Topic Actions

Topic Search

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 26 guests

Last capital ship ever built without any electricity?

This fascinating series is a combination of historical seafaring, swashbuckling adventure, and high technological science-fiction. Join us in a discussion!
Last capital ship ever built without any electricity?
Post by Henry Brown   » Tue Mar 18, 2014 11:15 am

Henry Brown
Commodore

Posts: 912
Joined: Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:57 pm
Location: Greenville NC

Now that the ICN has started to move towards steel warships, I am wondering how far they can go without electricity. Things like below deck lighting and ventilation become much easier with electricity. So I was wondering if the forum members who are particularly knowledgeable about naval history had any idea at what point real-world capital ships starting incorporating electrical devices? And what was the last major ship built without any electricity?
Top
Re: Last capital ship ever built without any electricity?
Post by Theemile   » Tue Mar 18, 2014 12:26 pm

Theemile
Fleet Admiral

Posts: 5241
Joined: Sat Feb 27, 2010 5:50 pm
Location: All over the Place - Now Serving Dublin, OH

Henry Brown wrote:Now that the ICN has started to move towards steel warships, I am wondering how far they can go without electricity. Things like below deck lighting and ventilation become much easier with electricity. So I was wondering if the forum members who are particularly knowledgeable about naval history had any idea at what point real-world capital ships starting incorporating electrical devices? And what was the last major ship built without any electricity?


Alot can be done without electricity - Pneumatics and hydraulics can go a long way for providing sensor, control and power to remote systems - ventillation systems could easily be powered by pneumatic or hydraulic lines. Speaking tubes can be a solution to the communications issues.

But lighting is still an issue.

I don't know the last ship without electricity, but I know pneumatic sensor and control sytems were still frequently used in cars in the 80s.
******
RFC said "refitting a Beowulfan SD to Manticoran standards would be just as difficult as refitting a standard SLN SD to those standards. In other words, it would be cheaper and faster to build new ships."
Top
Re: Last capital ship ever built without any electricity?
Post by Joat42   » Tue Mar 18, 2014 3:27 pm

Joat42
Admiral

Posts: 2162
Joined: Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:01 am
Location: Sweden

Theemile wrote:But lighting is still an issue.


Gas lamps. Provides very good lighting. Can be a bit iffy to use during combat situations though if you get a gas leak.

---
Jack of all trades and destructive tinkerer.

Anyone who have simple solutions for complex problems is a fool.
Top
Re: Last capital ship ever built without any electricity?
Post by jgnfld   » Tue Mar 18, 2014 4:17 pm

jgnfld
Captain of the List

Posts: 468
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 9:55 am

For the first deck, ships in the 19th century often used deck prisms during the day. Kerosene lamps at night. A group of us found a kerosene lamp in the engine room of a wreck in Lake Superior (the Wilson) which now is in a museum in Duluth. A google search will show you all sorts of examples of turn-of-the-century kerosene nautical lamps for sale.

I have a kerosene lamp mounted on gimbals in my sailboat!

Not sure if carbide was ever used, but that might be another possibility that would be a bit safer. Not sure you can even make carbide without electricity. Solar furnace maybe?

Joat42 wrote:
Theemile wrote:But lighting is still an issue.


Gas lamps. Provides very good lighting. Can be a bit iffy to use during combat situations though if you get a gas leak.
Top
Re: Last capital ship ever built without any electricity?
Post by Henry Brown   » Tue Mar 18, 2014 4:52 pm

Henry Brown
Commodore

Posts: 912
Joined: Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:57 pm
Location: Greenville NC

Joat42 wrote:Gas lamps. Provides very good lighting. Can be a bit iffy to use during combat situations though if you get a gas leak.


I'm not an expert on gas lamps by any means. However if Charis tries a shipwide system below decks wouldn't there be an increased risk of fire or explosion if the piping ruptured during battle? Also, how durable would such a system be? It would not be good if an otherwise minor hit knocked out a significant portion of the below deck lighting.
Top
Re: Last capital ship ever built without any electricity?
Post by saber964   » Tue Mar 18, 2014 5:40 pm

saber964
Admiral

Posts: 2423
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2012 8:41 pm
Location: Spokane WA USA

I do know that USS Olympia C 6 has skylights
Top
Re: Last capital ship ever built without any electricity?
Post by AirTech   » Tue Mar 18, 2014 8:06 pm

AirTech
Captain of the List

Posts: 476
Joined: Mon Dec 09, 2013 4:37 am
Location: Deeeep South (Australia) (most of the time...)

Henry Brown wrote:
Joat42 wrote:Gas lamps. Provides very good lighting. Can be a bit iffy to use during combat situations though if you get a gas leak.


I'm not an expert on gas lamps by any means. However if Charis tries a shipwide system below decks wouldn't there be an increased risk of fire or explosion if the piping ruptured during battle? Also, how durable would such a system be? It would not be good if an otherwise minor hit knocked out a significant portion of the below deck lighting.


Gas lights would be possible but probably impractical in a combat situation. Kerosene lamps, and possibly Davey lamps would work in combat so long as they didn't take a direct hit (but could be armored to a certain extent). Skylights in daylight would definitely be preferred.
I cannot see serious combat involving major warships occurring without external illumination (spotlights) and this would require hydrogen lime lights if electricity is not to be used.
Top
Re: Last capital ship ever built without any electricity?
Post by BigBadBob   » Wed Mar 19, 2014 8:38 pm

BigBadBob
Midshipman

Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2014 8:20 pm

What does the ICN currently use for below deck lighting in the fleet? Wouldn't that suffice until the OBA is disabled? Once that has been achieved technology is going to be ramped up and sea going will become space going.
Top
Re: Last capital ship ever built without any electricity?
Post by SYED   » Thu Mar 20, 2014 2:06 am

SYED
Rear Admiral

Posts: 1345
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2011 11:03 pm

SHips may be safer if built with less wood, using torches or flame lamps, have always been dangerous on wooden vessels. ventilation will be the biggest issue.
Top
Re: Last capital ship ever built without any electricity?
Post by PeterZ   » Thu Mar 20, 2014 9:51 am

PeterZ
Fleet Admiral

Posts: 6432
Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2011 1:11 pm
Location: Colorado

Yes, an issue but not insurmountable. The fans used to circulate air will have to be more powerful. I suspect that exhaust vents will have to be designed specifically to draw out smoke from the flames. If designed well the flames, air intake and exhaust will all be in a closed system.

SYED wrote:SHips may be safer if built with less wood, using torches or flame lamps, have always been dangerous on wooden vessels. ventilation will be the biggest issue.
Top

Return to Safehold