Feature 6 | PROPULSION


Ship-to-Shore Connector could be first application for GE38


GE Aviation has announced plans to develop its GE38 turboshaſt engine for marine applications, among them the US Navy’s proposed Ship-to-Shore Connector (SSC).


GE believes the GE38 is suited to a range of marine applications.


T


he company describes the GE38 as the most technologically advanced turboshaſt engine in its class. It has


been selected to power the Sikorsky CH-53K helicopter, which is in development for the US Marine Corps. Compared to the T64 turboshaſt engine,


the GE38’s predecessor, the GE38 provides 57% more power in the same envelope, 18 per cent better fuel consumption, and has 63% fewer parts. The marine version of the GE38 is


identical to the aircraft engine, with the exception of some control schedules in the Full Authority Digital Engine Controls (FADEC) soſtware. GE is also looking to leverage this existing technology to offer the US Navy maintenance commonality, smaller logistics footprint, as well as lower operating and support costs. GE Aviation believes the GE38 is a


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low-risk option that would be well-suited to marine applications such as the US Navy’s proposed SSC programme and electric power generation for DDG-51- class destroyers. The SSC is designed to transport


weapon systems, equipment, cargo and personnel of


the assault element from


a Marine Air/Ground Task force and Army Brigade Combat Team (BCT), and would be deployed from the well decks of amphibious vessels including the LPD, LSD, and LHD/LHA. A high-speed vessel, it would have a


speed of in excess of 35kts, a high payload (~74 tonnes), be able to operate day or night from up to 25nm offshore and would be capable of over-the-beach operations with the ability to operate independent of tides, water depth, underwater obstacles, ice, or mud in NATO Sea State 3-4


(significant wave height of 4.1-6.2ſt). GE38 development testing is underway


at the company’s Lynn, Massachusetts, facility. The engine has established a facility turboshaft horsepower record, eclipsing 7500shp. Development testing includes five


factory test engines that will accumulate approximately 5000 hours. To date, more than 300 hours have been logged on two engines. Overall engine performance is excellent and specific fuel consumption and power is better than predicted. The GE38’s operating attributes and


benefits make this an optimal engine choice for the SSC programme, according to Brien Bolsinger, GE Marine’s general manager. “Te GE38 is ideally suited to perform very well as a marine application. Te engine was designed with corrosion- resistant materials to operate in harsh


Warship Technology March 2011


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