Flank speed is a nautical term referring to a ship's true maximum speed, beyond the speed that can be reached by traveling at full speed. Usually, flank speed is reserved for situations in which a ship finds itself in imminent danger, such as coming under attack by aircraft. Flank speed is very fuel-inefficient and often unsustainable because of engine overheating issues.
By way of example, the specification for the Littoral combat ship states that the most economic speed of the LCS is 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) giving a range of 4,300 nautical miles (8,000 km; 4,900 mi)[1], and thus exhausting its fuel in 215 hours. This ship has a flank speed of 50 knots (93 km/h; 58 mph) but can only go 1,500 nautical miles (2,800 km; 1,700 mi) at flank speed, exhausting its fuel in 30 hours. Thus, its "flank speed" consumes fuel over seven times faster than "standard speed".
Other speeds include one-third, two-thirds, standard, and full. One-third and two-thirds are the respective fractions of standard speed. Full is greater than standard, but not as great as flank. Emergency may not be any faster than flank, but indicates the ship should be brought up to maximum speed in the shortest possible time.[2]
References
- ^ Global Security: LCS specs
- ^ James Stavridis, Robert Girrier. Watch Officer's Guide: A Handbook for All Deck Watch Officers. Naval Institute Press. p. 146.
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