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Michael H. Standart
Moderator
Username: mstandart
Post Number: 20960
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 - 4:00 am: | 
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>>Are you implying that a US Government agency would display a total lack of fiscal responsibility, and a total lack of intelligent direction in the administration of a project of this size and cost and then produce an outright lie about why it was being cancelled?<<
Damned right I am!
A long time ago, Glen Thurston made penned a little ditty in his adaptation of the old Battlestar Galactica series about the wisdom of listening for what is not being said in political discourse. I never forgot it because it resonates so well with what's going on in real world realpolitik. Often times, what the powers-that-be neglect or refuse to mention is at least if not more important that what they do.
In order to buy into what the Navy is trying to sell here, I would also have to buy into the unsupported assertion that a quarter century old design is better suited for dealing with an undefined/classified thread then a more modern design.
In fairness, this could very well turn out to be true. The battleships an example of a platform which fulfilled an operational need which couldn't really be matched by aircraft and at signifigently less risk. They ultimately went away, but the need they met really hasn't.
I'd just like to see something substantive to back up what they're claiming here and so would Congress.
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon
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Michael H. Standart
Moderator
Username: mstandart
Post Number: 21131
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 - 7:12 am: |
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From The Charlotte Examiner:
AP NewsBreak: Navy to seek third DDG-1000
quote:PORTLAND, Maine (Map, News) - The Navy has changed course and decided to push for construction of a third DDG-1000 destroyer that would be built at Bath Iron Works, Sen. Susan Collins said Monday.
The Maine Republican said Navy Secretary Donald Winter informed her of the decision that comes one month after the Navy said it was scrapping the Zumwalt destroyer program once the first two are built. The Navy said at the time that it was opting instead to build more of the current-generation DDG-51, or Arleigh Burke, destroyers.
More at http://www.examiner.com/a-1543285~AP_NewsBreak__Navy_to_seek_third_DDG_1000.html
Comment: What the...??? -???
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon
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Jim Hathaway
Member
Username: compassrose
Post Number: 301
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 - 1:40 pm: |
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If I was a suspicious type I would say it looks like a bone offered to avoid an embarassing public spectacle over this-
Assuming they are built, I wonder what value they will have being a very small class and quite different from other ships in service.
Will they become expensive testbeds?
Honjitsu tenki seiro naredomo nami takashi-...
Akiyama Saneyuki
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Michael H. Standart
Moderator
Username: mstandart
Post Number: 21138
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 - 4:07 pm: |
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>>Will they become expensive testbeds?<<
That could very well be the case. If the Navy wants to have one of these ships forward deployed at all times, then three ships would be the absolute minimum needed to do this. One deployed, one in workups, and one in some kind of maintainance availability or refit. In fact, four would be better for that.
My own sense is that these vessels will be something of an oversized white elephant which ultimately will end up being used in the role of a cruiser/destroyer with carrier or amphibious battle groups.
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon
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Jim Hathaway
Member
Username: compassrose
Post Number: 302
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - 3:19 am: |
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>>used in the role of a cruiser/destroyer with carrier or amphibious battle groups<<
Sounds like HMS Bristol, except she was one of a kind-
Honjitsu tenki seiro naredomo nami takashi-...
Akiyama Saneyuki
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Michael H. Standart
Moderator
Username: mstandart
Post Number: 21151
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - 5:52 am: |
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>>Sounds like HMS Bristol, except she was one of a kind<<
Sounds about right. The problem with the Bristol was that since her original mission died with the CVA-01 project, she really didn't have much of a job so she found one as a testbed. Her size made her useful as a flagship as well. There's actually a decent article on Wikipedia for this ship. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Bristol_(D23) She currently serves as a stationary cadet training ship.
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon
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Michael H. Standart
Moderator
Username: mstandart
Post Number: 21161
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - 6:42 am: |
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From The Navy Times:
Lawmaker: Third DDG 1000 far from done deal
quote:Even after the Navy made what looked like another about-face and said it supports a third Zumwalt-class destroyer, the fate of the ship known as DDG 1002 was far from clear Tuesday.
Full story at http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/08/navy_zumwalts_081908w/
Comment: And the soap opera goes on.
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon
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Jim Hathaway
Member
Username: compassrose
Post Number: 303
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - 1:32 pm: |
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>>Her size made her useful as a flagship as well.<<
Also many of her systems became common in the fleet (Sea Dart, Ikara, 4.5" gun), I hope we will be as lucky with a class of 2-3 Zumwalt class DDGs
Honjitsu tenki seiro naredomo nami takashi-...
Akiyama Saneyuki
|
Michael H. Standart
Moderator
Username: mstandart
Post Number: 21690
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 6:33 am: |
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From Defence News.com:
Will DDG 1000 Produce Any Ships at All?
quote:Frustration with the U.S. Navy's refusal to talk substantively about its decision to shrink the DDG 1000 destroyer program is widespread in Washington, noticeably among some key lawmakers - particularly Navy allies - major industrial partners and even senior Pentagon leaders.
The unanswered questions, the Navy's sudden switch away from support for the ship and new hints that structural problems might make construction even more of a problem are adding up, some say, to mean that no ships might come out of the decadelong effort.
More at http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3722533&c=SEA&s=TOP
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon
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Michael H. Standart
Moderator
Username: mstandart
Post Number: 21718
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 - 4:52 am: |
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From The Navy Times:
Troubled DDG 1000 faces shipyard problems
quote:One month after the Defense Department signaled that it was changing the Navy’s position on whether to build a third Zumwalt-class destroyer, confusion remains as to why the Navy backed off the program in the first place — and now whether the Navy will be able to build the first two ships.
Sources familiar with the issue say that problems have arisen in guaranteeing the seals between the composite construction panels of the ship’s huge deckhouse. The structure — one of 10 key engineering development models — is to be built by Northrop Grumman’s dedicated composite facility at Gulfport, Miss.
More at http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/09/navy_zumwalt_091508w/
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon
|
Michael H. Standart
Moderator
Username: mstandart
Post Number: 21881
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - 7:19 am: |
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From Defence News.com:
Denying Problems, Northrop Says DDG 1000 Deckhouse on Track
quote:Shipbuilder Northrop Grumman lashed out last week at assertions that serious problems have arisen with fabrication of the composite superstructure for the U.S. Navy's Zumwalt-class DDG 1000 destroyer.
"The DDG 1000 deckhouse has been through a very thorough development process, yielding a deckhouse design that meets all technical and load requirements, including apertures,"
More at http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3736454&c=SEA&s=TOP
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon
|
Michael H. Standart
Moderator
Username: mstandart
Post Number: 21933
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2008 - 4:11 am: |
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From The Navy Times:
House, Senate agree to add third DDG 1000
quote:House and Senate defense lawmakers have agreed to fund the Navy’s third Zumwalt-class destroyer, according to an announcement late Tuesday, even as questions remained over how much the ship will finally cost and what capabilities it will have.
The national defense authorization bill, which seemed likely to pass both chambers and could go to President Bush as soon as this weekend, sets aside $2.5 billion for the ship known as DDG 1002, albeit “without prejudice to a Navy initiative for a possible return to DDG 51 production,”
For the rest, see http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/09/navy_zumwalt_auth_092408w/
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon
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Michael H. Standart
Moderator
Username: mstandart
Post Number: 21954
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Friday, September 26, 2008 - 4:48 am: |
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From The Navy Times:
Bill has partial funding for 3rd DDG-1000
quote:PORTLAND, Maine — Sen. Susan Collins says the House version of a defense appropriation measure for fiscal 2009 now includes $1.5 billion as partial funding for a third DDG-1000 Navy destroyer.
Brief story at http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/09/ap_stealth_destroyer_092608/
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon
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Michael H. Standart
Moderator
Username: mstandart
Post Number: 22761
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 6:18 am: |
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From The Navy Times:
DDG 1001 named for MoH recipient Monsoor
quote:One of the Navy’s largest new surface warships will bear the name of a Navy SEAL who received the nation’s highest award for valor.
“DDG 1001, the second ship in our newest class of destroyers, will be named after Michael Monsoor,” Navy Secretary Donald Winter said remarks prepared for an address to be given Wednesday night in New York.
More at http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/10/navy_monsoor_102908w/
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon
|
Michael H. Standart
Moderator
Username: mstandart
Post Number: 23576
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 - 5:47 am: |
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From Global Security.org:
Raytheon Achieves Critical Readiness Milestone for Zumwalt-Class Destroyer
quote:TEWKSBURY, Mass., Dec. 2, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) completed the production readiness review of the mission systems equipment (MSE) for the Zumwalt-class destroyer program. The successful review validates ship systems' stability and maturity and officially authorizes the program's transition to full production.
More at http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2008/12/mil-081202-raytheon01.htm
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon
|
Michael H. Standart
Moderator
Username: mstandart
Post Number: 24572
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 - 7:28 am: |
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From Defence News.com:
Will Bath Build Second DDG 1000?
quote:Four years after Congress ripped apart a U.S. Navy winner-take-all scheme for building new DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers, the service and its two chief shipbuilders might be poised for a scaled-down agreement to shift construction of the first two ships from each shipyard to just one yard.
The result would be that the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine - poised to begin fabrication of DDG 1000 in February could wind up building that ship and DDG 1001, the Michael Monsour.
More at http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3897472&c=SEA&s=TOP
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon
|
Michael H. Standart
Moderator
Username: mstandart
Post Number: 25281
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Friday, February 6, 2009 - 6:10 am: |
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From Defence News.com:
DDG 1000's Top Defender Speaks Out
quote:As the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT&L), John Young oversees the vast panoply of the Pentagon's weapons-buying programs. While he's held other Defense-related positions, he was previously the Navy's top acquisition official. In that job he frequently advocated for and vigorously defended what was then called the DD(X) destroyer program, now known as the DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class advanced destroyer.
More at http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3935896&c=SEA&s=TOP
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon
|
Michael H. Standart
Moderator
Username: mstandart
Post Number: 25464
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 6:02 am: |
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From The Navy Times:
Little fanfare for destroyer production
quote:PORTLAND, Maine — The two shipyards building the Navy’s next-generation destroyer held private ceremonies this week signaling the start of construction, but the future remains cloudy for the stealthy warship that doubled in price long before shipbuilders began bending steel.
Funding has been allocated for the DDG-1000 Zumwalt that’s being built at General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works in Maine and for a second ship at Northrop Grumman’s shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss.
More at http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/02/ap_destroyer_fanfare_021309/
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon
|
Michael H. Standart
Moderator
Username: mstandart
Post Number: 26505
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 - 4:56 am: |
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From The Navy Times:
All DDG 1000 construction moves to Bath
quote:An agreement has been reached between the Navy and its top two shipbuilders to shift all construction of a new class of destroyer to only one of the shipyards.
The agreement means all three DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers will be built at the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard at Bath, Maine.
More at http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/04/defense_shipyards_040709/
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon
|
Michael H. Standart
Moderator
Username: mstandart
Post Number: 26715
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Sunday, April 19, 2009 - 5:27 am: |
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From Defence News.com:
Young: Navy Still Wants Many DDG 1000 Attributes
quote:Outgoing Pentagon acquisition chief John Young continued defending the much-maligned DDG 1000 program, saying on April 17 that a Navy analysis of next-generation ship needs endorses many of the attributes of the futuristic destroyer.
More at http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4044987&c=SEA&s=TOP
Comment: Okay, in the spirit of listening for what's not being said: What attributes do they want to see and with DDG 1000 production being stopped at three ships, exactly in what do they want to get them?
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon
|
Michael H. Standart
Moderator
Username: mstandart
Post Number: 29555
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 4:29 am: |
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From Defence News.com:
Defying Trend, DDG 1000 on Time, Budget
quote:Nearly every discussion of the new DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer revolves around the U.S. Navy's decision last summer to "truncate" the planned buy from seven ships to three, or on cost projections that foresee figures wildly in excess of the stated $3.3 billion goal, or on whether the land-attack capability of the ships is still needed in the new national strategy now taking shape under the Quadrennial Defense Review.
Often overlooked in all the chatter is that, methodically, steadily - and even quietly - major components of the first ship are taking shape all across the country.
More at http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4237133&c=FEA&s=CVS
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart
Equal Opportunity Curmudgeon
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