Beautiful new destroyer...

[aurfalien]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/3billion-stealth-ship-described-starship-8795188

Wow, what a design!

Yea, don't count out the US Navy.

What a ship!

Edited September 9, 2016 by aurfalien

[Ace-Garageguy]

One of her two sister ships now under construction is also being considered for fitting with an electromagnetic rail-gun that can fire 25 pound projectiles 100 miles at Mach 7 (5000 MPH).

Though 25 pounds may not sound like much, it packs quite a punch traveling that fast.

Some critics think the Navy may have tried to cram too much capability into one platform with this series of ships, and others feel they may prove to be vulnerable due to their very heavy reliance on advanced electronics and computer technology.

                                

 

[aurfalien]

and others feel they may prove to be vulnerable due to their very heavy reliance on advanced electronics and computer technology.

                             

At first I felt the same way, but two things I've learned reading about our military is that they are the best in logistics and redundancy.

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

At first I felt the same way, but two things I've learned reading about our military is that they are the best in logistics and redundancy.

 Some days they're better than others. 

And sometimes they even do really smart things like keeping the old A-10 "Warthogs" around for another few years.   

[Joe Handley]

I picked up one of the Dragon Models kits of that ship, still have no idea when or if I might build it or even how, but I had to get one!  Imagine being near an Iceberg field then suddenly this appearing out of it and pointed at you with it's guns at the ready!

[10thumbs]

I've never heard any ground troops that did not love the A10.  Why it was even considered for retirement is beyond me.

The Zumwalt Class, amazing the small amount of crew.  Seems like to would just dig into the waves, but for sure its a solid design.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I've never heard any ground troops that did not love the A10.  Why it was even considered for retirement is beyond me.

In my view, it's the best close-air-support aircraft in the history of the world, and will be for the foreseeable future.

It's incredibly tough, very well armored AND armed, and relatively simple...which is a very good thing for something operating in an actual combat environment. Every pilot I've ever known who flew it loved it too.

Though it's going to be tough to beat in the role it excels at, it's slated to ultimately be phased out by the controversial and much criticized F-35, another high-cost piece of very-high-tech that many critics also believe tries to do too many things, and ends up not doing any of them particularly well.

Trying to get rid of all of my own old tools and replace them with one Swiss-Army-Knife-style everything-tool would be idiotic...just like thinking the F-35 can function effectively in the role the A-10 pretty well owns.

Think of the Warthog as a .357 magnum revolver, and the F-35 JSF as a scope-equipped .30-06 rifle. They both are exceedingly effective tools, depending on who and where the bad guys are. (This is, of course, assuming that the F-35 lives up to its claimed design potential in actual combat.) But they just aren't very good at doing the other's job.

Edited September 9, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[10thumbs]

F-35 taking the place of A-10 smells like politics and tons of cash.

How they suppose an F-35 can fly so slow and fly such tight curves, come back to the enemy for another fly over in such a quick manner is beyond me.  Its ridiculous.

How many A-10's for the cost of one F-35?

The AC 130 gunship is another beast.

[Mike C]

AND, it's commanded by Captain James Kirk too!

Edited September 12, 2016 by Mike C

[Mike_G]

Boy, that's a far cry from the Adams class tin can I was on

[Agent G]

Think of the Warthog as a .357 magnum revolver, and the F-35 JSF as a scope-equipped .30-06 rifle. They both are exceedingly effective tools, depending on who and where the bad guys are. (This is, of course, assuming that the F-35 lives up to its claimed design potential in actual combat.) But they just aren't very good at doing the other's job.

The trouble with that comparison Bill is the fact that the .357 and the .30-06 are old school tried and true cartridges. The F-35 is a brand new, whizz bang, ultra high tech, bird. The A-10 is old school and extremely effective. Kinda like comparing a .357 to a lightsaber. 

Rumors from Nellis and NAS Fallon is that no one likes flying the thing...........................

I still carry a revolver off duty, my work rifles have iron sights and my work pistol is older than my daughter.   

Why?

They work. 

G

[peteski]

While it is an amazing piece of military hardware, I would not call it beautiful. It is more of a minimalistic functional design.  Kind of reminds me of the iron-clad ships from the civil war (like the Monitor).

[Mike_G]

While it is an amazing piece of military hardware, I would not call it beautiful. It is more of a minimalistic functional design.  Kind of reminds me of the iron-clad ships from the civil war (like the Monitor).

That's funny, I was thinking the same thing only the merrimac

[Joe Handley]

It does seem a bit like it was inspired by those two ships, yet it also shows a strong "stealth fighter" influence on top of that, as well as a "hides in plain sight" attitude if it's got the right backdrop on top of it.

[unclescott58]

Sorry to say, I think it's a boring looking ship. But it doesn't have to be beautiful if it gets the job done.

 

[peteski]

It does seem a bit like it was inspired by those two ships, yet it also shows a strong "stealth fighter" influence

Probably because both are shaped in a way which minimizes their radar signature.

[SSNJim]

For those of you near Baltimore, it is supposed to be there soon. Zumwalt has left Newport, RI to come to Baltimore where it will be commissioned on Oct 15. I haven't been able to find an arrival date in Baltimore yet. I'm hoping they'll give tours.

[Ace-Garageguy]

She's always reminded me of Nemo's Nautilus in the film The League of extraordinary Gentlemen.

[russosborne]

Just another target.

 

Russ

submariner many many years ago.

[SSNJim]

That makes three of us - you and me too. STS1(SS).

Edited September 14, 2016 by SSNJim

[russosborne]

FTb3(SS)

Nuke missile fire control tech. Why bother with wimpy guns when you can kill millions at a time?

Russ

 

[Agent G]

G

[10thumbs]

@Wayne, just above.  What's that dude doing on the deck, behind the tower?

[Agent G]

Not being a submariner, I can only guess he's checking the missile hatches. 

G

[Mike_G]

 Or looking for a lost contact lens