Thread: HMAS TOOWOOMBA and a Giant

What a big ship that thing is.....

HMAS TOOWOOMBA approached nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ for a Replenishment at Sea. HMAS TOOWOOMBA assisted the USS NIMITZ by providing air defence during launshing and recovery of aircraft



HMAS TOOWOOMBA receives fuel replenishment from nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ at the end of tasking in CTF 50. HMAS TOOWOOMBA provided vital air defence for USS NIMITZ in place of of USS SAMPSON who was retasked





Despite the enormouse size difference, HMAS TOOWOOMBA provided vital air defence capability to nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ during a support task in CTF 50. Personnel from both ships had the opportuntity to cross-deck, developing an understanding of their coalition counterpart's work and build friendships

Originally Posted by weeds

what fuel would the planes use? i'm guessing they would have a few litres onboard

Turbine powered US Navy helicopters- JP5 (a kerosene based fuel with a higher flash point than Jet A. The higher flash point reduces the chance of fire caused by exposure to surrounding high temperatures. For example- consider aircraft on an aircraft carrier, if one aircraft catches fire, the nearby aircraft are better protected from fire.)
JP 4 was used from the '50 to the early '90 for military turboshaft powered aircraft. JP4 was a 50/50 mixture of gasoline and kerosene. JP8 replaced JP4 in the early '90s. JP8 is less flammable and offers better combat survivability. It is the primary fuel for military turboshaft powered aircraft. (except carrier based aircraft)

Trivia: You can identify aviation fuels by their color. 100LL is blue, Jet A and JP5 are clear. Dyes are used in aviation fuel for safety reasons. Putting Jet A in a piston powered aircraft would lead to an engine failure and possible crash. 100LL in a turbine is bad also, as the engine would run very hot and become damaged

Jet Fuel


JP-8, or JP8 (for "Jet Propellant 8") is a jet fuel, specified in 1990 by the U.S. government. It is kerosene-based. It is a replacement for the JP-4 fuel; the U.S. Air Force replaced JP-4 with JP-8 completely by the fall of 1996, to use a less flammable, less hazardous fuel for better safety and combat survivability. U.S. Navy uses a similar formula to JP-8, JP-5. JP-8 is projected to remain in use at least until 2025. It was first introduced at NATO bases in 1978. Its NATO code is F-34. It is specified by MIL-DTL-83133 and British Defence Standard 91-87.

In the U.S. military, JP-8 and JP-5 are used in the diesel engines of nearly all tactical ground vehicles and electrical generators. The M1 Abrams series of battle tanks also uses JP fuel in its gas turbine engine. The use of a single fuel for most combat applications greatly simplifies wartime logistics.

Commercial aviation uses a similar mixture under the name Jet-A. JP-8 in addition contains icing inhibitor, corrosion inhibitors, lubricants, and antistatic agents.

JP-5 has even higher flash point than JP-8, but it also has prohibitively higher cost, limiting its use to aircraft carriers.

Outside of powering aircraft, JP-8 is used as a fuel for heaters, stoves, tanks, internal combustion engine powered electrical generators (as a replacement for diesel fuel), and other military vehicles, and serves as a coolant in engines and some other aircraft components.

JP-8 contains less benzene (a carcinogen) and less n-hexane (a neurotoxin) than JP-4. However, it also smells stronger than JP-4. JP-8 has an oily feel to the touch, while JP-4 feels more like a solvent. Workers have complained of smelling and tasting JP-8 for hours after exposure. As JP-8 is less volatile, it remains on the contaminated surfaces for longer time, increasing the risk of exposure.[1]

JP-8+100 is a version of JP-8 with an additive that increases its thermal stability by 56°C (100°F). The additive is a combination of a surfactant, metal deactivator, and an antioxidant. It was introduced in 1994. The additive reduces coking and fouling in engine fuel systems. Commercially, this additive is used in Boeing aircraft operated by KLM, and in police helicopters in Tampa, Florida. [1] It is also used as fuel for Canadian CF-18 Hornets.

JP-8 fuel is used at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, for heating, electrical generation, and melting ice for water. It is used because it will not gel at low temperatures.

JP-8 is also used by Army Food Service Specialists (cooks) to fuel Modern Burner Units (MBUs) IAW Army Field Feeding Manual FM 10-23.

JP-8 is used for military diesel engines too. Because Cetane number is not specified this aviation fuel is causing troubles in modern highly supercharged engines during cold start and idling due to low compression temperatures and following ignition delay. Because lubricity is not specified, modern rail diesel engines can experience problems in high pressure fuel pumps and injectors.