The $7 billion warship..: US Navy's largest destroyer ever built gets ready to set sail

UK Daily Mail ^ | October 21, 2013 | Staff

[C19fan]

With its fearsome array of weapons, radar evading silhouette and $7billion price tag, this is one of America's most deadly - and expensive - warships ever. USS Zumwalt - the largest destroyer ever made - is just days away from leaving the specially constructed dry docks and entering the water. Equipped with guns capable of firing warheads 100 miles, stealth features, and engine able to generate enough power to run 78,000 homes, America is hoping it with guarantee its naval supremacy for decades to come.

[C19fan]

I think the last time a warship employed the tumblehome design was French designed pre-dreadnaughts.

[JoeProBono]

[skeeter]

... and a ram bow.

[whitedog57]

LOL! I thought “dreadnought” as soon as I saw the photo.

[grobdriver]

stealth features

Fine and dandy if this thing is going hunting on its own... but they rarely do.
And the vessels it will be keeping company with are huge radar targets.

Time was when destroyers were "The Expendables" of the fleet.
At $7 billion per copy, I guess that strategy has changed...

[whitedog57]

LOL! I thought “dreadnought” as soon as I saw the photo.

[NonValueAdded]

aka the Elmo

[madison10]

Looks like an above sea submarine, guess with good reason, it’s an ironclad. Impressive, frightening looking monster. Rather Titanic-like, though.

[hal ogen]

aka: the Zoomie

[ClearCase_guy]

There has been a lot of discussion about whether the Zumwalt actually fulfills a destroyer role or perhaps a battleship role. Of course one can argue that we do not need a battleship and perhaps we do not need an expensive and fancy destroyer. But at least the notion of a powerful land attack ship lurking off a coast or haunting sea lanes does have historical precedence, and the stealth feature of such a lone hunter makes some sense.

But we really haven't fought a serious naval battle since 1944. The Navy is searching for something new and exciting -- subs and carriers no longer seem glamorous, I guess.

[skeeter]

It looks like this ship also has superfiring guns. I don’t think the US has built a ship with these since the 50s.

[bmwcyle]

They should have called it the USS Monitor.

[Riley]

First thing I thought of was the submarine ride at Disneyland. This is probably a little bit more expensive, though.

[DIRTYSECRET]

3 billion a pop? Stealth? What happens when the first missile is fired? Shore bombardment from 100 miles? How often do we invade anymore? The Marines are becoming obsolete last I heard.

[llevrok]

I've seen this silhouette someplace before....

[Gaffer]

.....and them Elvis Sideburns......[only a veteran from the time of Elmo would appreciate that]

[knarf]

I know nuthin' from nuthin' ... but after reading the article, I conclude there is too much electronics and computers and not enough men.

I have this image of one guy in a circular, or semi-circular "cubicle" responsible for a bank of computers. I don't know HOW the innards are configured, but that's the image I see.

My knowledge of naval warfare comes from movies that show a bunch of guys, fluidly in each other's way, talking, communicating .. being involved with a .. or many decisions .. and accomplishing a task.

If my fantasy is close to correct ... what happens when the guy in the cubicle freezes, or runs into a situation he could use some input ... ?

I don't know ... I'm just thinkin' stuff.

[bmwcyle]

How often do we invade anymore? Iraq, North Africa, etc., I sure there will be more.

[knarf]

Chime in, bro ...

[JoeProBono]