Purpose
The role of the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer, a
United States Navy ship named for the famed
World War II admiral of the same name, is to defend other ships, whether they be convoys or carrier battle groups (
CVBG). The Arleigh Burke class is capable of defending against airborne threats (aircraft and missiles), other surface ships, and submarines in support of whatever group they are attached to. Though its primary mission is one of defense, the Arleigh Burke class was also designed to support land-based and
amphibious operations with their 5"/54 caliber guns, and with their arsenal of
Tomahawk cruise missiles, and perform strike missions on many different types of targets.
Design
The Arleigh Burke was designed from the beginning to be a more stealthy ship (
RADAR-wise) than her predecessors. Many techniques were used to reduce the radar signature of the Arleigh Burke class. Some of those techniques were the
tried and true use of
RADAR absorbing materials and paint to cover parts of the ship, as well some new ideas. For instance, where the square deck railings and posts of the older
Spruance class destroyer were all square with the front of the ship, those same railings on the Arleigh Burke are rotated forty-five degrees. Also, the
mast and 'island' of the ship are constructed with non-
perpendicular angles, giving the Arleigh Burke a completely different 'look' than that of ships past. The purpose of these design techniques is to reduce the number of surfaces
perpendicular to an active radar system, reducing amount of signal that the Arleigh Burke will return (the same idea behind the
UFO-ish
F-117 Stealth Fighter (which isn't actually a fighter)).
The Arleigh Burke also continues the use of the four General Electric LW2500
Gas Turbine engine that was so successful on the
Spruance class destroyer. The LW2500 is a nautical version of the jet engine used
DC-10,
MD-11,
A300,
747 and
767 aircraft. The gas turbine engine allows ships equipped with it a much higher range of flexibility in operations; it only takes a few minutes to go from having the four engines off, to be ready to get underway, a significant improvement over older engine systems, which took a much longer period of time to 'warm up'. There are two pairs of engines aboard the Arleigh Burke, each pair drives a separate shaft. Only two engines need to be activated at any one time, allowing engine crews to service two of the engines, even while underway. Since the gas turbine is incapable of spinning their shafts 'in reverse', in order for the ship to go in reverse, the propellers themselves change their configuration, switching the pitch of their blades. The port shaft rotates
counter-clockwise, while the starboard shaft rotates
clockwise. The Arleigh Burke class has an engine and propulsion setup very much like that of the
Spruance class destroyer.
The Arleigh Burke also saw a return to the all-
steel superstructure that had been given up in favor of
aluminum. This policy of all-aluminum superstructure was completely abandoned when in 1975, the
USS Belknap (CG 26) collided with
USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), causing massive structural damage to the aluminum superstructure of Belknap, and many casualties. The
mast of the ship, however, remains aluminum for reasons of mass. The actual hull of the Arleigh Burke is what is called a
waterplane area hull form, which is supposed to allow the ship to maintain high speeds and maneuverability even during high seas.
The Arleigh Burke employs a survivability-enhanced design philosophy. A number of features that are able to seal off the crew from the outside world makes the Arleigh Burke much more capable of withstanding chemical, biological, or radiological (
CBR) attack. The overall design of the ship favors the more vital areas of the ship with increased protection in the form of steel armor,
kevlar armor (for the AEGIS systems), and double-plated
bulkheads. The double-plated aspect serves to prevent fragmentation damage, in that the outer layer breaks-up the fragments, while the inner layer serves to protect against the fragmented fragments of the fragments. (heh heh... anyways...) Also, vital electronics have been fortified against the electronics-crippling electro-magnetic pulse (
EMP) associated with nuclear airbursts.
Weapon Systems
The primary weapon of the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer is the ninety cell
Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (
VLS). The VLS carries the lion's share of the Arleigh Burke's offensive capability, including
Tomahawk and
Standard missiles for attacking land targets, and
ASROC Anti-submarine rockets. The VLS is split between the bow area and the stern area of the ship, with a 29-cell unit at the bow, and a 61-cell unit towards the stern. The VLS cannot really be seen on a profile (side) view of the ship, since it rises only a few inches above the deck. Missile launch chambers are beneath the deck, in a vertical position (hence the name), and are arrayed in a large grid. The foreward grid is really thirty-two squares large and the aft sixty-four, but three cells both foreward and aft are taken up by cranes, which facilitates reloading of the Vertical Launch System.
AGM-84 Harpoon anti ship missiles are carried in two 'quad' canisters towards the aft of the ship. The two quad launchers form a kind of 'x' when viewing the ship from the
stern. They are angled in this way so that the powerful exhaust from a missile launch will be directed into the water and away from the ship. The Harpoon guided missile gives the Arleigh Burke her primary means of dealing with hostile ships. The Arleigh Burke's complement of Harpoons is not limited to the eight on the launch rack; more can be loaded from storage should the first eight be expended.
The Arleigh Burke also carries a pair of 5 inch, 54 caliber turreted cannons. These weapons may seem to be something of a throwback to the
bad old days when the battleship ruled the sea, and the bigger the gun, the better. Some may even look on the cannon as somewhat obsolete. However, the 5"/54 cal gun on the Arleigh Burke (and several other classes of ship in the U.S. Navy) serves a number of important roles. The 5" gun is an important component in the Arleigh Burke's anti-missile/anti-aircraft capability, engaging hostile air targets as one of the last lines of defense against incoming guided missiles.
Note: 54 caliber means 54 caliber.
NOT .54 caliber. This is a big fscking gun we're talking about here. The Arleigh Burke has emplacements for manually operated .50 caliber machine guns, primarily for point defense against extremely close hostiles, such as bad guys trying to attach charges to the hull, or storm the ship while docked.
Extra bonus note: The Navy is supposedly outfitting the 62 cal version of this gun sometime in 2002 with
guided rounds! They're rocket-propelled,
GPS-guided shells capable of altering course to hit their target. Crazy. More info for this insanely advanced projectile technology and the cannon system itself at...
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/weaps/mk-45.htm
The absolute last line of defense against anti-ship missiles and aircraft is the
MK 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS), or 'sea-whiz' for short. The CIWS is a point defense weapon that has self-contained search and tracking radars, and engages incoming aircraft and missiles at only a few nautical miles in range. It is easily recognizeable by its tall white radar dome, placed upon the cannon barrels and swivel joint. The six-barrel 20mm cannon throws either
tungsten or
depleted uranium shells at a rate of 3000-4500 per minute at its target. The Arleigh Burke is armed with two of these systems, one for the forward-starboard side, and another for the aft-port side.
The Arleigh Burke is also armed with a pair of torpedo launcher mounts, each carrying three torpedoes for going after submarines (and potentially other surface ships).
Also, user
locke baron has informed me that DDG-51s can carry the MK 38 25mm autocannon, which is a kind of manually aimed chain gun. They are apparently not part of the ship's permanent armament, and can be removed and installed in different situations. They have been apparently especially useful when conducting operations in the
Persian Gulf, supporting
UN sanctions against Iraq following the
Gulf War.
Upgrade to Flight IIA (DDG-79 and up)
A hangar has been added for two SH-60 Seahawk LAMPS III Anti submarine warfare helicopters aft of the aft VLS and forward of the helicopter landing deck. Space for the increased officers, crew, and supplies has also been added. The aft SPY radar antenna had to be raised eight feet to be able to see over the hangar.
Upgrade to version 6.1 of the AEGIS weapon system
Increase from 90 VLS cells to 96
Future upgrade from Phalanx CIWS to NATO Evolved Sea Sparrow
Removal of Harpoon capability
Upgrade 5"/54 caliber gun to 5"/62 caliber guns (DDG-81 and up)
Improved and ozone-friendly air conditioning plant (DDG-83 and up)
Navy Area Theatre Ballistic Missile Defense system (DDG-85 and up)
Remote-controlled mine detection equipment (select ships)
Arleigh Burke Class Specifications
Arleigh Burke Class; FLIGHT I/II (DDG-51+)
Power Plant:
4 LM2500 General Electric Marine Gas Turbines (100,000 shp)
3 Allison 2500 KW Gas Turbine Generators
2 Shafts with CRP (Controllable Reversible Pitch) Propellers
2 Rudders
Length: 505 feet overall, 466 feet (142 meters) waterline
Beam: Maximum 66 Feet, waterline 59 feet (18 meters)
Navigational Draft: 31 feet
Displacement:
Hulls 51 through 71: 8,315 tons (8,448.04 metric tons) full load
Hulls 72 through 78: 8,400 tons (8,534.4 metric tons) full load
Hulls 79 and on: 9,200 tons (9,347.2 metric tons) full load
Speed: 31 knots (36 mph, 57 kph)
Aircraft: None. LAMPS III electronics installed on landing deck for coordinated DDG 51/helo ASW operations
Armament:
Two MK 41 Vertical Launch Systems (90 Cells)
Standard missile and Tomahawk ASM/LAM
Two MK 15 MOD 12 20mm Close-in-Weapons Systems (Phalanx Mounts)
Two AGM-84 Harpoon Anti-shipping Missile Quad Canisters
One MK 45 MOD 1 5"/54 caliber Gun Mount (lightweight gun)
Two MK 32 MOD 14 Triple Torpedo Tubes (six MK 50/46 Torpedoes)
Sensors:
AN/SPY-1D 3-D Radar
AN/SPS-67(V)3 Radar
AN/SPS-64(V)9 Radar
AN/SQS-53C(V) Sonar
AN/SQQ-28(V) LAMPS III
AN/SQR-19(V) TACTAS Sonar
Date Deployed: July 4, 1991
Crew: 23 officers, 300 enlisted
Arleigh Burke Class; FLIGHT IIA (DDG-79+)
Power Plant:
4 LM2500 General Electric Marine Gas Turbines (100,000 shp)
3 Allison 2500 KW Gas Turbine Generators
2 Shafts with CRP (Controllable Reversible Pitch) Propellers
2 Rudders
Length: 509.5-513.0 feet overall, 466 feet (142 meters)waterline
Beam:Maximum 66 Feet, waterline 59 feet (18 meters)
Navigational Draft: 31 feet
Displacement:
9,192-9,217 tons full load
Speed: 31 knots (36 mph, 57 kph)
Aircraft: Two multi-purpose Light Airborne Multipurpose System LAMPS MK III helicopters
Armament:
Quad Canisters Two MK 41 Vertical Launch Systems (96 Cells)
Standard missile and Tomahawk ASM/LAM
(NATO) Evolved Sea Sparrow
Two AGM-84 Harpoon Anti-shipping Missile
One MK 45 MOD 1 5"/54 caliber Gun Mount (lightweight gun)
Two MK 32 MOD 14 Triple Torpedo Tubes (six MK 50/46 Torpedoes)
Sensors:
AN/SPY-1D 3-D Radar
AN/SPS-67(V)3 Radar
AN/SPS-64(V)9 Radar
AN/SQS-53C(V) Sonar
AN/SQQ-28(V) LAMPS III
Crew: 32 Officers, 348 enlisted (including helicopter detachment of 4 officers and 14 enlisted)
Arleigh Burke Class; Flight-Common Specifications
Electronic Counter Measures (ECM):
AN/SLQ-32(V)3
AN/SLQ-25A NIXIE Torpedo Countermeasures
MK 36 MOD 6 Decoy Launching System (6 Launchers)
Fire Control:
MK116 MOD 7 Underwater Fire Control System
AN/SWG- I A (V) Harpoon Launcher Control System
AN/SWG-3A Tomahawk Weapon Control System
Exterior Communications
Low Freqency (LF) through High Frequency (HF) Receive, 10 kHz - 30 MHz
R-1051 H/URR; twelve receivers
R-2368 H/URR; three receivers
High Frequency (HF) Transmit; 2-30 MHz
AN/URT-23D; nine transmitters
Very High Frequency (VHF) Transmit and Receive, 30-162 MHz
AN/GRR-211; two transceivers for non-secure voice
ANNRC-46A; two FM transceivers for secure voice
AN/URC-80 (V)6; one transceiver for bridge-to-bridge communications
Very High Frequency (UHF) Transmit and Receive, 220-400 MHz
AN/URC-93 (V)1; two transceiver for Link 4A
AN/WSC-3 (V)7,11; fourteen transceivers
AN/WSC-3 (V)11, have-quick transceiver
SATCOM Transmit and/or Receive
AN/SSR-1A; one receiver for fleet broadcast
ANNWSC-3A (V)3; five transceivers for digital voice
Infra Red, Transmit and Receive
AN/SAR-7A; two IR Viewers
Land Line Terminations, Transmit and/or Receive
AN/SAT-2B, one IR Transmitter
Single Channel DC Secure TTY
Telephone Special Communications Channel
AN/USQ-69 (V)7; OTCIXS
AN/USQ-69 (V)8; TADIXS
AN/SYQ-7 (V)5 and AN/USQ-69 (V)6; NAVMACS/CUDIX
AN/USQ-83 (V) and AN/USQ-125 (V); Link 11
AN/SSW-1 D; Link 4A
AN/SRQ-4; HawkLink (LAMPS MK III)
AN/ARR-75 Sonobouy antenna
Navigational Equipment:
AN/WSN-5 Inertial Navigation System
AN/WRN-6
ANISRN-25 (V)
MK 4 MOD 2 Underwater Log
MK 6 MOD 4D Digital Dead Reckoning Tracer
AN/URN-25 TACAN
AN/SPS-64 (V) 9 I Band Radar
Navy Standard No. 3 Magnetic Compass
Chronometer Size 85
Flux Compass
Replenishment-at-Sea:
CONREP fore and aft
VERTREP fore and aft
Boat Handling and Stowage:
Two MK 6 rigid inflatable boats (RHIB), 18 person capacity with slewing arm davit
Fifteen twenty-five person encapsulated lifeboats
Average Annual Unit Operating Cost: $20,000,000 (FY 1996, U.S. Dollars)
Name Number Homeport Ordered Commissioned Decommissioned
FLIGHT I
Arleigh Burke DDG-51 Norfolk 1985 04 Jul 1991 2026
Barry DDG-52 Norfolk 1987 12 Dec 1992 2027
John Paul Jones DDG-53 San Diego 1987 18 Dec 1993 2028
Curtis Wilbur DDG-54 Yokosuka 1989 19 Mar 1994 2029
Stout DDG-55 Norfolk 1989 13 Aug 1994 2029
John S. McCain DDG-56 Yokosuka 1989 02 Jul 1994 2029
Mitscher DDG-57 Norfolk 1989 10 Dec 1994 2029
Laboon DDG-58 Norfolk 1989 18 Mar 1995 2029
Russell DDG-59 Pearl Harbor 1990 20 May 1995 2030
Paul Hamilton DDG-60 Pearl Harbor 1990 27 May 1995 2030
Ramage DDG-61 Norfolk 1990 22 Jul 1995 2030
Fitzgerald DDG-62 San Diego 1990 14 Oct 1995 2030
Stethem DDG-63 San Diego 1990 21 Oct 1995 2030
Carney DDG-64 Mayport 1991 13 Apr 1996 2031
Benfold DDG-65 San Diego 1991 30 Mar 1996 2031
Gonzalez DDG-66 Norfolk 1991 12 Oct 1996 2031
Cole DDG-67 Norfolk 1991 08 Jun 1996 2031
The Sullivans DDG-68 Mayport 1992 19 Apr 1997 2032
Milius DDG-69 San Diego 1992 23 Nov 1996 2032
Hopper DDG-70 Pearl Harbor 1992 06 Sep 1997 2032
Ross DDG-71 Norfolk 1992 28 Jun 1997 2032
FLIGHT II
Mahan DDG-72 Norfolk 1992 14 Feb 1998 2033
Decatur DDG-73 San Diego 1993 29 Aug 1998 2033
McFaul DDG-74 Norfolk 1993 25 Apr 1998 2033
Donald Cook DDG-75 Norfolk 1993 04 Dec 1998 2033
Higgins DDG-76 San Diego 1993 24 Apr 1999 2034
O'Kane DDG-77 Pearl Harbor 1994 23 Oct 1999 2034
Porter DDG-78 Norfolk 1994 10 Mar 1999 2034
FLIGHT IIA
Oscar Austin DDG-79 Norfolk 1994 19 Aug 2000 2034
Roosevelt DDG-80 Mayport 1995 14 Oct 2000 2035
WinstonChurchillDDG-81 Norfolk 1995 10 Mar 2001 2035
Lassen DDG-82 San Diego 1996 21 Apr 2001 2036
Howard DDG-83 San Diego 1996 29 Oct 2001 2036
Bulkeley DDG-84 Norfolk 1996 08 Dec 2001 2036
McCampbell DDG-85 San Diego 1996 08 Mar 2002 2036
Shoup DDG-86 Everett 1997 22 Jun 2002 2037
Mason DDG-87 Norfolk 1997 12 Apr 2003 2037
Preble DDG-88 San Diego 1997 09 Nov 2002 2037
Mustin DDG-89 Yokosuka 1998 26 Jul 2003 2037
Chaffee DDG-90 Pearl Harbor 1998 18 Oct 2003 2038
Pinckney DDG-91 San Diego 1998 19 May 2004 2038
Momsen DDG-92 Everett 1998 18 Sep 2004 2038
Chung-Hoon DDG-93 Pearl Harbor 1999 18 Sep 2004 2039
Nitze DDG-94 Norfolk 1999 05 Mar 2005 2039
James E WilliamsDDG-95 Norfolk 1999 11 Dec 2004 2039
Bainbridge DDG-96 Norfolk 12 Nov 2005
Halsey DDG-97 San Diego 30 Jul 2005
Forrest Sherman DDG-98 Norfolk 28 Jan 2006
Farragut DDG-99 Mayport 10 Jun 2006
Kidd DDG-100 San Diego 09 Jun 2007
Gridley DDG-101 San Diego 10 Feb 2007
Sampson DDG-102 San Diego 03 Nov 2007
Sterett DDG-104 San Diego 09 Aug 2008
Sources:
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/ddg-51.htm
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/factfile/ships/ship-dd.html
http://www.usni.org/arleighburkeddg.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ddg-51.htm