What's the fastest surface ship in the Navy?

SN Greg Wright — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 12:36:34 -0500

What do you think, RP members? Which combat platform is the fastest? Naval types will likely know this, of course. (Hint: the answer might surprise you!)

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Dec 30 at 2015 12:41 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 12:41:51 -0500

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iApu_YCTqw

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Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 30 at 2015 12:49 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 12:49:48 -0500

I would expect destroyers to be the highest speed vessel in a squadron because of their protective screening duties SN Greg Wright.
Littoral Combat ships and Joint high speed vessels should also be fast. I would expect destroyers and littoral combat ships to be very agile.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Dec 30 at 2015 12:55 PM

Capt Mark Strobl — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 12:55:44 -0500

I voted for Carriers. Boring holes in the water somewhere in the South China Sea. We were doing about 25-kts on an LPD. Our hull was shaking like a wild bull. The Nimitz overtook us like we were stuck in a frozen pond. She was kicking up a roster tail that was almost to the flight deck. Needless to say, they weren't at flight ops and everything was chained to the deck. Crazy Impressive Power.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Dec 30 at 2015 1:07 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 13:07:56 -0500

The JHSV have a top speed slightly above that of any of the carriers. The Iowa Class battleships were actually slightly higher BUT the Carriers can maintain their top speeds longer than other two.

Response by CDR Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2015 1:08 PM

CDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 13:08:14 -0500

LCS if you don't consider range, after that CVNs.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2015 1:11 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 13:11:00 -0500

I'm voting for the LCS

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Dec 30 at 2015 1:15 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 13:15:53 -0500

I'm gonna go with I have no F'n clue.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2015 1:24 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 13:24:09 -0500

Who knows these days...but my vote if for the nuke carriers; all that power available has got to go somewhere :)

One thing is certain...just about ANYONE is faster than a good old Gator Freighter...but we can make a turn with less than two feet of water under the keel too!

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Dec 30 at 2015 1:58 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 13:58:03 -0500

Going to be a Carrier. When they go full bore, nothing else can keep up. I know when the 2x Embassies blew on 7 Aug 1998, the Essex (LHD, which I was on) and the rest of the ARG could not keep up with the Carrier Group. She left us like we were standing still.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2015 3:19 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 15:19:59 -0500

i would say carriers based off of their role, and assets aboard

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Dec 30 at 2015 5:17 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 17:17:56 -0500

The USS Millennium Falcon? My second choice is whatever ship doesn't have my fat a** on it.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Dec 30 at 2015 5:46 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 17:46:05 -0500

SN Greg Wright I cheated and checked out the other answers, but I was definitely leaning that way - thanks for sharing Greg I always find your posts and discussions interesting!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 30 at 2015 6:07 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 18:07:07 -0500

I can only answer with Ancient History. I served on Nuclear Cruisers. Stated Speed 30 Knots Plus (The Plus was 3 Knots for a total of 33) On the Cali we raced a turbo shaft they left us in the dirt out of the blocks so they go pretty fast and although we never raced a Carrier I heard tell from those that spent more time than us on Plane Guard that the Carrier could leave them in the dust. Never worked with JHSV or Littoral Combat Ship I suspect they are fairly light and fast. I was in during the Heyday of the USS Pegasus and handled the messages for RIMPAC that had the Pegasus involved. She sank the Carrier Several times before they even had a clue what hit them. It was definitely the Fastest in it's day (48 Knots on its Foils).

Response by SSgt Robert Jorgensen made Dec 30 at 2015 7:40 PM

SSgt Robert Jorgensen — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 19:40:39 -0500

That depends on classified info, as someone is always with a carrier, just not seen!

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Dec 30 at 2015 8:35 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 20:35:22 -0500

Probably carriers given they're overpowered for propulsion as they use a lot of steam for air ops. I recall some pretty fast numbers. There have been test vessels like the Stiletto, Mark 80, and others that were designed to be fast foremost. I'm curious as to what the real numbers will be on the Z Class.

Response by SCPO Joshua I made Dec 30 at 2015 9:57 PM

SCPO Joshua I — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 21:57:33 -0500

LCS.

Response by PO3 John Jeter made Dec 30 at 2015 10:58 PM

PO3 John Jeter — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 22:58:07 -0500

The USS Pegasus (PHM 1) passed us in the San Diego ship channel one morning up on her foils. The Quartermaster clocked her at 40+...... (He wouldn't say how much the plus was) The closest thing in the list was Littoral.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Dec 31 at 2015 6:44 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 06:44:55 -0500

Carriers. Though their top speed is listed as 30+ knots while a JHSV is listed at 40 knots and an LCS is listed as "minimum top speed of 40 knots", I was told by good authority (without revealing anything classified) that the Nimitz's top speed was WELL over "30+" knots.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Dec 31 at 2015 10:32 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 10:32:39 -0500

The Long Beach was faster - but she's not around any more; nor is Enterprise...

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Dec 31 at 2015 1:01 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 13:01:01 -0500

I voted for Cruisers but I know that Frigates and Destroyers are pretty dam fast also. I have been on 3 different carriers and I do know that they can get up and go too. Speed is essential to all Navy ships and escorts have to keep up with a carrier that's in a hurry to get to a hot spot.

Response by PO1 Matthew Murdock made Jan 2 at 2016 3:22 PM

PO1 Matthew Murdock — Sat, 02 Jan 2016 15:22:44 -0500

Between the JHSV or LCS... Both over 40kts

Response by LT John Stevens made Jan 7 at 2016 5:10 PM

LT John Stevens — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 17:10:40 -0500

During the evacuation of Saigon, I once plotted an unidentified contact moving at 50 knots. As it became visible, I learned it was the USS Enterprise.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2016 11:59 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 11:59:21 -0500

Carriers hands down. back in the early 2000's The Truman's battle group left 6 days before the carrier left Norfolk. The Truman beat the battle group to the straits so do some math there.

Response by PO1 Scott Cottrell made Jan 21 at 2016 2:16 PM

PO1 Scott Cottrell — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 14:16:18 -0500

Carriers are faster than most people think. If you have ever seen one on a high speed run, the roster tail is at least as tall as the ship itself.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jan 21 at 2016 2:24 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 14:24:49 -0500

Depends on your definition of "platform". Patrol boats like Mk V SEAL patrol craft can go 65+ kts. An LCAC can go around 70kts when empty.