# What's the most powerful machine you've been on? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 20, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088 "2005-06-20T18:11:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/1 "2005-06-20T18:11:37Z")
For me it would have to be the [Currituck Split-Hull Dredge](http://www.vsv.cape.com/~harharb/news/currituck.html) ship, ages ago, when i was working as a photographer for the York County Coast Star, i was allowed on board the ship to take some photos of the dredge in action… if the sheer size of the ship doesn’t impress you, or the power of the pumps pumping up silt, sand and detritus from the harbor bed, then the dumping of the sediment has got to be impressive, the ship powers out to a point off the coast and the _HULL SPLITS LONGITUDANILY_ like a clamshell opening, dumping the sediment back into the ocean… the bow and stern hinges on this beast are _massive_… ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/2 "2005-06-20T20:12:05Z")
Easily, this guy: The [USS Annapolis](http://www.csg2.navy.mil/Annapolis/annapolis.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/3 "2005-06-20T20:15:40Z")
This is too easy. [CVN-75](http://www.nol.navy.mil/homepages/cvn75/) when it was fresh out of the yards. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/4 "2005-06-20T20:36:52Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > For me it would have to be the [Currituck Split-Hull Dredge](http://www.vsv.cape.com/~harharb/news/currituck.html) ship, > [@](#): > > CURRITUCK plowed into center span taking out bridge at Outer Banks That has _got_ to play havoc with your insurance. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/5 "2005-06-20T20:39:09Z")
Fixed [link](http://www.nol.navy.mil/homepages/cvn75/) Cool. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/6 "2005-06-20T20:48:26Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Fixed [link](http://www.nol.navy.mil/homepages/cvn75/) > > Cool. It’s not the Truman, but it’s sister ship the Stennis, but still, you can see the damn things from [space](http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=32.711492,-117.188319&spn=0.007650,0.009130&t=k&hl=en) ! ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/7 "2005-06-20T21:02:09Z")
I guess it would be the [U.S.S. Lexington](http://www.usslexington.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/8 "2005-06-20T21:08:40Z")
The most powerful machine I’ve been on is probably a 747. My father was in the navy though… ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/9 "2005-06-20T22:39:03Z")
I’m assuming it would be the single engined four seater aircraft my Dad had a flight lesson in. That or one of the express buses on the way home. Comparing these to machinery that can be seen from orbit, its clear I’ve not lived enough 😛 ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/10 "2005-06-20T22:41:40Z")
How are we measuring power? Speed, volume, tonnage? Aircraft would win in one venue, while ferries and other oceangoing vessels are victors in another. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/11 "2005-06-20T22:43:08Z")
Most powerful I’ve ever _driven_ ? Probably [this](http://www.saipem.eni.it/flotta/images/semac1.jpg) fellow. IIRC it had 12 1400 hp engines (total: 16,800 hp) . (Although “drive” is a relative term here. Semisubmersibles sorta drag theirself along the seabed using anchors on really long cables). I have a small\* amount of time driving [this](http://image07.webshots.com/7/5/76/63/178357663QJFYSU_ph.jpg) gal. She sports about 7200 hp total. \*very small. but oh so memorable. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/12 "2005-06-20T22:43:56Z")
O feck, the geek in me assumed you meant computers. I was all ready to post “This!” The most powerfull machine I’ve been on might be the HMS Belfast. Or it could be one of the Steam Packet ferries, being that they are a lot newer than the Belfast. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/13 "2005-06-20T22:44:05Z")
I was on the USS Enterprise! No, not the starship, the nuclear carrier. That was and remains one hell of an impressive ship. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/14 "2005-06-20T22:50:01Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > …its clear I’ve not lived enough 😛 But you have a cool username. 😃 (What board would be complete without a Pushkin _and_ a Pullin, I ask you?) ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/15 "2005-06-20T22:51:15Z")
My answer is probably Concorde. (It didn’t have to be in motion at the time, did it? 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/16 "2005-06-20T22:52:07Z")
I once took a tour of an active missile Launch Facility, and leaned over and physically touched one of [these puppies](http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=113) aimed directly skyward, with the word “LOADED” stenciled on the side of the shroud. But I didn’t “ride it” per se. My name’s **Tripler** , not [Major Kong](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057012/). Tripler I don’t even think I’d want to be around when they started the ignition keys either. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/17 "2005-06-20T22:53:06Z")
Does [Hoover Dam](http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/faqs/powerfaq.html) count? > [@](#): > > The plant has a nameplate capacity of about 2,080 megawatts. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/18 "2005-06-20T22:55:19Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Does [Hoover Dam](http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/faqs/powerfaq.html) count? If we’re making the distinction between ‘machine’ and ‘vehicle’ then probably the most powerful machine I’ve been ‘on’ is either Hinkley-Point Nuclear power station, or Heysham (forget the other name) Nuclear power station. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/19 "2005-06-20T23:14:45Z")
Does the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror count? I don’t remember how many HPs those engines are, but they’re a lot. Also various commercial aircraft. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2005, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088/20 "2005-06-20T23:41:32Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Does [Hoover Dam](http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/faqs/powerfaq.html) count? Yeah, you can [see it from space](http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=36.015501,-114.738132&spn=0.007650,0.009034&t=k&hl=en) also. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-powerful-machine-youve-been-on/309088.md?page=2)