ONR's most recent Cheapskate Prize for affordability goes to a stern flap design for Spruance and Ticonderoga class destroyers.
The stern flap – a relatively small extension of the hull bottom – reduces the power required to propel these ships, thereby reducing fuel consumption. Trials to date indicate an annual savings of 3,600 barrels of fuel for Spruance Class and 4,700 barrels for Ticonderoga Class. At the current unburdened fuel price of $37 per barrel, the annual cost savings would be $133,000 for Spruance Class and $174,000 for Ticonderoga Class.
ONR established the Cheapskate Award to recognize cost savings in science and technology projects with direct relevance to naval warfighting needs. This year's winners, Dominic Cusanelli and Lowry Hundley of the Naval Surface Warfare Center's Carderock Division, were honored for their "leadership and technical innovation in the pursuit of ship design modifications, which provide breakthroughs in ship energy efficiency."
The stern flap design also received the Environmental Protection Agency 1998 Climate Protection Award for "Technical Breakthroughs in Ship Energy Efficiency." The Navy plans to retrofit stern flaps to the Spruance and Ticonderoga classes, as well as to the Arleigh Burke Class Flight I/II (DDG 51-DDG 78) destroyers and the Oliver Hazard Perry Class (FFG 7-FFG 61) frigates.
Stern flaps have also been incorporated into the hull design of the Navy's newest destroyers, the Arleigh Burke Flight IIA (DDG 79-DDG 107), and into the design of the new amphibious transport, the San Antonio (LPD 17-LPD 28). In total, the life cycle savings is estimated to be about $380 million.