Navy’s Electrification Transformation

Sept. 15, 2 p.m. ET

Many people don’t know that most of the large ship propulsion was electric as early as the 1900’s. Even navy propulsion, early as WWI. The first aircraft Carrier, the Langley CV-1, was an electric drive battleship converted to an aircraft carrier. These ships used turbo-electric drive, with steam turbines driving generators, connected to motors driving the shafts, and the US industry was a world leader in electric machines and propulsion.

Then following WWII, the marine industry made a transition back to steam and gas turbine mechanical drive for power density and speed. The SS United States passenger ship made the fastest transatlantic crossing, and became the fastest passenger ship in the world. This trend was maintained until the cruise ship industry transitioned to integrated electric drive systems in the 1980s and at the turn of the century navies began moving to hybrid and electric drive. Now, the US Navy is going to hybrid (FFG-62) and full electric DDG1000 and the COLUMBIA Submarine. The Navy is transitioning to electric drive. What are the reasons for the return to electric drive? Let’s ask the experts…