2014 STGOD OOC Commentary Thread 1

[Esquire]

What's really funny is that I knew all of that, just didn't put it all together. Critical thinking, *I'm a smarmy asshole*?

[TimothyC]

Thing is, the reactor isn't a self-contained unit. You've got all the heat exchanger parts as well, at least half of which probably get replaced when the reactor is re-fueled. Then there's all the control systems, emergency systems etc.

The idea of having reactors that you can swap out like batteries is an interesting one, but it means that you essentially have to replace the whole thing rather than replace the fuel rods, which is expensive to do.

Lightwgiht Nuclear Propulsion. This same technology is what the Hawai'ian and Tianguo SSKNs run off of.

Do note that the power output from these is less than 30k shaft horsepower per unit, and as such you would need a bank of reactors (10 or so) to power an CVN. Relative to conventional nuclear power they are expensive to fuel (larger reactors are more fuel efficient) and man.

They also have issues with a lack of shielding when you have more than one.

[Steve]

Hrm. There are a number of places you could be on the map. Where did you want to be?

[Shinn Langley Soryu]

I suppose now's as good of a time as any to announce that I am expanding my initial proposal of a four-carrier fleet, as detailed to Steve via PM, to six active carriers plus one undergoing overhaul/refueling. With a $7 trillion GDP, I'm positive I can afford six active carrier battle groups, plus a large air force and a decent marine corps. The actual army will have to take a hit, but I'm an island nation anyway, and this isn't the Second Great War anymore.

While we're on the topic of Shroom, he was a huge Metal Gear Solid fan. I propose installing a Zanzibar Land expy somewhere in Australis/Austrafrica. The world can always use more crazy mercenary states run by egotistical ex-black operatives.

Also, I can't be the only one seeing the parallels between Britonia and Belka...

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

While we're on the topic of Shroom, he was a huge Metal Gear Solid fan. I propose installing a Zanzibar Land expy somewhere in Australis/Austrafrica. The world can always use more crazy mercenary states run by egotistical ex-black operatives.

Also, I can't be the only one seeing the parallels between Britonia and Belka...

I personally think that Shroomania should be populated by very gay Britonian men and women who indulge in all manner of debauchery, including killing their own fellow men.

[Steve]

I was gonna do a controversial but hugely popular kids' show called Shroom's Very Shroomy World.

[Steve]

I find myself at an impasse.

I wanted to do a fitting tribute to lost friends by naming one of my CVNs, the newest one, the CRS Martin Kemmish. I had intended others in the Hall of Memory to get CVNs as well... but that would be unfair to others who want to honor our lost friends. Nor do I want to see a macabre argument about who gets to honor which of them.

So I'm asking if anyone wants to make a similar gesture.

[Eternal_Freedom]

Whilst I strongly approve of the gesture Steve, I am happy to let you have a ship named for Nitram, since I didn't know him as well as others did. I have my own people I want to remember.

[Steve]

Wow, everyone busy with OrBats? Everyone's so quiet....

[Eternal_Freedom]

Pretty much. Plus I've been sorting out shit for my new flat.

[The Romulan Republic]

I'm working on my OrBat as well. I don't know if it'll be done by the time the game starts.

[Esquire]

That's about the size of it, although I should get it done in the next day or two.

On an unrelated note, did you know that trying to type"am.i.rite." without the periods or quotes corrects to "I'm a smarmy asshole?" Because I didn't.

[Simon_Jester]

It's a historical thing. I truly do not know why.

[Skywalker_T-65]

No idea here either.

As for me, I've been plotting stories out mostly.

[Esquire]

I'd assume it's because there was an infestation of smarmy assholes, but that could refer to nearly any time in the board's history.

[RogueIce]

It was four and a half years ago or thereabouts. Basically Mike got mad at what he saw as "chan speak" getting out of control. So he put in that filter.

I think there's a couple others as well but I don't recall what they were.

[Siege]

Obviously massively WIP. But how does it sound so far?

Sounds good to me. You were thinking of being placed in Astrafica, i.e. 'Austrafrica'? Did you have a specific place in mind?

[Simon_Jester]

Uh, what continent is Austrafrica/Astrafica? Who else is on it?

[Steve]

Your's.

[Siege]

Yes it is the name for the Australia/Africa continent I'm trying to sneak in because 'Austrafrica' doesn't sound right to me.

[Steve]

I liked Australis....

[RogueIce]

Just call it the F-ing Continent.

[TimothyC]

As the Cartographer, I strongly prefer to call the largest of the Southern Continents of Tellus (our world) Australis.

[Thanas]

Back from the conference, so I am slowly getting through the backlog of messages and board admin business. If I don't reply today I will do so tomorrow.

That's about the size of it, although I should get it done in the next day or two.

On an unrelated note, did you know that trying to type"am.i.rite." without the periods or quotes corrects to "I'm a smarmy asshole?" Because I didn't.

Oh that is an old relic that lives on because some debaters added am*r*te at the end of nearly every sentence and it got on Mike's nerve. Probably unnecessary now but not something anybody is going to bother to change unless it becomes a major hassle.


*******************
EDIT 2: Does anybody have any figures on what the US Navy historically spent annually on construction (as in, percentage of its budget)? Because I am currently pondering whether I should cut a lot of ships as replacing them might be unrealistic.

I know the US Navy spent roughly ~20 billion the last year but I wonder what the historical levels are.

[TimothyC]

EDIT 2: Does anybody have any figures on what the US Navy historically spent annually on construction (as in, percentage of its budget)? Because I am currently pondering whether I should cut a lot of ships as replacing them might be unrealistic.

I know the US Navy spent roughly ~20 billion the last year but I wonder what the historical levels are.

In 2009 dollars, the USN spent on average $14.4 Billion between 1980 and 2009. CBO report source.

Edit: When combined with the numbers here, here, and the inflation calculator here. The average USN budget (in 2009 dollars) was about $144 billion. This means that the USN spent about 9.8% of it's budget on new ship construction.

The numbers won't quite work exactly because shipbuilding costs in the US have outpaced inflation by 1.4% per year over the period of 1980-2009, but it's a close estimate.

If you want to dig deeper, the USN budget books for 1997-present are here.