close to being right, too. But availability issues are also present when steel is used. That’s why the Navy issues contracts for “long-lead” materials. Some shipbuilders end up signing steel-buying contracts two years ahead of the start of the building process. Think of that. Two years in advance just to make sure you’ll have what you need when you start work. Talk about the opposite of buying something on Amazon!

E.   This is the right answer. We’ve talked about other materials. The only issue is the use of the word “economical.” Remember that all things are relative . When the first 688s were built the plan was to make the hulls strong enough to have a really meaningful test depth. But the cost of those stronger hulls made the Navy decide not to push the envelope. Remember that manufacturing cost also includes those pesky welders who like to get paid for their work. In the days when our 41 for Freedom ships were being built Electric Boat had a work force containing thousands of welders. Today there are hardly a hundred because of the use of machines that shape and weld the steel into hull sections which are barged to the shipyard where minimal welding - by machines again – puts them together into one ship.

If you’ve enjoyed this discussion send me your idea for the next one. It’s never too late to … get qualified! Send your answer to this month’s question and your ideas for next month’s to me at vp-ed@ussvcf.org and if you want to chat about it call me at 860-886-3566.