Written by the Glitta.tv editorial team
The United States Navy made history this past Monday when the largest destroyer ever built for the U.S. Navy set sail for the very first time. however, the journey to get to this historic moment was not an easy one.
The USS Zumwait measures 600 feet and weighs 15,000 tons. Construction of the ship took more than 200 builders, and was spearheaded by the company Bath Iron Works.
The destroyer set sail in Bath, Maine, in the Kennebec River to undergo sea trials. The ship looks completely different from anything else produced by the company. It has an inverse bow, angled forward to slice through waves, with the ship’s sharp angles designed to deflect enemy radar signals. It also boasts powerful missiles, guns, sonar, and electric propulsion.
Bath Iron Works has plans to tests the ship’s performance throughout the winter. The company is expecting to deliver the ship to the Navy sometime next year.
Kelley Campana, a shipbuilder who worked on construction of the destroyer, couldn’t help but get emotional while watching it set sail. ‘It’s a great day to be a shipbuilder and to be an American. It’s the first in its class. There’s never been anything like it,’ Campana said.
The USS Zumwait is the first of three ships to be built, with a total cost of $4.4 billion for the project. Larry Harris, a retired employee who worked on the ship, was also present as the ship made its maiden voyage. ‘It’s as cool as can be. It’s nice to see it underway,’ he shared.
Before its departure, the destroyer’s skipper, Navy Captain James Kirk said, ‘We are absolutely fired up to see Zumwait get underway. For the crew and all those involved in designing, building, and readying this fantastic ship, this is a huge milestone.’
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