[Chode]

like Kip said, "It’s a heavy cruiser in all but name."

[tanknetter]

like Kip said, "It’s a heavy cruiser in all but name."

The reason for that is that there were supposed to be two classes of ships using the same (or variation of the same) hull. Just like with the Sprucans and Ticos.

The Zumwalt was billed as the land-attack destroyer, was supposed to really replace the VLS-retrofitted Sprucans (in role, NOT in numbers), but with MUCH better shore-bombardment capability (two 155mm guns rather than the 5"ers.) The ship was originally classed as a DD, not a DDG - witness that it follows the DD lineage that ended with the Sprucans (including the Ayatollah-class DDGs), NOT the DDG lineage.

There was also supposed to be a "Cruiser" variant that replaced the Ticonderogas. This would also have the benefit of maintaining a good number of O6 sea command billets.

But when it was realized how much the land-attack variant was going to cost, the CG version was quickly dropped. Although it wouldn't surprise me that, should the three Zumwalts turn out to be good ships, the hull design will be repurposed for a Tico replacement.