Removals for Cause: A 35-Year Assessment of LM2500 Engine Removals by the United States Navy

The United States (US) Navy has operated the General Electric LM2500 gas turbine on all its surface combatants for the past 35 years. The LM2500 is utilized as the propulsion engine aboard the US Navy’s newest surface combatants including the FFG 7, CG 47 and DDG 51 Class ships. The US Navy owns and operates 400 LM2500 engines. An on-condition maintenance philosophy is employed whereby engines are run-to-failure rather than removed from service upon achieving some operating milestone. This paper assesses the reasons for the removal of the US Navy’s LM2500s over their entire service life with a focus on how fleet maintenance capabilities have impacted and affected the cause for engine replacements over time.Copyright © 2011 by ASME