When discussing aircraft carriers, one usually pays first attention to their displacement, since this indicator largely represents the strength and capabilities of the aircraft carrier. The speed of an aircraft carrier is usually measured in "knots", but many people may not be very clear what the unit "knots" actually represents. For example, when we hear that an aircraft carrier is sailing at a speed of 30 knots per hour, what kind of speed does this mean on land?
First of all, it is worth noting that the speed of aircraft carriers, whether nuclear-powered or conventionally powered, is generally around 30 knots. However, this does not mean that 30 knots is the maximum speed of an aircraft carrier. In fact, a speed of 30 knots is already quite fast for such a huge vessel, which corresponds to about 55 knots per hour56 km.
To understand this rate, we need to look back at the historical origins of the festival. In the early days of sailing, due to the lack of accurate speed measurement tools, captains often had to estimate the speed of their boats through experience. In the 16th century, a young sailor came up with an innovative approach to this problem. He used a long rope with buoys with spacer markings tied to the ends, and by throwing this device and combining it with an hourglass, it was possible to calculate the speed of the boat. The use of this method led to the "knot" eventually becoming the standard unit for measuring the speed of a ship.
Today, the knot is widely accepted as a standard unit of speed at sea and is used internationally in navigation and aviation. Despite the fact that the maximum speed of the aircraft carrier is 30 knots, it is already quite difficult to achieve this speed due to its large size and weight. Aircraft carriers usually have a displacement of tens of thousands of tons, which means that the water resistance they face is enormous.
The principles of physics tell us that when an object moves through a fluid, the drag it experiences is proportional to the surface area. Thus, despite the fact that the aircraft carrier has a powerful power system, its huge size makes the drag in sea water equally enormous, making it difficult to reach higher speeds. That is why the speed of an aircraft carrier usually does not exceed 30 knots, and this speed is already enough for most operational and navigational needs.
What's more, aircraft carriers also need to consider the speed of the entire fleet when sailing, especially those that are slower. The carrier also needs to maintain sufficient forward inertia while creating airflow on deck that is suitable for carrier-based aircraft to take off and land. Therefore, the speed of the aircraft carrier needs to be carefully adjusted while ensuring navigation safety and operational efficiency.
In addition to physical principles, the speed of an aircraft carrier is limited by economic and tactical considerations. High-speed sailing will be substantial.
Increasing fuel consumption is a major economic burden for any country. In addition, aircraft carriers, as the most valuable military assets, need to operate cautiously under the premise of ensuring safety.
In fact, 1 saving is equal to 1852 km h, so 30 knots is equivalent to 5556 km h. This speed is comparable to many vehicles on the highway, but it is still far from high-speed trains or airplanes.
All in all, the design and operation of an aircraft carrier is a complex project that requires finding the best balance between several factors. The speed of 30 knots is not particularly fast, but it is the optimal result after taking into account the size, weight, safety and tactical needs of the carrier. Thus, the aircraft carrier, although technically possible to reach higher speeds, is already the best option for its regular operation at 30 knots for a number of reasons.