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The Navy’s newest destroyer, the Michael Monsoor, is as much an experiment as a ship-killer
LA Times ^ | January 26, 2019 | Samantha Masunaga

Posted on 01/26/2019 1:08:28 PM PST by jazusamo

Photos at link.

With slick sides and sharp angles, the Michael Monsoor and its sister ship Zumwalt cut a distinct silhouette along the waters of San Diego.

Unlike a nearby aircraft carrier whose radar juts into the air, the Monsoor’s composite material deckhouse is polygonal and covered with material that can absorb radar waves and increase the destroyer’s stealthiness. Its “tumblehome” hull looks like something you’d see on a ship built before World War I.

Make no mistake, the Monsoor guided-missile destroyer — named after Navy SEAL Michael A. Monsoor, who grew up in Garden Grove and died in 2006 saving the lives of three other SEALS — is one of the U.S. Navy’s most technologically advanced ships. It is to be commissioned Saturday in San Diego.

But developing that cutting-edge technology has proved more difficult than expected, and its deployment has been complicated by a strategic pivot in the ship’s mission.

In the end, what was once intended to be a class of 32 destroyers will now be only three — making for a per-ship cost of about $4.4 billion, according to a December 2016 estimate by the Government Accountability Office, the most recent cost estimate available. Including development costs, that number balloons to $8.2 billion, the GAO said.

After Saturday, the first two ships will be commissioned and then both will be in combat trials, while the third and final ship, the Lyndon B. Johnson, is scheduled for christening in late April.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: destroyer; medalofhonor; michaelmonsoor; moh; navy; usnavy; ussmichaelmonsoor; zumwaltclass
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To: jazusamo

Navy needs a super stealth sub with an above deck railgun.


21 posted on 01/26/2019 1:35:35 PM PST by Daniel Ramsey (Thank YOU President Trump, finally we can do what America does best, to be the best)
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To: llevrok

Merrimac III = DDG 1001
Merrimac II = DDG 1000
Merrimac I = Sunk


22 posted on 01/26/2019 1:39:38 PM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: PIF

"Shillettes going back in time...
23 posted on 01/26/2019 1:44:45 PM PST by RedMonqey ("Those who turn their arms in for plowshares will be doing the plowing for those who didn't.")
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To: Hot Tabasco

I have visited Monsoor’s grave at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on Point Loma in San Diego several times. One time on Memorial Day I saw his father at the grave. The father was on his knees praying the Rosary. If you ever go to San Diego you should go to Fort Rosecrans. Fort Rosecrans has more Medal of Honor heroes than any other cemetery with the exception of Arlington National Cemetery. The view of the ocean and San Diego Bay from there are beautiful and inspiring.


24 posted on 01/26/2019 1:45:56 PM PST by forgotten man
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To: RedMonqey

“Shillettes = Silhouette


25 posted on 01/26/2019 1:47:00 PM PST by RedMonqey ("Those who turn their arms in for plowshares will be doing the plowing for those who didn't.")
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To: jazusamo

Sadly you ought not to have the confidence in the crew and officers of today’s Navy that you once took for granted. That ship will only be as good as its crew.


26 posted on 01/26/2019 1:50:28 PM PST by allendale (.)
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To: RedMonqey
That's funny. That was the one of the first things I went looking for.. This is the CSS Virginia per link.


27 posted on 01/26/2019 1:55:13 PM PST by moovova (US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population.)
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To: mad_as_he$$
Does the Navy have any ammo for the gun yet?

Of course not.

But, Popular Mechanx keeps saying they have rail guns, lasers, and particle beams.............

28 posted on 01/26/2019 1:57:17 PM PST by doorgunner69
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To: PIF

Why are all the sailors in camo?

Why does the USN have any camo outside SEAL teams?

May as well have it on submarines.


29 posted on 01/26/2019 2:00:49 PM PST by A strike (I DEMAND my responsibilities!)
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To: mad_as_he$$
Does the Navy have any ammo for the gun yet?

With the reduced number of ships in the class, the cost of the gun system’s rocket-guided shells also jumped to at least $800,000 apiece, which analysts said contributed to the change in the destroyers’ mission. The Navy chose to cancel purchase of those munitions, and new ammo for the guns has yet to be determined, though the service is “actively looking” for other rounds

With prices like that, it might be cheaper to pay off the enemy to surrender.

30 posted on 01/26/2019 2:01:40 PM PST by Flick Lives
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To: jazusamo

Haven’t these new cruisers been de-crewed to levels that dangerously impacted damage control?


31 posted on 01/26/2019 2:11:21 PM PST by Rebelbase
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To: A strike

May as well have it on submarines.
= = =

Put the females in camo on submarines.


32 posted on 01/26/2019 2:18:02 PM PST by Scrambler Bob (You know that I am full of /S)
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To: jazusamo

No ship pixie no linke


33 posted on 01/26/2019 2:19:52 PM PST by mosesdapoet (mosesdapoet aka L,J,Keslin posting here for the record)
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To: A strike

Well, my bad I guess.
Camo uniforms must be way less laundry effort than traditional.


34 posted on 01/26/2019 2:20:53 PM PST by A strike (I DEMAND my responsibilities!)
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To: mosesdapoet

Link just worked for me.

https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-michael-monsoor-zumwalt-20190126-story.html


35 posted on 01/26/2019 2:28:51 PM PST by jazusamo (Have You Donated to Keep Free Republic Up and Running?)
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To: AppyPappy

If I weren’t a ‘thinking person’, I would figure you thought a pResident could do no wrong.

that bum LBJ(and others) entered USNR in 1940 and was a LCDR Representative and was awarded (recommended by MacArthur) a Silver Star in 1942 as a result of a flyover of New Guinea
= = = = = = = = =
From the NY Times 1964:

The citation for the award to Mr. Johnson of the Silver Star reported the action in these words:

“As our planes neared the target area they were intercepted by eight hostile fighters. When, at this time, the plane in which Lieutenant Commander Johnson was an observer developed mechanical trouble and was forced to turn back alone presenting a favorable target to the enemy fighters, he evidenced marked coolness in spite of the hazards involved. His gallant action enabled him to obtain and return with valuable information.”

= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
I would like to think that the crew of the plane he was aboard would turn down such an ‘award’.
That said, MAYBE the ‘plane’ got the award also and since he was aboard etc etc etc....

Entire article from NYT 1964
https://www.nytimes.com/1964/09/21/archives/johnson-was-awarded-the-silver-star-for-flight-with-bomber-group-in.html


36 posted on 01/26/2019 3:31:36 PM PST by xrmusn (6/98"Getting rich as a Politician means doing something illegal''(trunc) HS Truman)
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To: A strike
Why does the USN have any camo outside SEAL teams?

Because those snug fitting blue bell bottom pants were just too damn gay.............

37 posted on 01/26/2019 3:35:34 PM PST by Hot Tabasco
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To: Rebelbase

From what I’ve gathered from defenders of the policy, the effectiveness and devastation from modern weaponry makes damage control irrelevant: the ship *IS* going down if hit. Unless it’s a flattop. Or something.

I’ve been watching the lowering of crew strength on ships for a long time with MUCH trepidation. When the entire crew is fighting the ship, who can be keeping it afloat?


38 posted on 01/26/2019 3:38:45 PM PST by Don W (When blacks riot, neighbourhoods and cities burn. When whites riot, nations and continents burn.)
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To: jazusamo

Wait a minute.
The Zumwalt has been a floating trash can.
Now we have two?


39 posted on 01/26/2019 4:13:00 PM PST by lurk
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To: jazusamo

That should have read no pix no click to the LAT scum.


40 posted on 01/26/2019 5:24:13 PM PST by mosesdapoet (mosesdapoet aka L,J,Keslin posting here for the record)
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