Panama Canal update

Poor Richard Saunders said:
It is quite funny that you would think the US would send an aircraft carrier or large warships through the Panama Canal as you show a carrier in your meme.

Can a battleship traverse the Panama canal?
No, a battleship cannot traverse the Panama Canal.
@Grok

Then -
Why you can't trust Grok for anything -

Can an aircraft carrier fit in the Panama Canal?
An aircraft carrier can indeed fit within the width of the Panama Canal, but the answer to whether it can transit through the canal is more nuanced:
  • Dimensions: Modern aircraft carriers, like the U.S. Nimitz-class or Ford-class, are around 109 meters (358 feet) wide at the beam. The original Panama Canal's locks are approximately 33.5 meters (110 feet) wide, making it impossible for these large carriers to pass through the old locks.
  • Panama Canal Expansion: The Panama Canal underwent a significant expansion project, which was completed in 2016, introducing the Neo-Panamax locks. These new locks can accommodate ships with a maximum beam of 49 meters (160.7 feet) and a length up to 366 meters (1,200 feet).
    • The width of modern aircraft carriers does not exceed the 49-meter limit of the Neo-Panamax locks, but there's more to consider:
Click to expand...
I have a friend whose father was a canal captain and is himself a now a canal captain. He said when a battleship went through the canal there was a foot of clearance on each side and they had to remove some overhanging lighting to get it through.




 
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FastLane said:
I have a friend that father was a canal captain and is himself a now a canal captain. He said when a battleship went through the canal there was a foot of clearance on each side and they had to remove some overhanging lighting to get it through.




Click to expand...
It's funny when I change the question to "fit" instead of "traverse" Grok suddenly says a battleship will be able to pass through the canal.

Grok is stupid.
 
The United States Navy does not currently operate any battleships. The last battleships in the U.S. Navy were the Iowa-class, with the final one, USS Missouri (BB-63), being decommissioned in 1992. Since then, the Navy has focused on other types of vessels like aircraft carriers, destroyers, cruisers, and submarines, which better fit modern naval warfare strategies.


@Grok
 
  • Submarines: U.S. submarines can transit the Panama Canal, but they must do so surfaced unless they are extremely small.
  • Destroyers, Cruisers, and Frigates: Many of these smaller surface combatants are designed with Panamax dimensions in mind, meaning they can fit through the original locks of the Panama Canal. Ships like the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, Ticonderoga-class cruisers, and some frigates have dimensions that allow them to pass through the canal.
  • Amphibious Ships and Auxiliaries: Some amphibious ships, like those of the San Antonio class (LPD-17), are designed to fit within the Panamax specifications, with beams around 32 meters, which is just under the original Panamax limit. However, larger amphibious assault ships like the America class might not fit without adjustments. Similarly, many of the Navy's logistics ships (like the Lewis and Clark class) are also Panamax compatible.
  • Newer Designs: The U.S. Navy has been somewhat slow to design ships for the New Panamax dimensions, but some newer classes like the John Lewis-class replenishment oilers and later San Antonio-class ships are built to fit within the original Panamax limits rather than taking full advantage of the New Panamax specifications.
To summarize, while no modern U.S. aircraft carriers can transit the Panama Canal, many other operational ships in the U.S. Navy's fleet, like destroyers, submarines (surfaced), some cruisers, frigates, and certain amphibious and auxiliary vessels, can indeed pass through, either using the original Panamax locks or the newer, larger Neopanamax locks. The design of U.S. naval ships has traditionally been influenced by the canal's dimensions, showing a historical consideration for being able to transit this strategic waterway.


@Grok
 
Diogenes said:
The United States Navy does not currently operate any battleships. The last battleships in the U.S. Navy were the Iowa-class, with the final one, USS Missouri (BB-63), being decommissioned in 1992. Since then, the Navy has focused on other types of vessels like aircraft carriers, destroyers, cruisers, and submarines, which better fit modern naval warfare strategies.


@Grok
Click to expand...
True so technically a Battleship can't pass through the Panama canal. Grok was correct again
 
FastLane said:
True so technically a Battleship can't pass through the Panama canal. Grok was correct again
Click to expand...


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