US Navy’s second Zumwalt-class destroyer completes acceptance trials

Future USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001), the US Navy’s second Zumwalt-class destroyer, completed acceptance trials on February 1, the US Naval Sea Systems Command announced

The US Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey reviewed the ship and its crew during a series of demonstrations both pier side and underway, evaluating the ship’s construction and compliance with Navy specifications.

Many of the ship’s onboard systems including navigation, damage control, mechanical, electrical, combat, communications, and propulsion systems were tested to validate performance met or exceeded Navy specifications.

“DDG 1001 performed exceedingly well during acceptance trials,” said Capt. Kevin Smith, DDG 1000 class program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. “The industry and Navy team worked together to incorporate lessons learned from DDG 1000. The trials once again demonstrated how truly powerful and exceptional these ships are. ”

The trials did not go entirely without complications however, as electrical issues forced the destroyer to abort builder’s trials just one day after leaving the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works site on December 4. The issue was resolved and did not affect the destroyer’s delivery time table.

DDG 1001 was christened in June 2016, and is scheduled to deliver in the coming months. BIW is currently in production on the future USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002), as well as future Arleigh Burke class destroyers Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) and John Basilone (DDG 122).

At 610 feet long and 80.7 feet wide, Zumwalt-class ships are the largest destroyers the US Navy has ever built.

The lead ship in the class, USS Zumwalt, entered US Navy service in Baltimore on October 15, 2016.