USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000)

Guided-Missile Stealth Destroyer Warship (2016)

Naval Warfare

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The USS Zumwalt DDG-1000 is the lead-ship of the next-generation, multi-mission destroyer now available to the United States Navy.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/08/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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The USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) - named after former US Navy Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Elmo R. "Bud" Zumwalt, Jr - was born out of the DD(X) advanced destroyer program of the United States Navy. The goal of the program was to provide the modern USN the most advanced destroyer class vessel anywhere in the world. The USS Zumwalt will serve as the lead ship of the Zumwalt-class that will eventually incorporate three total vessels (USS Michael Monsoor and USS Lyndon B. Johnson). After the production contract was granted to Bath Iron Works on February 14th, 2008, construction of the USS Zumwalt began in February of 2009. It was initially expected that the vessel be delivered to the USN in 2013, however, delays in the program have pushed delivery into 2014 with an official commissioning tentatively scheduled for some time in 2016. Recent program alterations have reduced maintenance and operational costs and have further produced a vessel of lighter displacement then originally intended (14,500 tons down from the original 18,000 tons. Additionally, the main gun magazine size and rate-of-fire has also been reduced.

Destroyers serve the USN as powerful, fast and agile surface ships which can operate as part of the main fleet or independently in hunting out enemy surface and undersea threats. The typical size for destroyers also allow them to operate relatively close to shore than most other surface ships in the fleet while also maintaining capabilities of open-sea, deep water travel. Their armament generally consists of an array of weapon types to help counter most any modern threat at sea. Destroyers were initially known as torpedo boat destroyers for they were specifically developed to handle the threat posed by fast torpedo boat emerging from the Chilean War of 1891.

The USS Zumwalt serves as a next generation multi-mission system to feature state-of-the-art design, capabilities and construction with an integrated set of suites such as mine avoidance, automatic fire suppression and all-digital systems. Each Zumwalt-class unit costs roughly $3.3 billion USD. Armament is centered around a potent payload of 80-cell surface-to-surface missiles of various types depending on the intended role. Twin AGS (Advanced Gun System) 155mm cannon mounts provide an offensive punch and 2 x 57mm Mk 110 guns supply defensive close-in anti-aircraft/anti-missile capabilities. Provisions are in place to support the addition of torpedo capabilities as well making the Zumwalt a flexible wartime performer. Capabilities are further augmented by the ability to support up to 2 x MH-60R type helicopters (or 1 x Sikorsky MH-60R) and up to three unmanned aerial vehicles (MQ-8 Fire Scout helicopter UAV). Crew accommodations support up to 142 personnel including the air arm.

The outward design of the Zumwalt will include a single main superstructure with angled sides for stealth-like characteristics. There will be little deck protrusions save for the pair of deck turrets along the forecastle. The superstructure will site aft or at amidships and also house the sensor and communications equipment as well as the smoke funnel. As such, there will not be a traditional mast. The helipad, for accepting and launching vertical take-off and landing aircraft, will be set in its traditional position at the stern.

Onboard sensors will consist of a Dual Band Radar array (S-Band VSR/X-Band MFR), HF/MF bow sonar arrays, a multi-function towed array, EO/IR and ES systems. Power is derived from 2 x Rolls-Royce Marine Trent-30 main gas turbine coupled to 2 x emergency diesel generators (through the collective "Integrated Power System" - IPS - arrangement) for a top speed of 30 knots. In addition to helicopter and UAV support, the Zumwalt is also designed to carry up to 2 x RHIB boats. In this way, the Zumwalt may be called to support special forces operations.

Reductions to the Zumwalt program have ensured a longer active shelf-life for the ongoing Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers which currently (2012) number 62 of the planned 75 units at sea.

November 2012 - On November 19th, 2012, the United States government announced its exercise of the contract awarded to BAE Systems, Land and Armaments LP, US Combat Systems for the 155mm AGS gun system. The weapon was described as a fully-automated stabilized gun mount with programmable capabilities intended for offshore shelling of inland positions with a 10-round-per-minute rate of fire of the "Long Range Land Attack Projectile" (LRLAP). The statement confirmed that the DDG-1000 will make use of two deck guns. Contract number: N00024-12-C-5311.

October 2013 - On October 28th, 2013, the General Dynamics, Bath Iron Works launched the USS Zumwalt from her holdings at Bath, Maine, marking the completion of primary construction that began in February of 2009. Some 87% complete as built, the ship is expected to be delivered to the US Navy in 2014 for official trials. Initial operating capability is not expected until 2016.

October 2016 - On October 15th, 2016, USS Zumwalt was officially introduced for service into the United States Navy fleet.

Specifications

Service Year

2016

Origin

United States

Status

COMMISSIONED
In Active Service.

Complement

140
PERSONNEL

Bath Iron Works - USA

(View other Ship-Related Manufacturers)

Class

Zumwalt-class

Number-in-Class

3
VESSELS

Ships-in-Class

USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000); USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001); USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002)

United States

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Amphibious Assault
A shallow draught, and other qualities, give this vessel the ability to support amphibious assault operations close-to-shore.

✓ Offshore Bombardment
Offshore bombardment / attack of surface targets / areas primarily through onboard ballistic weaponry.

✓ Land-Attack
Offshore strike of surface targets primarily through onboard missile / rocket weaponry.

✓ Maritime Patrol
Active patroling of vital waterways and maritime areas; can also serve as local deterrence against airborne and seaborne threats.

✓ Airspace Denial / Deterrence
Neutralization or deterrence of airborne elements through onboard ballistic of missile weaponry.

✓ Fleet Support
Serving in support (either firepower or material) of the main surface fleet in Blue Water environments.

Length

600.0 ft
182.88 m

Beam

81.0 ft
24.69 m

Draught

28.0 ft
8.53 m

Displacement

14,564
tons

Installed Power: 2 x Rolls-Royce Marine Trent-30 turbines with 2 x Emergency diesel generators.

Surface Speed

30.0 kts
(34.5 mph)

2 x 155mm AGS automatic cannons.

80 x Vertical launchers for Tomahawk cruise, ESSM or standard surface-to-surface missile types.

Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) launchers.

Tomahawk anti-submarine cruise missile in Vertical Launching System (VLS).

2 x Mk 110 57mm close-in anti-missile/anti-aircraft guns/ close-in weapon system (CIWS).

Supported Types

Graphical image of an aircraft automatic cannon

Graphical image of an aircraft Gatling-style rotating gun

Graphical image of an air-to-air missile weapon

Graphical image of a medium-range air-to-air missile

Graphical image of an air launched cruise missile weapon

(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)

2 x Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters OR 1 x Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopter.

3 x Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout UAV helicopters.

Military lapel ribbon for the Cuban Missile Crisis

Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War

Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War

Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the attack on Pearl Harbor

Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2

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