HMS Vanguard to get new nuclear core

[Wolferz]

Can they get the old core out through a hatch?

[TheDarkWraith]

Originally Posted by Wolferz

Can they get the old core out through a hatch?

Highly doubt it. Usually you have to cut a hole in the vessel to extract the core. The amount of safety precautions that have to be in place for this is staggering and another reason why they usually cut a hole for it. Anyone know how many Mega-watts the core is in this sub? I would guess around no more than 150.

I wonder if the UK recycles their spent cores like the US does We have a place in the US (I won't disclose where) that is called the ECF - Expended core facility. We ship almost all the old cores to this place to recycle them - remove the still good fuel from the core and reuse it in new cores.

The thing that always killed me about this ECF place is how they got the cores to the place - by rail. The cores are shipping in what looks like huge big-mac containers on a rail car. If only the citizens of every country new what was going on in their country

[ETR3(SS)]

Yeah sounds like a primary to secondary leak to me too. And yeah, only way to get the Rx out is through a massive hull cut. Meaning a year minimum in drydock, probably two.

Oh and TDW, I like you! But then again I do get along with nucs pretty well.

[Wolferz]

Originally Posted by ETR3(SS)

Yeah sounds like a primary to secondary leak to me too. And yeah, only way to get the Rx out is through a massive hull cut. Meaning a year minimum in drydock, probably two.

Oh and TDW, I like you! But then again I do get along with nucs pretty well.

Considering the way modern subs are constructed, I would think that cutting a huge hole in the hull would degrade the integrity to the point of making it totally unusable. I would be squeamish during every dive afterward. IIRC isn't that the reason why the USS Enterprise became a museum ship?
Yes, I know that's a ship and not a sub but, they would have needed to cut a big hole in her to remove the pile.

[Wolferz]

Originally Posted by ETR3(SS)

Yeah sounds like a primary to secondary leak to me too. And yeah, only way to get the Rx out is through a massive hull cut. Meaning a year minimum in drydock, probably two.

Oh and TDW, I like you! But then again I do get along with nucs pretty well.

The article quoted in the OP said three years but, that probably covers a complete refit for the entire boat.

[TheDarkWraith]

Originally Posted by ETR3(SS)

Oh and TDW, I like you! But then again I do get along with nucs pretty well.

I was a former Nuke EM but surface ship - CGN 37 USS SoPig. Made E-5 during the 'dark' side of Power School and put on E-6 after 2 years on the boat. Talk about animosity!! Left as an E-6 bucking E-7. Not even the chance to throw on Khaki's could get me to stay! Did my 6 and got the hell out so that I could make some real money in the civilian world After 15 years of being a civilian I would never go back. I love being able to tell people NO.

As far as cutting holes in ships it's not a big deal. You should see how they do the welding (heat soaking before and after). Integrity of the hull is maintained.

[ETR3(SS)]

Originally Posted by Wolferz

Considering the way modern subs are constructed, I would think that cutting a huge hole in the hull would degrade the integrity to the point of making it totally unusable. I would be squeamish during every dive afterward. IIRC isn't that the reason why the USS Enterprise became a museum ship?
Yes, I know that's a ship and not a sub but, they would have needed to cut a big hole in her to remove the pile.

It's more of a time issue than engineering. To perform the needed hull cut you need to: drydock, make the cut, move what ever equipment in or out, weld the hull section back together, and then back out of drydock. The Ohio class was designed with removable escape trunks to facilitate moving equipment in and out without the need for a hull cut. Turning a 2ft diameter hole into a 6ft one makes life much easier.

Originally Posted by Wolferz

The article quoted in the OP said three years but, that probably covers a complete refit for the entire boat.

More than likely. Since refueling is such a big deal a lot of work will be deferred until it's time to refuel. Then they can combine refueling with a midlife overhaul at the same time saving money and keeping the vessel operational for longer.

Originally Posted by TheDarkWraith

I was a former Nuke EM but surface ship - CGN 37 USS SoPig. Made E-5 during the 'dark' side of Power School and put on E-6 after 2 years on the boat. Talk about animosity!! Left as an E-6 bucking E-7. Not even the chance to throw on Khaki's could get me to stay! Did my 6 and got the hell out so that I could make some real money in the civilian world After 15 years of being a civilian I would never go back. I love being able to tell people NO.

As far as cutting holes in ships it's not a big deal. You should see how they do the welding (heat soaking before and after). Integrity of the hull is maintained.

I **** you not, every nuc I get along with always ends up being an electrician. Yeah I can see how that would ruffle some feathers. We always gave the nucs **** about being push-button E-4s and how I earned my crow. But being a nuc is one thing I'm glad I didn't get into, the pay was good but the hours sucked.

Ah HY-80 and HY-100 welding, try and weld that cold and it will laugh at you. Titanium is even worse, I still don't think we know how the Soviets did it.

[Exocet25fr]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/212179...ne-super-glue/