Zumwalt Class (DDG-1000) A controversial ship built for the next war, not the last. The class is designed around a tumblehome hull (last used in the Russian Borodino class) and is stealthy, designed for support of land attacks,can offer fire support, anti air support, a variety of cruise missile strikes, an anti terrorism envelope and powerful ECM capabilities - at the cost of 9.6 billion for the first two. Economy of scale has been lost due to congressional cutbacks. Originally 24 were to be launched, then 7, and presently 3.In July 2008, the Navy informed Congress only 2 Zumwalts were needed; funds were needed for additional Arleigh Burke Class DDG’s. As such, the DDG 1000’s will most likely be tech test beds - a valuable addition to stated tasks. Reports concluded the class would be vulnerable to various missile threats - there was some confusion in the USN as to expected threats and responses - Hezbollah being one. “A 26 January 2009 memo from John Young, the US DoDs top acquisition official, stated that the per ship price for the Zumwalt-class destroyers had reached $5.964 billion, 81 percent over the Navys original estimate used in proposing the program.” Contracts have since been changed to fixed cost from cost plus. Spiraling cost, unit reduction - death of program. ‘October 2008: DDG-1000 starts construction at Bath Iron Works’ April 2013: DDG-1000 initial delivery May 2014: DDG-1001 delivery March 2015: Initial operating capability Fiscal 2018: DDG-1002 delivery’ As quiet as Los Angeles attack sub with a radar image the size of a small fishing boat, thermal signature is reduced by water passing along the tumblehome hull and exhaust cooling in the superstructure. The Lyndon Baines Johnson (DDG 1002) will have a smaller, lower superstructure.Two 155mm guns per ship have a range of 85 miles. Rather than centrally in front of the bridge, vertical launch missile pods are place around the hull. Radars function as ballistic missile defense (BMD), local area air defense,and a new anti-air and missile defense radar (AMDR), also for BMD. Sonar is computer operated. Propulsion is furnished by AIM - advanced induction motor - which may be phased out. Congress has been critical about cost, and ability of the ship to defend itself. Specifically radars, and improving opponent capability in this area. A good deal of criticism is piling on. This is a new untested type - all have problems. If anything, theZumwalts suffer from mission creep, overruns, and a stingy congress. However, the knowledge acquired from these ships may well be worth the price tag. Multi-mission destroyer, emphasis on land attack Displacement:14,564 long tons (14,798 t)[5] Length:600 ft (180 m) Beam:80.7 ft (24.6 m) Draft:27.6 ft (8.4 m) Propulsion:2 Rolls Royce Marine Trent 30 gas turbines driving Curtis Wright generators[6] plus 2 Rolls-Royce RR4500 gas turbine generator sets,[7] 78MW (105,000 shp); 2 propellers driven by electric motors Speed: In excess of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) Complement:140 Sensors and processing system:AN/SPY Multi-Function Radar (MFR) (X-band, scanned array)[8] Armament:20 × MK 57 VLS modules, with a total of 80 launch cells[9] RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow (ESSM), 4 per cell Tactical Tomahawk, 1 per cell Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rocket, (ASROC) 1 per cell 2 × 155 mm/62 caliber Advanced Gun System; 920 × 155 mm rounds, 70–100 LRLAP rounds 2 × 30 mm MK 46 Mod 2 Gun Systems[ Aircraft carried: 1 × SH 60 LAMPS or MH 60R helicopter 3 × MQ 8 Firescout VT-UAVs Aviation facilities:Flight deck and enclosed hangar for up to two medium-lift helicopters
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 13:41:35 +0000
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