Delays in Zumwalt Destroyer Program Hamper Production of DDG-51s at Bath Iron Works

USNI News ^ | July 15, 2015 | Sam LaGrone

[sukhoi-30mki]

Delays in the construction of the first two of three next-generation Zumwalt-class (DDG-1000) guided missile destroyers at the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard are partially to blame for slowing work on two Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) destroyers being built at the Maine yard, USNI News has learned.

Several sources told USNI News that due to myriad reasons — including the size of the yard, the composition of the workforce at BIW and continued setbacks in the delivery of the first two next-generation Zumwalts — production of the future Burkes Rafael Peralta (DDG-115) and Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) have been delayed by several months.

USNI News understands the delivery schedule of Peralta has been pushed back seven months, while Hudner has been delayed five.

It’s unclear exactly how much the $22.1 billion Zumwalt program production is responsible for the delays in building the two Arleigh Burke ships, but several sources pointed to an electrician shortage on the yard as a major bottleneck. The three Zumwalts are being built with a revolutionary new integrated power system (IPS) for which the Navy is undertaking a rigorous testing program alongside its installation.

Neither the Navy nor BIW specifically addressed the Burke delays at the Maine yard when contacted by USNI News.

However, both issued statements to USNI News that pledged a commitment to increased efficiency in the construction of both the DDG-1000 and DDG-51 lines.

As of Tuesday, Zumwalt was “approximately 96 percent complete with her production and testing in support of delivery by Bath Iron Works,” the Navy said, adding the ship would begin pier-side trials in November and get under way in December. “Schedules for follow ships of the Zumwalt-class—Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) and Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002)—are likewise under evaluation.”

According to a Navy estimate in January, Johnson was 28 percent complete.

[exnavy]

Not sure the current POTUS cares for new ships.

[rjsimmon]

Google Earth has a nice shot of both destoyers

BIW

[ro_dreaming]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but I find Sergeant Peralta’s Wikipedia page fascinating.

Born in Mexico City, Mexico in 1979. It says he “emigrated” to the US, but apparently that was without documentation. Joins the USMC in 2000, after graduating high school in 1997 (he waiting for his green card!). Became an American citizen while in the USMC.

The part that’s fascinating is it lists his country of birth, death, and then, just to make sure we all know - his country of allegiance “United States of America”.

Whote his little brother a letter that contained the words “Be proud of me, bro... and be proud of being an American”. This little brother apparently took that message to heart, as he enlisted in the USMC himself, served in Afghanistan, and was discharged in January 2014.

Man - guys like this that are an honor to have served along side (I was Navy, though).

Hoo-rah Sergeant! Semper Fidelis! Semper Fortis!

[Bob]

Aaah, yes — I have some fond memories of Bath, Maine from the precomm detail for the Harry E. Yarnell (DLG-17) in the late 60’s. I wonder if the newspaper is still reporting on the adventures of the “Bath dog”.

[Bob]

Aaah, yes — I have some fond memories of Bath, Maine from the precomm detail for the Harry E. Yarnell (DLG-17) in the late 60’s. I wonder if the newspaper is still reporting on the adventures of the “Bath dog”.

[mknj]

Jeez...we named a ship after LBJ???

[rlmorel]

I did a cruise past them last October when I was up in Bath...I love ships, especially those painted in shades of gray.

I understand why ships are seen as feminine by men...we often look at them and admire them as such.

This is one beautiful ship, everyone sees that:

And I thought this one had great lines:

These ships are peerless performers...fast, sleek, powerful...gorgeous, just gorgeous:

But these, no matter how capable someone might say they are, are just too unattractive to make me do that. They don't arouse me at all:

As a sailor, this thing better have flaming tubs of hot gin and naked dancing girls, because I surely am not going to give her a second look on her own merits. She may have rail guns or laser beams, but...only a mother could love her face.

[houeto]

Great post! And you are right, those new boats are as ugly as a mud fence.