On DDGs and CGs, which shaft tends to be the longest?

In destroyers and cruisers (DDGs and CGs), the starboard shaft typically tends to be the longest. This is primarily due to the design considerations and layout of the ship's hull and propulsion system. The machinery spaces and engine room configurations can lead to the starboard shaft needing to cover a longer distance to transmit power from the main engines to the propeller, compared to the port shaft.

Moreover, during the design phase, balancing weight distribution and ensuring efficient power transmission plays a significant role. Engineers often need to optimize the length of the shafts to minimize vibrations and maintain operational efficiency. As a result, the starboard shaft might be designed to accommodate such considerations, leading it to be longer than the port shaft in many classes of DDGs and CGs.

The notion that both shafts would be of equal length is often not applicable in practical design scenarios, as the differences in engine room layout and hull shapes can dictate variations in shaft lengths. Thus, the understanding of the structural and functional aspects of naval vessel design supports why the starboard shaft is generally considered the longest in these classes of ships.