Pacific Ocean, December 8, 2016. The U.S. Navy's most technologically advanced surface ship USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) steams in formation with USS Independence (LCS 2). Upon arrival, Zumwalt will begin the installation of her combat systems, testing and evaluation, and operation integration with the fleet. (Picture source: U.S. Navy Combat Camera / Petty Officer 1st Class Ace Rheaume)
Popular Mechanics: After Only 3 Years in Service, the USS Zumwalt’s Mission Is Changing
Once slated to bombard targets on land, the three destroyers of the Zumwalt-class are changing course.
The USS Zumwalt and her two sister ships are undergoing a dramatic change of mission just three years after the first ship was commissioned. The destroyers, originally meant to provide naval gunfire support for the Marines and bombard targets far inland, are now being reorientated to a ship-killer role.
The Zumwalt-class of destroyers was meant to dramatically boost the fleet’s gun firepower. After the retirement of the four Iowa-class battleships in the early 1990s, the service studied a number of solutions before deciding on the Zumwalts. Each ship would be equipped with two 155-millimeter Advanced Gun Systems, each firing a precision-guided Long Range Land Attack Projectile to ranges of up to 83 miles.
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Update #1: USS Zumwalt land-attack destroyer to fire new missiles and laser weapons (Navy Recognition)
Update #2: Stealthy USS Zumwalt Destroyer to Fire New Missiles, Laser Weapons (Warrior Maven)
WNU Editor: The program has cost $23 billion to date, and it has only produced three ships with an average cost of $7.8 billion. Talk about a big mess .... new mission or not.
