The Navy’s massive destroyer, the Zumwalt, has been designed to be stealthy, powerful, and equipped with some of the most impressive defensive technology.
It’s design is anything but ordinary and plays a key role in its impressive capabilities, as well as its reduced operational costs, low radar profile, and energy efficiency.
However, the Zumwalt’s unconventional structure have led some to question just how seaworthy this massive warship will be when faced with certain conditions. Is this massive ship ready for everything the ocean and our naval enemies might throw at it?
Stealth And Stability
The Zumwalt’s hull is most notable for the angular and sloping structure of its hull. Its trapezoid-like shape has been chosen for its ability to cut through waves and deflect radar signals, making the 600 foot long and 15,000 ton warship look like a small fishing vessel to enemy radar.
The hull’s design is a modern take on pre-dreadnought battleships that has been engineered and tested for the demands of today’s naval ventures.
Although a large scale model has already been tried as a proof of concept and the Navy has run extensive computer modeling and virtual simulations on the Zumwalt in a range of conditions, there are still concerns over just how stable the ship will be in unpredictable, real world circumstances.
Critics have said the ship’s stealth features could also amount to stability issues if the Zumwalt were to sustain battle damage
A Lot Riding On This Ship
With a $4.4 billion price tag on the first ship alone and an important role to play in the Obama administration’s Asia-Pacific naval strategy, there’s a lot riding on the Zumwalt and the Navy’s assurance that its indeed seaworthy.
Bath Iron Works, the Zumawalt’s shipbuilder, will be completing performance tests and making necessary modifications this winter and is aiming to turn the ship over to the Navy in 2016.
Here is an interactive tour of the Navy’s USS Zumwalt
Do you think the unusual design of the Zumwalt could compromise its seaworthiness once it actually ventures onto the ocean?
Article Sources:
http://www.militarytimes.com
https://www.bostonglobe.com
