GE gas turbines to power LHA 6

GE Marine announced that its LM2500+ marine aero derivative gas turbines have been selected by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB), Pascagoula, Miss., to power the US Navy?s new LHA 6 amphibious assault ship.

“The selection of the LM2500+ gas turbines offers propulsion commonality for this first-in-class ship with the U.S. Navy?s existing LHD 8 amphibious assault ship currently under construction at NGSB. The LHD 8 was the first U.S. Navy ship to use this hybrid propulsion system configuration, and was the first military application of the LM2500+ gas turbine,” said Brien Bolsinger, general manager, GE Marine, Evendale, Ohio. “This LHA 6 project furthers GE?s long-standing tradition of supplying reliable gas turbines to the U.S. Navy — our largest operator with a fleet of over 400 GE gas turbines.”

The LHA 6 ship?s hybrid mechanical-electric propulsion system will consist of two LM2500+ gas turbines, each rated at 35,290 shaft horsepower at U.S. Navy standard day conditions (100oF), and two, 5,000 horsepower auxiliary propulsion motors. The LM2500+ gas turbines will be manufactured at GE?s Evendale facility.

The hybrid propulsion system enables the ship?s propellers to be driven either by the gas turbines or by the electric motors, which are powered from the ship service electrical system. This propulsion system allows the ship to operate in a more fuel efficient mode throughout its speed range.