Turbo-electric transmission

The battleship USS New Mexico, launched in 1917, was the World's first turbo-electric battleship.

Turbo-electric transmission uses electric generators to convert the mechanical energy of a turbine (steam or gas) into electric energy and electric motors to convert it back into mechanical energy to power the driveshafts.

Turbo-electric drives are used in some rail locomotives (gas turbines, e.g. with the first TGV) and ships (steam and more recently gas turbines). An advantage of turbo-electric transmission is that it allows the adaptation of high-speed turbines to slow turning propellers or wheels without a heavy and complex gearbox. It has the advantage of being able to provide electricity for the ship or train's other electrical systems, such as lighting, computers, radar, and communications equipment.

Ships with turbo-electric drive

USS Langley, the US Navy's first aircraft carrier, was converted in 1920–22 to be the US Navy's first turbo-electric ship.

USS Tullibee, launched in 1960, was the US Navy's first turbo-electric submarine.

Warships

Battleships

Colorado-class
USS New Mexico
Tennessee-class

Aircraft carriers

USS Langley (as re-engined in 1922)
Lexington-class

Destroyer escorts

Buckley-class
Rudderow-class

Troop ships

Admiral W. S. Benson-class transports
Gilliam-class attack transports

Submarines

USS Glenard P. Lipscomb
USS Tullibee
Triomphant-class submarines
Columbia-class submarines

Auxiliary ships

Suamico-class oilers

Coast Guard cutters

Tampa-class cutters USCGC Haida, USCGC Modoc, USCGC Mojave and USCGC Tampa

Merchant ships

Uruguay. She was launched in 1927 as California, the World's first turbo-electric ocean liner.

Normandie, launched in 1932, was the World's most powerful turbo-electric steamship.

Canberra, launched in 1960, was the first ship with alternating current (AC) turbo-electric transmission.

RMS Queen Mary 2, launched in 2003, has gas turbines and is the World's largest turbo-electric ship.

Arauca (shown here) and her sister ship Antilla were launched in 1939. Their propulsion systems suffered significant technical failures on their maiden voyages.

Ocean liners

California (later Uruguay), Pennsylvania (later Argentina) and Virginia (later Brazil)
Canberra – the most powerful steam turbo-electric units in a passenger ship, 42,500 shp (31,700 kW) per shaft, 2 shafts
Monarch of Bermuda (later New Australia and Arkadia) and Queen of Bermuda
RMS Mooltan (as re-engined in 1929)
Morro Castle and Oriente (later USAT Thomas H. Barry)
Normandie – most powerful steam turbo-electric passenger ship ever, 40,000 shp (30,000 kW) per shaft (50,000 shp at max power), 4 shafts
Potsdam and Scharnhorst (later Japanese aircraft carrier Shinyo)
President Cleveland and President Wilson (originally planned as Admiral W. S. Benson-class transports)
President Hoover and President Coolidge
RMS Queen Mary 2 – powered by General Electric gas turbines as well as her diesel generators to generate the current for her four Rolls-Royce electric podded azimuth thrusters
Santa Clara (later USS Susan B. Anthony)
Strath-class ocean liners RMS Strathnaver and RMS Strathaird
RMS Viceroy of India

Coastal liners

Cuba (formerly Powhatan), converted to turbo-electric transmission in 1920
Princess Marguerite (II) and Princess Patricia

Ferries

TEV Wahine
TEV Rangatira – possibly the World's last steam-powered turbo-electric merchant ship; scrapped 2005
Union Rotorua and Union Rotoiti were both built as gas turbine ships with electric transmission. Rotoiti was subsequently re-engined to diesel.

Cruise ships

Millennium-class cruise ships Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Millennium and Celebrity Summit

Banana boats

Darien (as re-engined in about 1930)
Cargo and passenger liners (later Mizar-class stores ships) Antigua, USS Ariel, USS Merak, USS Mizar, USS Talamanca and USS Tarazed
Musa and Platano
San Benito, later USS Taurus

General cargo ships

Arauca (later USS Saturn), Antilla and Orizaba

Bulk carriers

Frank C. Ball was a lake freighter that was converted to turbo-electric propulsion in 1930.
SS Carl D. Bradley

Oil tankers

T2 tankers

External links

Czarnecki, Joseph (31 January 2001). "Turboelectric drive in American Capital Ships". The Naval Technical Board. NavWeaps.
Draper, John L (December 1930). "The Paddle Wheel to Electric Drive". Popular Mechanics: 898–902. — detailed article with drawing and charts on turbo-electric drive for ships and the advantages