On the vast blue battlefield, aircraft carriers ride the wind and waves like giant beasts, soaring at a speed of 30 knots.
This speed, to us on land, seems both familiar and unfamiliar.
One can't help but wonder, what kind of secret is hidden behind this number?
Why 30 knots, and not faster or slower?
It's on land, how much speed does this speed correspond to?
The design mystery of aircraft carrier speed
Like the Leviathan of the ancient sea legend, aircraft carriers dominate the waves of the vast seas.
Their speed is the result of a careful design, both a display of strength and a symbol of bondage.
Why is the aircraft carrier fixed at 30 knots?
Behind this is not only the pinnacle of science and technology, but also the balance of strategy.
This point of speed is the intersection of technology and tactics, a kind of gold standard for modern naval power.
In the design of aircraft carrier speed, a core technical challenge is faced first:
"The Limits of the Powertrain".
Imagine how much force it takes to propel a moving island?
The propulsion of the aircraft carrier has to overcome not only huge hydrodynamic resistance, but also the effects of wind resistance and waves.
Every section of speed here is a challenge to the limits of engineering.
Moreover, the power of the aircraft carrier is not just for the sake of movement.
It is also necessary to provide stable wind speeds for the take-off and landing of carrier-based aircraft, to supply power to radar and communication systems, and to ensure the operation of life support systems.
Therefore, the speed of 30 knots is a delicate balance found between these needs.
However, this 30 knots speed is not a random number, it reflects a deeper tactical choice.
At sea, speed means the difference between survival and death, and the active and passive of strategy.
On the one hand, carriers need to be fast enough to get to the battlefield quickly to support allies or show strength.
On the other hand, it also needs to have the ability to evade or evacuate enemy anti-ship missiles before they lock on.
Hence the speed of this 30 knots.
It is neither a wild run nor a leisurely stroll, it maintains a fragile equilibrium of speed in military strategy.
However, the design of speed is not impeccable.
As technology advances and tactical needs change, this velocity equilibrium may also change.
The advent of a new type of aircraft carrier may challenge this standard, leading to faster or slower design options.
Behind this, there will be a series of new technological revolutions and strategic adjustments.
Why don't aircraft carriers go faster than race cars?
What kind of tactical wisdom and technological challenges are hidden behind this?
Speed and tactics – why aircraft carriers don't go faster
Imagine a warship at sea like a sports car on the racetrack, but an aircraft carrier is not a speed machine that is on the verge of a touch.
Why don't they screw the speedometer all the way down and go for it faster?
The answer is hidden in a complex tactical chess game.
Every acceleration is a gamble against risk.
As the speed increases, fuel consumption rises exponentially, and every drop of this fuel is made of gold.
More speed means shorter range and more frequent resupply.
This is a fatal weakness tactically.
The speed of the aircraft carrier is like the pace of a dancer, which must be synchronized with the rhythm of the fleet.
If it is like a wild horse, too fast, other ships such as destroyers and supply ships will be out of reach.
Tactical cooperation, like a gorgeous symphony.
Every part should be in harmony.
If the aircraft carrier pursues speed too much, it will break this harmony and become an arrogant soloist.
On the battlefield, fighting alone often means disaster.
Not only that, but the increase in speed also puts a lot of stress on the hull structure.
Imagine a moving steel castle being hit by more violent waves for every little bit of speed.
In the physical world, speed and power are contradictory pairs, and aircraft carrier designers must find a delicate balance between the two.
If speed is pursued excessively, the life of the aircraft carrier will be greatly shortened by frequent maintenance.
Now, we know that aircraft carriers do not seek the limit of speed, but rather the optimal solution in tactics.
But that doesn't mean they're all about speed.
In future naval wars, with the continuous advancement of technology, new breakthroughs are destined to occur in the speed design of aircraft carriers.
30 knots land speed experience
Imagine that you have a piece of gas under your feet.
And this throttle is directly connected to a never-tired heart - the engine.
Put this feeling on land, what would it be like to experience a speed of 30 knots?
At sea, 30 knots (about 55 km / h) is a steady and powerful pace for a large aircraft carrier, capable of holding steady as Mount Tai in rough seas.
However, if this speed is placed on land.
Especially those winding country roads, or crowded city streets, will turn into a beast that cannot be easily controlled.
Now, let's move that speed to land and try to fit into those everyday scenes.
Runners sprint on the track, and their speed may be as low as 15 km/h.
And at this time, you pass at a speed of 30 knots, and they can only feel the afterimage of a gust of wind.
You'll see pedestrians' faces frozen in surprise, the cyclist's efforts eclipsed by your speed.
At this speed, on land, it is obviously a challenge and an adventure.
It requires you to react quickly, fast enough to make decisions in a split second.
At the same time, it will also test your courage and skill.
But the speed of 30 knots is not only a test of individual skills, but also a challenge to overall collaboration.
Just like the cooperation between an aircraft carrier and its accompanying fleet, vehicles on land need to cooperate with each other to ensure smooth and safe traffic.
If each motorist is traveling at a speed of 30 knots, coordination with others is not taken into account.
Then, the road will turn into a chaotic battlefield, where everyone is an enemy and every turn is an encounter.
This also reflects the wisdom of the aircraft carrier's speed choice: it is not a fighter who runs alone, but a leader who leads the fleet.
Its speed decisions must take into account the capabilities and needs of the entire battle group.
Don't forget as we immerse ourselves in the shock and imagination of 30 knots.
This speed is the quintessence of aircraft carrier tactics at sea, but on land, it can be a chaotic run.
This contrast makes us realize that speed is not a simple numbers game, whether on land or at sea.
It is a choice that is closely related to the environment, purpose, and responsibility.
Written at the end of the article
The speed decisions of the aircraft carrier reflect the big picture, while the experience of speed on land reminds us.
Behind speed is the consideration of responsibility and safety.
In this dance of speed and wisdom at sea, we witnessed how the aircraft carrier shuttled through the huge waves, rather than pursuing a blind speed.
Their speed, which appropriately balances strategic needs with physical limits.
This balance is clever in design, wise in tactics, and thoughtful in the face of future challenges.
The story of the aircraft carrier is much more than that.
It's about a contest of strength, intelligence, and survival.