Tag Archives: ddg1000

Welcome USS Michael Monsoor

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Sally Monsoor christens the future USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001)BATH, Maine (June 18, 2016) Sally Monsoor christens the future USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001), which is named in honor of her son, Medal of Honor recipient Navy MA2 (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor. DDG-1001 includes new technologies and will serve as a multi-mission platform capable of operating as an integral part of naval, joint or combined maritime forces. (U.S. Navy photo 160618-N-NO101-002 courtesy of Bath Iron Works/Released)

Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor poses for a photo in Hawthorne Nev.. He was postumously awarded the MOH after he leap on a live grenade saving the lives of two fellow SEALs

Petty Officer Second Class (SEAL) Michael A. Monsoor poses for a photo in Hawthorne Nev.. He was postumously awarded the MOH after he leap on a live grenade saving the lives of two fellow SEALs

MA2 Monsoor distinguished himself in by his actions on actions on Sept. 29, 2006

The ship named in his honor will be the second Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer and as such is huge.

How huge? Check this out when compared to the rest of the U.S. Navy’s destroyer lineage.

destroyer history american

Now that’s something you don’t see everyday

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The future USS Zumwalt DDG 1000 returned from the at-sea portion of INSURV acceptance trials last Thursday after two days underway at sea.

She is breathtaking.

U.S Navy photo

U.S Navy photo

And, at 600-feet oal and 14,500-tons, this new breed of destroyer is the size of a WWI predreadnought or a WWII heavy cruiser. 

And it shows.

Of course, the WPB is a small patrol boat and the perspective is forced, but the Zumwalt dwarfs her.

Of course, the WPB is a small patrol boat and the perspective is forced, but the Zumwalt dwarfs her.

She is set to commission 15 October and her first sistership, USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001), is scheduled to be christened on 18 June.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyer DDG-115 USS Rafael Peralta under construction alongside Zumwalt-class destroyer DDG-1001 USS Michael Monsoor, at the Bath Iron Works shipyard. Again, note the size difference and keep in mind that Peralta is 512-feet long

Arleigh Burke-class destroyer PCU DDG-115 USS Rafael Peralta under construction alongside Zumwalt-class destroyer PCU DDG-1001 USS Michael Monsoor, at the Bath Iron Works shipyard. Again, note the size difference and keep in mind that Peralta is 512-feet long

USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001)

The Z-Boat Really Floats!

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Congratulations US Navy, you have the first new floating tumblehome hull battleship since the Battle of Tsushima in 1905!

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October 28th, 2013, — The 87% complete Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer PCU USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) is floated out of dry dock at the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard. The ship, the first of three Zumwalt-class destroyers, will provide independent forward presence and deterrence, support special operations forces and operate as part of joint and combined expeditionary forces. The lead ship and class are named in honor of former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo R. “Bud” Zumwalt Jr., who served as chief of naval operations from 1970-1974. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of General Dynamics/Released)

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Above is not the Zumwalt but the 12,300-ton (only 700-tons lighter than the Mighty Z-boat!) French battleship Charles Martel with her tumblehome hull. Construction date: 1891. Incidentally, the great graveyard of tumblehome battleships is in the waters between Japan and China. There in May of 1905, an upstart Asian naval force with borrowed technology sank a modern European one and made it look simple.

Now if the the US Navy can just get the magic guns to work on their new 13,000 ton ‘destroyer’  that has 20% fewer VLS cells than the current 1980s technology Burke class destroyers, and 40% fewer cells than the 1970s technology Ticonderoga-class cruisers in a larger hull, things will start to look a lot better and less like 1905.