USN Zumwalt Launched

[CougarKing]

Some sexy lines on this ship...  ;D

US Navy's controversial Zumwalt destroyer to hit the water for first time
By Alan Silverman 21 hours ago

THE biggest,meanest, most advanced - and controversial - destroyer ever operated by the US Navy is about to hit the water for the first time.

So far, construction of the first-in-class Zumwalt, the largest U.S. Navy destroyer ever built, is on time and on budget, something that's a rarity in new defense programs, officials said. And the Navy believes the ship's big gun, stealthy silhouette and advance features will make it a formidable package.

The christening of a first-in-class warship bearing the name of the late Admiral Elmo "Bud" Zumwalt was canceled a week ago because of the government shutdown. But plans call for the ship to be moved to dry dock in Maine and floated without fanfare in the coming days.

Miami Newsday, photos from Viggen's blog

 

[Colin Parkinson]

In 50 years our successors here will be crying out to have it saved as a Museum....

 

[Haletown]

Interesting comparisons to some old wave piercers.

http://elementsofpower.blogspot.ca/2013/10/dd-1000-update-wow-indeed.html

 

[cupper]

You can see it on Google Maps / Earth if you search for Bath Iron Works in Maine.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

This guy has some concerns with the design

http://www.phisicalpsience.com/public/Tumblehome_Hull_DDG-1000/Tumblehome_Hull_DDG-1000.html

 

[tomahawk6]

Reminds me of the Civil War Monitor.

 

[GAP]

Maybe the Monitor was ahead of it's time in RCS...... :nod:

 

[CougarKing]

Hmm. Perhaps she might join the Littoral Combat Ships, already stationed in Singapore on a rotational basis, next year...

US to Dispatch Largest-ever Destroyer to Asia Pacific Next Yr


Quote:

The Associated Press and other foreign media report the U.S. Navy will launch operations of the newly-built Zumwalt this month before it heads to the East. The ship is 30 meters longer and 32 meters taller than existing destroyers.


<snipped>


Quote:

Military experts say the dispatch of the Zumwalt is apparently aimed at keeping China in check, which recently has shown signs of strengthening its sea power. They also say the ship will be used to monitor and pressure North Korea as it continues to develop nuclear weapons and missiles.

2013-10-22

<snipped>

source: world.kbs.co.kr

 

[tomahawk6]

The Zumwalt type DDG seems to be wave height.How she would do in a major storm will be interesting.

 

[cupper]

Some other photos of her actually in the water.

Next generation Zumwalt-class destroyer

http://news.cnet.com/2300-11386_3-10018781.html

 

[JorgSlice]

Some other photos of her actually in the water.

Next generation Zumwalt-class destroyer

http://news.cnet.com/2300-11386_3-10018781.html

If lasers could take on a physical embodiment, this would be it. Talk about badass.

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

Wow!

In the first picture (night time), she looks like the iceberg that sank the Titanic - and I bet she's just as hard to pick up on radar.

"Destroyer" is a bit of a misnomer here: She is bigger than the two preceding classes of U.S. cruisers (Virginias and Ticos) by almost 40%, and her armament is in line with those of these two classes of cruisers.

 

[GAP]

Having, like many, spend many wonderful moments spewing thanks to the cork bobbing effect of high seas in a tiny bathtub, I wonder what the effect would be with that sharp a bow....

 

[tomahawk6]

The Zumwalt's first skipper is James Kirk. ;D

http://news.yahoo.com/captain-kirk-navy-destroyer-135551630.html

 

[tomydoom]

The Zumwalt's first skipper is James Kirk. ;D

http://news.yahoo.com/captain-kirk-navy-destroyer-135551630.html

That's awesome!

 

[cupper]

Showed the video and article to a coworker who served in the US Navy. She worked under the Zumwalt's XO Cmdr Hickox. She said he was one of the best bosses she had during her time in.

 

[Navy_Pete]

This guy has some concerns with the design

http://www.phisicalpsience.com/public/Tumblehome_Hull_DDG-1000/Tumblehome_Hull_DDG-1000.html

Wow, that was possibly the most poorly organized article I've ever read; it was more like a digital scrapbook of bits and pieces pasted in with no particular flow.

Does have some valid points though; the flight deck getting partly submerged during manuevering on calm days isn't really all that comforting for doing air ops.  Also the lack of the flaring bow may end up making the ship more prone to burying the nose during rough seas due to the lack of bouyancy.

It is a big ass ship though, would be surprised if they didn't also have an active stabilization system of some sort.  Also with a lot of the newer 3d radar setups, there are no blind arcs, so as long as they can launch their missiles at something behind them, manueverability matters less.  Which is kind of nice, given the small windows you have to pickup, track and engage a supersonic anti ship missile.

 

[CougarKing]

The Zumwalt's first skipper is James Kirk. ;D

http://news.yahoo.com/captain-kirk-navy-destroyer-135551630.html

Anyone willing to bet that at some random point someone on watch on the bridge yells "Captain! Klingon bird-of-prey decloaking off the port bow!"  ;D

 

[tomahawk6]

The lead ship of the Zumwalt class DDG will be christened Sat.This class seems to be more of a cruiser than a destroyer.

http://www.stripes.com/news/us/most-capable-destroyer-in-history-to-be-christened-saturday-1.277068

BATH, Maine — The U.S. Navy will enter a new age Saturday when the first DDG 1000, the USS Zumwalt — “the most capable destroyer in history” — is christened at Bath Iron Works.

The $4 billion guided missile destroyer, designed to provide missile and gun support for troops ashore, boasts advanced technology and the ability to accommodate advanced air missiles, rail guns and lasers. That advanced technology has led the new class to be dubbed “stealth” destroyers.

 

[RedcapCrusader]

Sword of the Seas.

Menacing.