USN presses on with Zumwalt-class destroyers | World Defense

USN presses on with Zumwalt-class destroyers

BLACKEAGLE

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USN presses on with Zumwalt-class destroyers
Grace Jean, Washington, DC - IHS Jane's Navy International
18 January 2016
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Zumwalt (DDG 1000), the lead ship of the US Navy's Zumwalt-class destroyer programme, was underway for the first time conducting at-sea tests and trials in the Atlantic Ocean on 7 December 2015. Source: BIW
Key Points
  • Zumwalt (DDG 1000) is expected to return to sea in February for builder's trials
  • Delivery of the lead ship is planned for April 2016
After completing its first at-sea underway period, the lead ship of the US Navy's (USN's) Zumwalt-class (DDG 1000) destroyer is preparing for builder's trials in February.

Assuming the second set of sea trials go well, Zumwalt (DDG 1000), which completed alpha sea trials in early December 2015, will proceed to acceptance trials in the March timeframe with a planned delivery in April, DDG 1000 programme manager Rear Admiral (select) James Downey said at the Surface Navy Association's annual symposium on 14 January.

During its seven-day alpha trials, Zumwalt performed well and demonstrated better than expected stability, officials said. The 186 m (610 ft) ship ran up to full power (up to 33 kt) and was able to stop completely in 90 seconds. As part of the trials, it also accomplished full rudder swings, demonstrating less than 8 degrees of list.

"The faster it goes, the faster it responds," Rear Adm Downey said, adding that the propulsion plant was exercised in more than a dozen configurations and exceeded requirements. Zumwalt encountered 8 to 10 ft seas in the Gulf of Maine, but otherwise did not see significant bad weather. Its razor-sharp bow was able to pierce though the water, officials noted. The team also gathered good data on the hull's radar cross-section, which is performing well.

Second-in-class Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) is 84% complete at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, and is expected to be ready for launch by the end of June. Meanwhile, the third and final Zumwalt destroyer Lyndon B Johnson (DDG 1002) is 43% complete, with 90 of 97 of its units under construction. Production of its deckhouse - which reverted back to an all-steel design from the original composite found on the first two ships - is also underway, Rear Adm Downey said.
USN presses on with Zumwalt-class destroyers | IHS Jane's 360
 

vash

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The ship looks impressive by appearance and also on paper. However, it is extremely expensive. It is the reason why the navy cut the original planned 30 ships to just 2. With only 2 will be in service, they will hardly make a difference in case of a large scaled warfare.

I have also read it somewhere that the cutting of cost resulted in the ship lacks the radar for shooting down ballistic missiles. And it is also said that the best job for this ship is for shore bombardment with cruise missiles.
 
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