Meet the Zumwalt: The Navy's stealth destroyer

[Onkel Neal]

http://www.militarytimes.com/interac...ea-next-spring

The ship is plainly visible from Front Street, across the Route 1 bridge in downtown Bath. Nothing like this angular, almost hulking giant has ever been seen here, even after well over a century of shipbuilding at Bath Iron Works.

The futuristic shape of the Zumwalt, DDG 1000, has become familiar after more than a decade of graphics presentations and artist drawings, and models of the destroyer have been a staple at naval expositions for years. But now the whole ship is coming together, all construction blocks assembled and set afloat. People walk her decks and she rises and falls with the tide as all that planning turns into a real thing. She’ll take to the sea for the first time in the spring.

The epitome of naval stealth design, Zumwalt’s sleek shapes belie a ship filled with new features. Walking aboard, one of the first impressions is one of size — she is by far the largest ship ever called a “destroyer.” So, one would think, she must be roomy inside.

“You know, she is almost 16,000 tons, 610 feet long, about 81 feet abeam, you imagine that everything must be spacious,” said Capt. James Kirk, Zumwalt’s prospective commanding officer. “But when you get on her, you realize she is packed full of the equipment necessary to operate her and give her the capability to fight.”

[ikalugin]

I wonder why they have changed the close in weapons

[Mr Quatro]

the destroyer USS Zumwalt at Bath Iron Works, Maine: http://www.defensenews.com/interacti...ea-Next-Spring

[banryu79]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

“You know, she is almost 16,000 tons, 610 feet long, about 81 feet abeam, you imagine that everything must be spacious,” said Capt. James Kirk, Zumwalt’s prospective commanding officer. “But when you get on her, you realize she is packed full of the equipment necessary to operate her and give her the capability to fight.”

James Kirk? Really!?

Originally Posted by ikalugin

I wonder why they have changed the close in weapons

To reduce the weight, they said. Reading in the page linked by Neal Stevens they also explained that the 57 mm capabilities were overestimated while the 37 mm capabilities were underestimated.

[Admiral Halsey]

Anyone else think she looks like an Ironclad?

[Jimbuna]

Not the prettiest of designs but that won't matter if she proves effective at what she is designed to do.

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by banryu79

James Kirk? Really!?


To reduce the weight, they said. Reading in the page linked by Neal Stevens they also explained that the 57 mm capabilities were overestimated while the 37 mm capabilities were underestimated.

So "it" is top heavy. Looks like "it" could move at about 2 kts if turned perpendicular to the wind.

[Mr Quatro]

Here's a bit of side news for the USS Zumwalt:http://www.military.com/daily-news/2...l?ESRC=navy.nl

She's headed for the Pacific along with the new F-35 and the new P-8

To underline the administration's commitment to the rebalance, Work said that the F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, when they come on line, would go first to the Pacific along with the new P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft. Work said that there also were plans to have the new Zumwalt class destroyer go first to the Pacific – "we hope."