Posted on 12/07/2015 7:14:30 PM PST by artichokegrower
Should have called her the Merrimack.
Perhaps.
But recall that the flying wing design was abandoned for decades until computer stabilization caught up with the stability and control issues caused by the unorthodox airframe shape.
I recall reading that there are concerns regarding the DDG-1000 propensity to get into a severe roll state, depending upon weather conditions, speed and operating state. I honestly haven’t followed the Zumwalt class as closely as perhaps I should, however sometimes you just get a ‘gut’ feeling.
I worked at Ingalls shipyard building the Spruance class destroyers, it might just be the picture but it looks like pretty shoddy work.
A few feet longer, a few feet narrower, and almost the same draft as the Imperatritsa Mariya class of pre-WWI Russian dreadnaughts (not the ship pictured). Of course, the Russian ships had 12 inch main guns and 5 inch secondary (and a couple of torpedo tubes). The Zum has a couple of 6 inch guns.
And some of those early ironclad conepts were not successful. The USS Keokuk comes to mind...
Monitor...Merrimack....LOL That’s exactly what popped into my mind!
A small world, I was at NAVSEASYSCOM during the 70’s, in the 924 submarine directorate, and occasionally over in 944 (surface combatants), we dealt with refits and overhauls, although we all agreed those Spruance class destroyers were fine vessels, even though they got a bad initial rap because they didn’t “look” powerful enough. But they got the ASW job done and done well. Kudos to you!
Should you be able to ‘count the ribs’ on a new ship. I know the hull plates on the USS Texas are showing wear and tear, but it’s 100 years old and has been through a couple of World Wars.
I was telling my kids the story of the moon shot last night, and they asked me about the “old days” when the world wasn’t in color..... I explained to them the world was in color, but the cameras were not.
Looks like a shell magnet. Enemy guns have a large barn door to hit.
I was working with a fitter/welder on the aft guns auto loading system and he told me another guy that was working with him on DDG963 IIRC had his fingers cut off and he hid one of the guys fingers.
I still wonder if anyone ever found the guys mummified finger or if it’s still there.
“I was telling my kids the story of the moon shot last night, and they asked me about the “old days†when the world wasn’t in color..... I explained to them the world was in color, but the cameras were not.”
:-)
The price tag?
No computer can right that tumblehome hull when she rolls, that hull has to hit water and right her. And that bow will submarine in high seas.
But don’t worry, they will come back and tell us it was “superb”. Not to mention it has no defense against a USS Cole rubber boat attack.
French ones were even more so.
Keokuk! That is the one it looks like most!
And does it run Windows or Unix?
And did the programmers remember to clean up after themselves?
Only coders can prevent memory leaks!
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