• None, but LAMPS III electronics installed on landing deck for coordinated DDG-51/helo ASW operations (Flights I and II)
• two SH-60 Seahawk LAMPS III helos (Flight IIA)
The class is named for AdmiralArleigh "31-Knot" Burke, the most famous American destroyer officer of World War II. Admiral Burke was alive when the class leader was commissioned, and his words to the plankowners echo in the class' distinguished service to date: "This ship is built to fight; you had better know how."
The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force operates four modified Flight I vessels as the Kongo class. Three more will be commissioned by 2010, these will be upgraded to Flight IIA standard.
The Arleigh Burke class are among the largest and most powerful destroyers ever built, both larger and more heavily armed than many previous cruisers. (The larger Ticonderoga class were constructed on Spruance class hullforms, but are designated as cruisers.) The Arleigh Burke class breaks with previous American construction practices, by being built entirely of steel, rather than having a steel hull and aluminum superstructure. (An aluminum mast is used to reduce topweight). A 1975 fire aboard USS Belknap that gutted her aluminum superstructure and observation of battle damage to British ships during the Falklands War prompted the decision to employ a steel superstructure.
The Arleigh Burke class were the first U.S. warships designed with an air-filtration system against nuclear, biological and chemical warfare.[1]
Development
In 1980 the United States Navy initiated design studies with seven contractors. By 1983 the number of competitors had been reduced to three; Bath Iron Works, Todd Shipyards and Ingalls Shipbuilding.[1] On 3 April 1985 Bath Iron Works received a US$321.9 million contract to build the first of class, USS Arleigh Burke.[2] The total cost of the first ship was put at US$1.1 billion, the other US$778 million being for the ship's weapons systems.[2]
Profile of Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.
The "Flight IIA Arleigh Burke" ships have several new features, which has led some to suggest that they be renamed the "Oscar Austin" class after the first ship, Oscar Austin (DDG-79). Among the changes are the addition of two hangars for ASWhelicopters, and a new, longer Mark 45 Mod 4 5-inch/62-caliber naval gun (fitted on Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81) and later ships). Later Flight IIA ships starting with USS Mustin have a modified funnel design that buries the funnels within the superstructure as a signature-reduction measure. TACTAS Towed array sonar was omitted from flight IIA ships and they also lack Harpoon launchers. Ships from DDG-68 to DDG-84 have AN/SLQ-32 antennas that resemble V3 configuration similar to those deployed on Aegis cruisers, while the remainder appear to have V5 variants externally resembling ones deployed on Oliver Hazard Perry frigates. V3 has an active electronic countermeasures component while V5 is passive only. In 2007, images of some flight IIA units, (Preble[3], Mustin[4]), show an aft CIWS had been added, though they were constructed without a CIWS.
The United States Navy has begun a modernization program for the Arleigh Burke class aimed at improving the gun systems on the ships in an effort to address congressional concerns over the retirement of the U.S. Iowa-classbattleships. Among other things this modernization includes is the extension of the range of the 5 inch guns on the Flight I Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (USS Arleigh Burke to USS Ross) with extended range guided munitions (ERGMs) that would enable the ships to fire projectiles about 40 nautical miles inland.[6][7][8]However the ERGM has been cancelled.[9]
Modernization
The U.S. Navy recently launched a modernization program that is designed to provide a comprehensive mid-life upgrade to ensure that the class remains effective. Reduced manning, increased mission effectiveness, and a reduced total cost of ownership are the goals of the modernization program. Modernization technologies will be integrated during new construction of DDG 111 and 112, then retrofitted into DDG Flight I and II ships during in service overhaul periods.[10]
The USS Michael Murphy was originally intended to be the last of the Arleigh Burke class, however with cancellation of the Zumwalt (DDG-1000) class after the first three ships are completed, 8-11 new vessels are now planned to be added to the Arleigh Burke class.
Gallery
In this image of USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62), a Flight I ship, note TACTAS in center of fantail, lack of helicopter hangars, and design of stacks.
In this image of USS Mustin (DDG-89), a Flight IIA ship, note lack of TACTAS in center of fantail, aft helicopter hangars, Phalanx CIWS mount and different design of exhaust stacks.
Starboard side of USS Momsen (DDG-92), note torpedo tubes mounted on missile deck vs earlier mounted amidships. Also note superstructure changes to accommodate a Remote Minehunting System (RMS) holding bay. [1]
^ ab Biddle, Wayne (1984-02-28). "The dust has settled on the Air Force's Great Engine", The New York Times, The New York Times Company. Retrieved on 2007-07-19.
^ ab "Maine shipbuidler gets Navy contract for a new destroyer", The New York Times, The New York Times Company (1985-04-03). Retrieved on 2007-07-19.
^ Some units had a CIWS added aft, as noted above (DDG-88 and DDG-89 are two examples with an aft Phalanx CIWS added after commissioning)
Further reading
Sanders, Michael S. (1999). The Yard: Building a Destroyer at the Bath Iron Works. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-06-019246-1. (Describes the construction of Donald Cook (DDG-75) at Bath Iron Works.)