The christening of the U.S. Navy’s newest guided missile destroyer, Zumwalt (DDG 1000), will take place on Saturday, October 19, 2013 at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. The ceremony will begin at 11:00 A.M. and is open to the public.
The DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer is the U.S. Navy’s next-generation guided-missile destroyer, leading the way for a new generation of advanced, multi-mission surface combat ships. Zumwalt will be 610 feet in length, have a beam of 80 feet, displace approximately 15,000 tons, and will have a crew of 130 officers and sailors plus an air detachment.
DDG 1000 is the first surface combatant to be built with an Integrated Power System (IPS), which will use electric power for propulsion and ship services. The IPS generates the total ship electric power requirements, then distributes and converts it for all ship loads, including propulsion, combat systems and ship services.
The ship is scheduled to be delivered in 2014 with an initial operating capability in 2016.
[mappress] Press Release, September 23, 2013