WTC steel to be reshaped into bow of USS New York

The Stars and Stripes ^ | September 8, 2003 | Sandra Jontz

[Jeff Head]

Frankly I think it is a mistake by the Navy.

As do I. The RAM is great for point defense, but the ESS would have been a really nice additional layer of self-defense.

I know thay are counting on the Burke's and the Tico's...but that additional level of protection should be there for these high value ships IMHO.

[Jeff Head]

The LPD-17's figure in heavily to my Dragon's Fury Series of novels.

[WestPacSailor]

This is the proper use of the WTC steel.

Another good use for the steel:

[WestPacSailor]

The RAM is great for point defense, but the ESS would have been a really nice additional layer of self-defense.

The thing about RAM is it was designed specifically for Anti-ASM. (Stinger seeker head mounted on a Sidewinder airframe...comes 21 to a pack). The enhanced Sea Sparrow is more of an anti-aircraft design, and only have 8 per launcher...also takes more time to reload. RAM can be reloaded by two guys and a rail...Sea Sparrow is too big to be manhandled in the confined space around the launcher.

RAM is designed to be salvo fired at incoming missiles and is fire and forget. ESS has to have radar lock on the incoming tgt throughout the engagement sequence.

[js1138]

[El Gato]

They really should call the USS New York, the USS City of New York, because other classes of ships, currently SSBNs are named after states and their could be some confusion, Soon to be attack submarines of the Virginia class as well. (The Connecticut is also the second and last of the Seawolf class, although the "Jimmy Carter" is of the same basic design, modified for spec. ops). Of course attack submarines were previously named after cities, with the Los Angeles being the lead ship of her class. The Corpus Christi is actually the City of Corpus Christi, as some objected to a warship being called the "Body of Christ".

[El Gato]

I wouldn't mind seeing the name New York on the most heavily armed baddest mofo in the Navy, y'know?

Unfortunately carriers tend to get named after politicians, which is OK when one means "Teddy Roosevelt", "George Washington", "Eisenhower", or even Reagan or GHW Bush, (the next two) but Vinson and Stennis? Stennis already had a space center named after him, he didn't need a carrier too. Besides, if we are naming them after friendly polycritters, why is there no USS Scoop Jackson? And will there be a "USS Strom Thurman"? I sort of doubt it unless it's a destroyer or frigate.

The garbage scow will be re-named the "Bent One".

[Green Knight]

Ping!

[Jeff Head]

ESS is a medium range defense...RAM is point. The ESS is an improvement over the Sea Sparrow and includes the capability to engage ASM's. Sea Sparrow as it is, has been defending carriers and other ships for decades as a medium range defense...a fall back for the leakers that get through AEGIS, and then the CIWS takes those that get by that. Good layered defense.

That was my point in mentioning it. It would be nice to have both.

IMHO, the ESS and other such medium range systems needs to evolve into a AMRAAM derivative.

[cyborg]

I'm rusty in my geography. Any chance that we can ram our 'friends' the Saudis with this ship? A WTC special edition bullet for all terrorists... house of saud, mugabe, castro,etc. no I'm not advocating asassination. Not me.

[dagnabbit]

USS William J. Clinton

[StevieB]

When did they stop naming ships of the line after cities and switch over to LPDs?

The original set of LPD's -- 1 to 15 -- were all started in the 1960's and commissioned by 1972-73. They were all named after cities. I spent almost a year on the LPD-10 (USS Juneau) during construction, and got to sail on her during both her Builder's Trial and Preliminary Acceptance Trail. The ships were big and were worthy warships to carry city names.

What I find interesting is that the new class has most of the basic lines of their predecessors -- but with a lot of streamlining.

[Moose4]

Well, typically destroyers and frigates (if I remember right) are named after naval heroes, MOH winners, that sort? I guess they'd be the logical classes to start picking up politician names (Lord knows they name everything else after themselves). There's already a USS Winston Churchill (a DDG?).

There's already a C-17 in the USAF named the "Spirit of Strom Thurmond"; it's based at Charleston AFB, South Carolina. I'm sure they'll manage to work in a "Spirit of Foghorn Leghorn--errr, Ernest Hollings" too. :)

I can't even imagine what they'd name for Slick Willard. Probably a Chinese guided missile destroyer, call it the Most Honorable People's Navy Ship Rilliam Krintong.

}:-)4

[Moose4]

684 feet and 24,900 tons...isn't that a darn big ship to be powered by diesels and not by gas turbines or steam?

Interesting info on these ships, they're quite remarkable and they carry some remarkable things too...my next-cube neighbor at work has a son who just went into the Marine Reserve and is being trained on loading/unloading LCACs, among other things. Apparently the kid had a blast learning his way around those monsters.

}:-)4

[Jeff Head]

No...that would be the PLAN William J. Clinton. There is no, nor (hopefully) will ever be a USS William J Clinton of any type. it would soil the USS designator.

[Jeff Head]

They are large ships, but not as large as the LHD Wasp Class, at 844 ft and 40,500 tons.

...and those supercharged diesels for the LPD 17 class aint our daddy's diesels. There are four, producing 10,400hp each

[patriciaruth]

LOL!!

[rmlew]

Besides, if we are naming them after friendly polycritters, why is there no USS Scoop Jackson?

Yes there is.
SSBN 730 was commisioned as the USS Rhode Island. The Fifth Ohio Class SSBN was renamed for Senator Jackson.
http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/SSBN730.htm

[hedgetrimmer]

That's really cool.