INVESTIGATION OF KEEL BLOCK LOADS DURING DRYDOCKING OF USS ROWAN (DD 782),

The loads on all keel blocks were measured for a long-hull DD 692-Class destroyer. The magnitude and location of the keel block reactions compared favorably with the ships displacement and center of gravity. The experimental values are compared with theory, and it is concluded that the approximate method is satisfactory for computing the effect of the stern overhang on the keel block loads. It is shown that the skeg of this class of ship can be shortened by approximately 12 ft to obtain better maneuverability and still maintain acceptable keel block loads. Author