Heavy Metal

67newport · Mar 19, 2021

Four-Piper Friday! USS McCall (DD-28) underway at sea in 1911

67newport · Mar 19, 2021

USS Independence (CV-62) fitting out at the New York Naval Shipyard, while USS Enterprise (CV-6) is awaiting disposal on June 22 1958

amazinblue82 · Mar 20, 2021

Most technologically advanced ship I have never seen. Been livin' under a rock I quess.

Before today, but its said it is (was?) supposed to go operational in 2016. Story is a decade old .. where are these boats? Zumwalt-class destroyers.

source: The Most Technologically Advanced Warship Ever Built

"When the USS Zumwalt rolls out of dry dock at Bath Iron Works in Maine next year, the Navy's newest warship will be 100 feet longer than the destroyers currently serving around the globe—and nearly twice as massive—yet it will have a radar signature 50 times smaller and will carry half the crew. Packed bow to stern with state-of-the-art radar, stealth, weapons, and propulsion systems, the USS Zumwalt, which will be operational in mid-2016, will be the most technologically sophisticated warship ever to hit the water.

If geopolitical events call for securing nuclear facilities in an unraveling North Korea or Iran, the Zumwalt is the Navy's surest way to arrive unannounced. From the shallows, the Zumwalt can then wipe out enemy defenses up to 72 miles away. Sailors don't cram shells into the dual 155-millimeter guns nor do they clear the casings. The guns are controlled—point, click, boom—by a computer in the command center; they fire GPS-guided shells, considered by the Navy to be more like rockets than artillery because of their ability to adjust trajectory in flight.

The ship also carries a battery of SM-2 antiaircraft missiles, surface-targeting Tomahawks, missile-destroying ESSM interceptors, and vertically launched ASROC antisubmarine torpedoes, all distributed among 80 missile cells that line the Zumwalt's hull. The location of the cells ensures that the missiles can't all be disabled by a single enemy strike and serves as an extra layer of defense around the ship.

The Zumwalt generates far more power than it needs. Unlike other Navy vessels, its all-electric integrated power system supports shipboard operations using a single massive energy source: four gas-turbine generators that collectively produce 78 megawatts of electricity, almost 10 times more than Arleigh Burke–class destroyers. I

ts dual 35-megawatt advanced induction motors produce a top speed of 30 knots, but at 20 knots the Zumwalt retains three quarters of its power (58 megawatts) for other systems. Those systems—everything from fire suppression to robotic cargo handling belowdecks—are largely automated, allowing the Zumwalt to operate with a crew of just 148, compared with the Arleigh Burke's 276.

The ship's most immediate role will likely be that of an incubator for advanced technologies as the Navy updates its fleet for 21st-century conflict. The Zumwalt is an ideal platform for power-intensive future weapons systems, such as lasers and electromagnetic rail guns. And just as changing threats and shrinking budgets pushed the Zumwalt class out of favor over the past decade, future conflicts could call the destroyers into action should the Navy need to kick in anyone's door."

3175375 · Mar 20, 2021

amazinblue82 said:
Most technologically advanced ship I have never seen. Been livin' under a rock I quess.

Before today, but its said it is (was?) supposed to go operational in 2016. Story is a decade old .. where are these boats? Zumwalt-class destroyers.

source: The Most Technologically Advanced Warship Ever Built

"When the USS Zumwalt rolls out of dry dock at Bath Iron Works in Maine next year, the Navy's newest warship will be 100 feet longer than the destroyers currently serving around the globe—and nearly twice as massive—yet it will have a radar signature 50 times smaller and will carry half the crew. Packed bow to stern with state-of-the-art radar, stealth, weapons, and propulsion systems, the USS Zumwalt, which will be operational in mid-2016, will be the most technologically sophisticated warship ever to hit the water.

If geopolitical events call for securing nuclear facilities in an unraveling North Korea or Iran, the Zumwalt is the Navy's surest way to arrive unannounced. From the shallows, the Zumwalt can then wipe out enemy defenses up to 72 miles away. Sailors don't cram shells into the dual 155-millimeter guns nor do they clear the casings. The guns are controlled—point, click, boom—by a computer in the command center; they fire GPS-guided shells, considered by the Navy to be more like rockets than artillery because of their ability to adjust trajectory in flight.

The ship also carries a battery of SM-2 antiaircraft missiles, surface-targeting Tomahawks, missile-destroying ESSM interceptors, and vertically launched ASROC antisubmarine torpedoes, all distributed among 80 missile cells that line the Zumwalt's hull. The location of the cells ensures that the missiles can't all be disabled by a single enemy strike and serves as an extra layer of defense around the ship.

The Zumwalt generates far more power than it needs. Unlike other Navy vessels, its all-electric integrated power system supports shipboard operations using a single massive energy source: four gas-turbine generators that collectively produce 78 megawatts of electricity, almost 10 times more than Arleigh Burke–class destroyers. I

ts dual 35-megawatt advanced induction motors produce a top speed of 30 knots, but at 20 knots the Zumwalt retains three quarters of its power (58 megawatts) for other systems. Those systems—everything from fire suppression to robotic cargo handling belowdecks—are largely automated, allowing the Zumwalt to operate with a crew of just 148, compared with the Arleigh Burke's 276.

The ship's most immediate role will likely be that of an incubator for advanced technologies as the Navy updates its fleet for 21st-century conflict. The Zumwalt is an ideal platform for power-intensive future weapons systems, such as lasers and electromagnetic rail guns. And just as changing threats and shrinking budgets pushed the Zumwalt class out of favor over the past decade, future conflicts could call the destroyers into action should the Navy need to kick in anyone's door."

View attachment 447618
View attachment 447620

IIRC, they only built 2.

amazinblue82 · Mar 21, 2021

3175375 said:
IIRC, they only built 2.

my my .. three total it seems. what in the world?! 3 boats, billions$, and then kill the program?

?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Farchive%2Fthird-zumwalt-1.jpg

source: US Navy launches third and final Zumwalt-class destroyer

The third and last Zumwalt-class ship for the US Navy launched on Sunday at the General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works shipyard in Maine. Built as part of a US$1.826 billion contract, the future USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002) is one of the three largest destroyers ever built for the Navy and was floated over a period of several days by moving her to a drydock, which was then slowly flooded.

The launching of DDG 1002 comes at the same time as her sister ship, the future USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001), is transiting to San Diego Bay for her January 26 commissioning in Coronado, California. Originally the third of a fleet of 32 Zumwalt-class destroyers, cancellation of the building program leaves the future USS Lyndon B Johnson as the last of her class.

DDG 1002 is named after the 36th US president and is a multi-mission destroyer capable of deterrence, power projection, sea control, and command and control missions. Her distinct tumblehome hull and superstructure is designed to provide added stealth and she boasts an all-electric propulsion system, state-of-the art vertical launch missile systems and advanced computing capabilities.

70bigblockdodge · Mar 21, 2021

amazinblue82 said:
my my .. three total it seems. what in the world?! 3 boats, billions$, and then kill the program?

View attachment 447747

source: US Navy launches third and final Zumwalt-class destroyer

The third and last Zumwalt-class ship for the US Navy launched on Sunday at the General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works shipyard in Maine. Built as part of a US$1.826 billion contract, the future USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002) is one of the three largest destroyers ever built for the Navy and was floated over a period of several days by moving her to a drydock, which was then slowly flooded.

The launching of DDG 1002 comes at the same time as her sister ship, the future USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001), is transiting to San Diego Bay for her January 26 commissioning in Coronado, California. Originally the third of a fleet of 32 Zumwalt-class destroyers, cancellation of the building program leaves the future USS Lyndon B Johnson as the last of her class.

DDG 1002 is named after the 36th US president and is a multi-mission destroyer capable of deterrence, power projection, sea control, and command and control missions. Her distinct tumblehome hull and superstructure is designed to provide added stealth and she boasts an all-electric propulsion system, state-of-the art vertical launch missile systems and advanced computing capabilities.

They got killed because too much cost and delivered on nothing.
The Navy "got took", by a smooth talking salesman that promised it all(too good to be true comes to mind) and delivered very little.
Stealth design is to appear as a fishing troller, it works but is incredibly expensive. Fishing trollers usually are not that far out to sea so the opposing military would be smart to question that. In closer to coastal waters where fishing boats are you have alot of visual spotting. I think they will be leaving that tech to airplanes that move quite a bit faster than 40 mph.
The gun system ammo was based on higher demand to bring down cost, almost 1 million per round was thought that if the 30+ ships were constructed cost would plummet to $35,000 per round. New math I guess?
Crew size was supposed to be around 100, it is now up to 175 and ship is hardly fully capable.
It is way into cruiser size. Destroyers are ment to be small, agile, fast, and first line expendable.
That ship is not that.
These and the Littoral combat ships are the Navy's biggest losers.
I'll let you go look up those barges on your own.
The last good ships the Navy designed/commissioned is the Arleigh Burke class destroyers which were designed back when I was in in the 1980s. Although a great design, they are running out of room to upgrade.

amazinblue82 · Mar 21, 2021

Arleigh Burke-class boats are bad-azzes. Armed to the hilt with guns, missles. and torpedoes wrapped in the Aegis Combat System. Still building 'em.

USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) in Chesapeake Bay 2013

1920px-130920-N-NX070-025_-_USS_Arleigh_Burke_%28DDG-51%29.jpg

source: Arleigh Burke-class destroyer - Wikipedia

General characteristics
Type: Guided missile destroyer

Displacement:
Fully loaded:

Flight I: 8,184 long tons (8,315 t)
Flight II: 8,300 long tons (8,400 t)
Flight IIA: 9,300 long tons (9,500 t)[2]
Flight III: 9,500 long tons (9,700 t)[3]

Length:

Flights I and II: 505 ft (154 m)
Flight IIA: 509 ft (155 m)

Beam: 66 ft (20 m)
Draft: 30.5 ft (9.3 m)
Installed power: 3 × Allison AG9140 Generators (2,500 kW (3,400 hp) each, 440 V)

Propulsion:
4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines each generating 26,250 bhp (19,570 kW);[4]
coupled to two shafts, each driving a five-bladed reversible controllable-pitch propeller;
Total output: 105,000 bhp (78,000 kW)
Speed: In excess of 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range: 4,400 nmi (8,100 km) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)