Jimmy Carter SSN-23 - First look!

[bobcowan]

Here's presumably our first good peek at Jimmy Carter SSN-23.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040510/DCM071

Bob Cowan

[bobcowan]

I just discovered that if

I just discovered that if you put Jimmy Carter in the EB website search engine a nice high rez version of the same picture comes up.

http://www.generaldynamics.com/

Bob

[JWLaRue]

The photo could be 'deceiving'......but

The photo could be 'deceiving'......but it looks like there may be only two flank arrays mounted on (presumably) each side of the hull.....?

-Jeff

[feet wet]

Perhaps my eyes are deceiving

Perhaps my eyes are deceiving me, but I see three flank arrays,1) just aft of bow planes ) just under the GD flag forwd of the US flag, ) just ahead of the scaffolding at the stern.
If I'm wrong... well it wouldn"t be the first time
Cheers
Jonathan Eno

[JWLaRue]

Hmmmm, good spotting....it could be.

Hmmmm, good spotting....it could be. Time to look for more photos!

-Jeff

[bobcowan]

It's three flank arrays like

It's three flank arrays like the base Seawolf. The gap between the two aft arrays and the forward array because of the 100 foot hull extension.

Bob

[anonymous]

Thank you for the reference

Thank you for the reference to the larger Hi -Res image of the Jimmy Carter SSN-23.

The three flank arrays will be equidistant as the earlier boats in the class, just spread farther apart because of the increased hull length. This is important for the sensor geometry.

Forward around the torpedo shutters it looks like EB has done some airbrushing Ala 'photo studio'. Also, if you look near the Jimmy Carter blue banner, some of the chine around the center flank array is there, just it has been 'smudged' with the 'photo studio' in that location too. Not a very good job of deception, but very understandable.

Also just forward of the blue banner (about 1 1/2 to 2 blue banner's in length forward) above the water line there appears to be two large grates (limber holes?). I know the new special multi mission hull section is supposed to have some free flooding areas within.

Steve Reichmuth

[bobcowan]

You're right Steve, on second

You're right Steve, on second look those arrays are of equal distance. That makes sense about sensor geometry. I always wondered how they would be configured on SSN-23 and thats one of the reasons I held off modelling this sub too early. As you know,that multi-mission extension is to have 'bomb bay' style doors that open to the free flooding special equipment area made possible by the wasp waist pressure hull. It's hard to see seams anywhere and perhaps this area received the 'PhotoShop' treatment as well or perhaps it's too far underneath to see. I'm suprised there was a roll out pic at all given the modification and assignment of this boat! - Bob

[pdoman]

I guess the "underwater hanger"

I guess the "underwater hanger" entrance is the gap where there are no keel blocks...

[bobcowan]

Yes, looks like it, Paul.

Yes, looks like it, Paul. Probably some large access/release doors topside because there should be hangar space there as well with the wasp waist.

Bob Cowan