ELECTRICAL SHIPS

Evening Star, Issue 19763, 13 January 1928, Page 2

ELECTRICAL SHIPS

Although those in England appear to be somewhat sceptical of the electrical ship, in spite of the fact that the P. and 0. Company have decided to launch such a vessel shortly, the Americans, on the other hand, have such faith in the electric drive that the U.S.S. Lexington, a 33-000-ton naval aircraft-carrier now under construction, is to he so propelled (reports the ‘Electrician’). For a man-o’-war the Lexington has unususal dimensions, in that she is over SOOl't Jong, with over a 100 ft beam. Propulsion will be effected by four 35,200 kilowatt turbogenerator sets, which will supply energy to eight motors; sixteen oil-fired boilers will provide the turbines with steam. The motors are eacn 22,500 horse-power machines, and will bo connected in pairs to four propeller shafts, and will drive the propellers at 300 revolutions iper minute. For the remainder of the power requirements six 750-kilowatt turbo-generators will provide the supply, as, for instance, operating elevators, cranes, etc.