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[Colin Bishop]

There was a US DD in Portsmouth today, almost certainly Arleigh Burke class but berthed where the QE ties up and too far away to identify from the public area of the dockyard. I can't find any info onlin and Queens Harbourmaster has it listed as 'Foreign warship' arriving yesterday. Marine Traffic has it tagged as 'Government Vessel' and there is nothing in the local paper online.

I only had my small camera with me.

Colin

[Liverbudgie2]

DDG-98 USS Forest Sherman.

LB

[Colin Bishop]

Thanks LB, she seems to have been left over from the recent visit of the Harry Truman task force earlier this month. On detatched duties perhaps.
Colin

[rnli12]

NATO tasking

[Colin Bishop]

It is the first time I have seen an Arleigh Burke 'in the flesh' so to speak. I appreciate that they are very powerful warships but they look quite old fashioned and fussy, fetooned with aerials, compared with the cleaner lines of our Darings.

I understand that the USN are building more of the class to an updated design following the relative failure of the revolutionary Zumwalt class whcih has simply proved to be too expensive and prone to problems.

Anyone care to comment on this?

Colin

[rnli12]

They have upgraded the design to flight 111 variant very impressive platforms.

[Netleyned]

The upgrade on the Ice Cream Machines
are causing operational difficulties
Ned

[Liverbudgie2]

She could be taking part in the next JW of course.

In many respects they are a bit long in the tooth these days but they are still formable platforms. The really surprising thing is that the USN do no,t or appear not to have, anything more up to date; perhaps they are relying on the sheer wright of number's rather than spending money on untried systems.

LB   

[derekwarner]

To walk upon an Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer is itself amazing experience


Not withstanding the age of the Class......modifications during each major refit make them still possibly the most lethal conventionally armed warship afloat


However all of the latest defense and countermeasure systems and firepower are of little use if not armed and alarmed 24/7


The image of a Sailor next to the USS Cole....an Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer ............awaiting a lift back home


Derek

[unbuiltnautilus]

The Darings do indeed look bigger vessels than the Burkes. I was quite surprised by this when I first noticed it. I believe that once the Darings have their problems ironed out, they will be some of the most formidable AAW Destroyers in service anywhere.. mind you six don't stretch that far! The Burkes, currently running to over sixty hulls, are a pretty potent general purpose destroyer, unlike the predominantly single role Darings.
In a 'smacked around with an ugly stick' competition, I have always fancied building a Burke, good looking ships, however, the stark lines of a Daring have now taken over in my 'likes' department. They do look impressive at a distance, not so good up close though..