The first ship in the Navy’s new class of destroyers designed for littoral operations and land attack has been launched, the Navy said Tuesday.
The future USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) was launched at General Dynamics’ [GD] Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine on Monday. The floating dry dock was flooded and the destroyer was tied to a river pier in a transition that took four days, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) said.
 |
| The future USS Zumwalt under construction at Bath Iron Works. Photo by General Dynamics |
“This is the largest ship Bath Iron Works has ever constructed and the Navy’s largest destroyer. The launch was unprecedented in both its size and complexity,” Capt. Jim Downey, the Zumwalt-class program manager, said. “Due to meticulous planning and execution, the operation went very smoothly. I’m extremely pleased with the results and applaud the combined efforts of the Navy-industry team.”
The Zumwalt is the first of three destroyers planned for the class and construction began in 2009. The ship is 87 percent complete and is scheduled for delivery to the Navy in early 2014 and then will undergo combat systems activation and tests and trials.
The destroyer is expected to reach initial operational capability in 2016. Among the new technologies on the ship are all-electric integrated power, and the Advanced Gun System built by BAE Systems.
The futures USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) and Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002) are scheduled to deliver in 2015 and 2018.