The U.S. Navy’s Largest, Most Expensive, and Most Advanced Destroyer Ever Leaves Shipyard

gcaptain ^ | September 8, 2016 | Mike Schuler

[rockinqsranch]

The future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), the largest and most technologically advanced destroyer ever built for the U.S. Navy, has departed Bath Iron Works shipyard where it has been under construction for more than half a decade.

At a total of cost of nearly $4 billion, the DDG 1000 is also the most expensive destroyer ever built for the U.S. Navy.

[Redleg Duke]

Yes. It actually has two. When they fire the first one, a stick projects out with a flag that says “Bang!” When they fire the second one, the stick’s flag says “Ditto!”

[meatloaf]

I was enlisted and I agree.

[MIA_eccl1212]

Looks like a partially submersible.. piece of equipment... that launches robotic drone aircraft in addition to having a few guns and missile ports.

I’m just sayin’...
I don’t like the pictures with men on deck as it seems to give too much scale and ratio data... for hostile analysis.

[Carthego delenda est]

On another thread, it’s revealed that Obama may have given Iran as much as 33 billion in cash and gold. That would have paid for 8 of these destroyers!

[Noumenon]

But where are the chicks in bikinis?

[Vermont Lt]

Enough power for future systems. Can you say rail gun?

[doorgunner69]

No rail guns or any whiz bang stuff. There are those that breathlessly post articles about those things, but only a single laser weapon has been deployed.

Navy has been beating it's drum for a long time (probably to keep the $$ flowing) about all their super-duper weapons, but most are not ready for prime time. Rail gun sure is not.

[longfellow]

My uncle served on a destroyer in ww2. I don’t think he would recognize this today.

[School of Rational Thought]

Design was stolen from the Indians.

[luvbach1]

Looks like “Old Ironsides.”

[Trump Girl Kit Cat]

That IS the UGLIEST ship I have EVER seen!!!

[CodeToad]

The thing reminds me of “Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down!”

[BeauBo]

The third Zumwalt Class Destroyer (the LBJ) is scheduled to launch with a rail gun in 2018 - which reportedly fires a ten kilogram projectile at 5,400 mph. The first two Zumwalts will be able to retrofit railguns, or add lasers when they are ready.

Prototype rail gun, first displayed in D.C. this year:

[Secret Agent Man]

Well, that’s good. It just looks not so in line with the rest of the ship.

[rmlew]

My uncle served on a destroyer in ww2. I don’t think he would recognize this today.
I don't think that someone who had served in a Civil War sloop would recognize a World War 2 era destroyer. Technology changes.

[GingisK]

“Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down!”

Well, THAT was a screen sprayer.

[null and void]

Yes. It actually has two. When they fire the first one, a stick projects out with a flag that says “Bang!” When they fire the second one, the stick’s flag says “Ditto!”

Unofficially known as Rush and a Listener...

[aces]

Clinton and shroom boi already have passed the plans over to enemies, see foundation intake increase..

[SauronOfMordor]

Although it is almost as big as a WW2 heavy cruiser like the USS Des Moines, the Des Moines had a crew complement of 1,799 men, while Zumwalt has 142, half as many as a WW2 Fletcher class destroyer.