Just thought this was very cool... Navy's new 'stealth' destroyer headed to sea - The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram
Hell of a ship. I hope they continue with this tech on the ither vessels when they build them. I am proud to say that we built the first Stealth Navy vessel in Sweden a Decade or so ago. Much smaller than this beast of course, made for the Baltic.
Things about her that blow me away: 1) They call her a destroyer, yet she is 600' long and weighs almost 15,000 tons. When I was in the USN 45 years ago that was a cruiser (CLG). 2) Total crew count is ... 145! For a ship this size and complexity, it is astounding. I sailed on a DEG, Brooke class guided missile destroyer escort, 414 ft. long and less than 4,000 tons, and our crew was 100 men more. I just hope that she avoids all the technical, structural problems and lack of weapons that are hampering both of the LCS, Littoral Combat Ship, classes.
Google maps satellite view shows it under construction.... https://www.google.com/maps/place/General+Dynamics+Bath+Iron+Works,+700+Washington+St,+Bath,+ME+04530/@43.903719,-69.8110547,19z/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x4cad850f10f00a1b:0x5392e483917d1524
They designed a vessel around stealth features, then decided saving money was more important than stealthiness, swapping the composite superstructure for a steel one. Inaccessible compartments with automated fire suppression? It is a warship, after all.
