Zumwalt class Audio Brief (Patreon)

The U.S. Navy's Zumwalt-class destroyer is a class of advanced multi-mission stealth ships designed for surface warfare, anti-aircraft warfare, and naval gunfire support. The class features a distinctive tumblehome hull, which enhances stealth capabilities by reducing radar cross-section. The Zumwalt-class is equipped with advanced technologies including an integrated power system (IPS) that provides power for propulsion and high-energy weapons, such as railguns and lasers.

Key specifications include:

• Displacement: Approximately 15,000 tons

• Length: 600 feet (182.88 meters)

• Beam: 80.7 feet (24.6 meters)

• Draft: 27.6 feet (8.4 meters)

• Propulsion: Two Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines and two Rolls-Royce RR4500 turbine generators powering two electric motors

• Speed: Over 30 knots (56 km/h)

• Range: Approximately 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km) at 20 knots

• Crew: Approximately 140 officers and enlisted personnel

Armaments include:

• Guns: Two Advanced Gun Systems (AGS) with 155 mm naval guns capable of firing Long-Range Land Attack Projectiles (LRLAP)

• Missiles: 80 vertical launch system (VLS) cells capable of launching various missiles, including Tomahawk, Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM), and Standard Missile (SM)

• Other: Two Mk 46 Mod 2 Gun Weapon Systems for close-in defense

The Zumwalt-class also features advanced sensors and processing systems, including the SPY-3 Multi-Function Radar (MFR) and the SPY-4 Volume Search Radar (VSR), integrated under the dual-band radar (DBR) system. These capabilities, combined with its stealthy design and advanced weaponry, make the Zumwalt-class destroyer a formidable asset in modern naval warfare.