US Navy DDG 1000 Zumwalt Class

shen

Senior Member
Shen on the sloop of war, did you consider the masts? Yes the most concentrated weight would be around the cannon but the masts and sails on ships of that configuration pushed the center of gravity to the deck. Which is about the same for the DDG1000 class due to its abbreviated super structure, turrets, hanger and missiles.

That's what the big centreboard is for! :)

The super structure is huge on the DDG1000 and made worse when the third ship went to all steel superstructure. Turrets are bad for top weight as well. That was the problem with Borodino class, tumblehull and turreted armaments. There has been suggestion that the move to 30mm from 57mm cannon on the Zumwalt is due to topweight problem.
 

Blitzo

Lieutenant General
Staff member
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Registered Member
I think Jeff is spot on in this case. I do follow the postings on Navy matters and the poster do frequently highlight critical areas but the poster is also careful in choice of words. Being critical in certain aspects is not the same as drawing a conclusion on the success or otherwise of the program. The fact is no one really knows until the vessel is put through vigorous field testing against a set of mission parameters in which it was designed to fulfil.

Well the original claim made by Shen was vague in itself — "navy matters doesn't like zumwalt either" is not a very precise statement to break down. So naturally it can be interpreted as meaning only the written words, or one can make their own inferences about the feelings behind the words.

And of course whether we are limited to interpreting only that single post or the variety of zumwalt related posts is also another matter.
 

Blitzo

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@shen, the tumble home issue will be one that is going to remain unanswered until they finally put zumwalt through its paces. I think it is too early to say it will inherently be a massive problem to the vessel class.

If I had to criticise the ship class, I'd say lack of a clear mission, excess piling on of too many new technologies, development of a few technologies of questionable future utility, and strange subsystem arming (lack of S band VSR and ciws, to say the least), and of course cost, are all far more legitimate topics of discussion than the hull form.

This class of ship will probably be the most advanced surface combatant in the world for quite a few years, but it certainly is not the class of ship which makes the most sense for the USN IMO. Sure, rail guns and lasers will probably be fitted to the class in future and the ship has size and power for those kind of future tech. But they could have built a ship with subsystems better suited to the present environment, probably without this kind of excess VLO, at higher number, cost and utility, all while being able to haul future lasers and rail guns as well.

That is to say, simply being able to mount rail guns and lasers in future doesn't exactly make up for the present class's strange design choices and questionable role, because a ship of lower cost, better utility, could probably have been developed while retaining the new technologies needed for future adaptation of exotic weapons.
 

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
VIP Professional
shen posted;

Jeff, don't let fanboyism cloud your judgement. Lasers and rail guns are not the solution for real world problem.

and..

can't have a serious debate if you threaten to ban me all the time Jeff.

shen, Jeff is no fan boi. And he's only giving you advice on how to post in this forum. Not threatening to ban you. Thank you!

Have a blessed day.


bd popeye super moderator

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Now.. as others have stated we will have to wait and see how Zumwalt performs when she finally goes on sea trails. Sea trails are scheduled for late 2015. So we will have to stand by for more than a year.
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
See a report on the French TV, Zumwalt would a RCS equivalent to that of a ship of 25 m.
For comparison i have read for La Fayette equivalent to that of a trawler, 1st stealth ship generation.
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
Some recent disappointments for its 57 mm gun... but probably very resistant to combat damage, very stealth, PVLS
divided into 4 parts... also do 14000 t and a large ship is always difficult to sunk whatever the technology;

But for this price USN could have had at least 6 Burke Fl IIA whose some in service yet.
 

Jeff Head

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ddg1000-x01.jpg


Sea Waves said:
The Navy’s DDG 1000 Zumwalt class destroyer program continues to make significant progress, achieving key shipbuilding milestones, and moving steadily to provide the next generation surface combatant to the Fleet.

The Zumwalt class destroyer program is currently under construction at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) in Bath, Maine. The future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), named for former Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo R. “Bud” Zumwalt, launched Oct. 28, 2013 and was Christened April 12, 2014. The future Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001), named for Medal of Honor recipient Petty Officer Michael Monsoor, had its keel laid May 23, 2013, and the future Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002), named for the former U.S. president, started fabrication April 4, 2012.

The first of class ship, DDG 1000 (PCU Zumwalt) is 92 percent complete and currently in test and activation phase of construction.

The ship has successfully met the following critical milestones over recent months:

- Successfully activated its fuel systems and advanced induction motors (AIM), with fuel onload and AIM light-off completed in July 2014.
- Successfully acheived the first generator light-off September 23, 2014.
- Successful activation of the total Ship Computing Environment (TSCE) on October 9, 2014.

Completion of generator light-off represents the latest electrical system milestone in an effort that began years ago with early prototype testing at the Land Based Test Site in Philadelphia, PA, aimed at risk reduction, crew familiarization, and eventual shipboard activation. Lessons learned from this effort helped lead to recent successful activation events onboard DDG 1000 including energizing the high voltage power system, lighting off of the port AIM utilizing shore power to demonstrate operation of the propulsion motor system, and continual and incremental testing of the engineering control system responsible for the automated control of the engineering plant.

Successful testing of the fuel oil service and transfer system allowed for the onload of fuel which were utilized in the light-off of the first gas turbine generator. These generators will be used to generate the power necessary first for dockside trials, and then later for sea trials.


The Total Ship Computing Environment (TSCE) completed Oct. 9, 2014. consisting of hardware, middleware and software operating systems, the TSCE is responsible for the operation and integration of the combat systems, engineering control systems, bridge and navigation systems, and damage control systems utilizing layered open architecture which allows for network flexibility and growth for future capabilities. With over six million lines of code, the TSCE , has been designed to maximize automation and watchstander efficiency in order to optimize crew size. To enable the TSCE activation, the DDG 1000 team has been hard at work to energize and groom data centers, certify software releases, and incorporate required support services, like chilled water and air-conditioning systems in order to support a successful and sustained activation. The DDG 1000 TSCE is the most advanced and complex shipboard computer operating system the Navy has produced, representing the cutting edge in future surface combatant capability.

In addition to key milestones on the lead ship, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) delivered the DDG 1001 composite deckhouse to the Navy. The 900-plus ton deckhouse was transported from Gulfport, Miss. via barge to the BIW shipyard in Bath, Maine, and arrived Sept.5, 2014 for subsequent lift and integration on the DDG 1001 hull at the shipbuilder’s land level test facility.

Through the combined efforts of the Navy’s DDG 1000 Program Office, Supervisor of Shipbuilding Bath, BIW, HII, BAE, Raytheon, and various subcontractor teams, the DDG 1000 program has made impressive strides in managing the development, construction, and delivery of this highly complex shipbuilding program.

These highly advanced surface combatants represent a significant leap forward in naval surface warfare capability through the use of advanced technologies. These advanced technologies include the all-electric Integrated Power System (IPS) which will provide 78 megawatts of shipboard power as well as a next generation Peripheral Vertical Launch System (PVLS) capable of employing Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM), Standard Missiles (SMs), Vertical Launched ASROC (VLA), Tomahawk, and future missiles. Additionally, the ships boast an Advanced Gun System with a Long Range Land Attack Projectile capable of launching a guided projectile at extended ranges. With impressive technologies, significant signature reductions over all previous surface combatants; and with automated engineering, machinery, and combat systems providing a significant reduction in manning levels, Zumwalt class destroyers will provide the fleet with the capabilities required for today’s naval operations and to be resources to face the threats of tomorrow.

The DDG 1000 Zumwalt class destroyers will be a multi-mission surface combatant designed to fulfill volume firepower and precision strike requirements. This advanced warship will enable access in the open ocean, littoral and ashore and provide impressive forward naval presence while operating independently or as an integral part of Naval, Joint, or Combined Expeditionary Strike Forces. Armed with an array of advanced weapons, the DDG 1000 program brings sophisticated new technologies that will deliver evolutionary capability and help shape the future of surface warfare.
 

Jeff Head

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Holmes is entitled to his opinion...but there are naysayers born every day.

The Zumwalts will be a class of three. They will not be going into a situation where their unique capabilities will be waisted.

IOW, they will not be thrown into any kind of high threat, war at sea, or highly contested air space. They will be able to defend themselves, and will be good at that...but with only three units coming, they will also not take unneeded roisks with them unless the proverbial you-know-what has absolutely hit the fan and they are needed in roles they were not meant for.

As to the US not being able to garauntee dominaance in a war at sea or contested air space scenario...I think Holmes is also far too premature in that deduction.
 
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