Operational profiling and statistical analysis of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers

Abstract

Ship operational profiles are a valuable tool for ship designers and engineers when analyzing potential designs and ship system selections. The most common is the speed-time profile, normally depicted as a histogram showing the percent of time spent at each speed. Many shortcomings exist in the current Arleigh Burke (DDG 51)-class operational profiles. The current speed-time profile is out of date, based on another ship class, and does not depict the profile in one-knot increments. Additional profile data, such as how the engineering plant is operated and a mission profile, do not exist. A thorough analysis of recent DDG-51 operations was conducted and new and improved profiles were developed. These profiles indicate the ships tend to operate at slower speeds than was previously predicted with 46% of the time spent at 8 knots and below as compared to the previous profiles with 28% at the same speeds. Additionally, profiles were developed to show the amount of time spent in each engineering plant line-up (69% train shaft, 24% split plant, 7% full power) and the time spent in different mission types (69% operations, 27% transit, 4% restricted maneuvering doctrine). A detailed statistical analysis was then conducted to better understand the data used in profile development and to create a region of likely speed-time profiles rather than just a point solution that is presented in the composite speed-time profile. This was accomplished through studying the underlying distributions of the data as well as the variance.