Hi-Tech US Navy Destroyer Joins Fleet

The USS Zumwalt, the US Navy’s largest and most technologically advanced destroyer, was commissioned to the fleet Saturday in Baltimore.

The Zumwalt striking design, with sharp angles and weapons concealed under flat surfaces, makes it a lot difficult to spot on radar compared to conventional destroyers.

“If Batman had a ship, it would be the USS Zumwalt,” said US Pacific Command chief Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr., whose command the ship would be assigned.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said the ship also has an advanced weapon systems and power plant that can move the Navy into the future.

The warship is named after Admiral Elmo R. “Bud” Zumwalt Jr., chief of naval operations from 1970 to 1974. He was also a Bronze Star awardee from World War II who went on to serve in the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Mabus said on Saturday that the Navy and the nation are better because of Admiral Zumwalt.

Two sister ships, the Lyndon B. Johnson and Michael Mansoor, are currently under contruction at Bath Iron Works in Maine.

The Zumwalt’s advantages over the Arleigh Burke-class of destroyers:

An electrical power system that produces nearly as much electricity as the nuclear plants on aircraft carrier. According to the Navy, it can still generate enough electricity while operating all of its systems.

Bigger vertical launch missile tubes that can shoot larger and more advanced land attack and anti-ship missiles.

A larger flight deck that allows operations with new MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and F-35 fighters.

The capability to accommodate weapons of the future, such as laser and electronic rail guns.

From 32 Zumwalt units to 3

However, from the 32 originally conceived early in the program, the Navy plans to purchase only the three Zumwalt-class destroyers it has on order.

The Navy is presently focusing on a modernized version of the existing and more traditional Arleigh Burke class.

Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments naval analyst Bryan Clark told USNI News earlier this year that it’s possible the Zumwalt-class vessels will be assigned for different missions than the Burke-class destroyers.

Clark said that should a war ensue, the ships would be used differently than a regular destroyer. They wouldn’t be used for regular patrols but for intelligence gathering. They would do special ops.

Some critics question if that’s worth the $22.5 billion price tag for the three Zumwalt-class ships.

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