What-If Arleigh Burke DDV 1 alternative

[blandcorporation]

I would like to build something similar to an Arleigh Burke alternative proposed back in the early 90s as an extreme-low end proposal. The Destroyer Variant Study proposed 8 ships as an alternative to building the more expensive Flight III ships. One of the alternatives eventually evolved into the Flight IIA, so I suppose this study was successful. However, the low end alternative was the most drastic reworking of the basic Arleigh Burke design, eliminating the Aegis system and the entire aft superstructure, also reducing the performance of the ship by losing a gas turbine.



(Image from Friedman's US Destroyers)

What could be the purpose of this ship? Obviously, the removed superstructure allows for a large flat deck for helo operation, but what do you think would be its optimal use in the fleet? Platform for shore bombardment, missile barge, protection for amphibious assault fleets, ASW helicopter destroyer?
Remember, it will not have Aegis.
Thanks, your comments will help me to guide my build.

-blandcorporation

[Seasick]

This design is there so that there can be a bare minimum to compare the other designs to. I don't see a lot of use in this design. Its the absolute minimum that can be qualified as a DD.

[Cliffy B]

As it sits, it nothing more than an over sized, under-armed FFG-7 with a low RCS and probably a higher price tag somehow. In other words, rather worthless as it sits. Modify it into a more modern and capable FFG and you'd have something.

That being said, give it SPY-1F or SPY-5, a 32 VLS forward and another 32 aft and you'd still have room for a hangar and flight deck aft with room for 4 or more helos making it a very capable ASW asset. Save for its slower speed which, would keep it from being built I think, you'd have something worthwhile depending on when you'd have it built.

[Seasick]

This was a proposal. Nobody seriously expected it would be purchased.

[navydavesof]

Well, here is a suggestion for you. You could use this as a cut down version of the DDV version of the SeaMod modular ship program. This is how the Spruance-class hull was designed, and that's how they were able to replace the forward ASROC launcher and magazine with either the Mk26 launchers or Mk41 VLS without any problems. Since you have the basic DDG-51 hull here, this means to me that you could believably say the 3 weapons emplacements in the DDV-51 hull are still there: 2 "A" sized modules forward (where the 5" and 32-cell VLS typically are), and the "B" sized module space aft where the 64-cell VLS usually is.

From there you can chose different sized weapons modules to fit in each. For instance, the B-Module aft could mount a Mk71 if you want the ship to perform NSFS. The forward gun mount could be a perminent structure with the A-Module between the gun and the superstructure hold between 8 and 32 VLS tubes. The aft B-Module be empty or hold between 8 and 64 VLS or (like I said) a Mk71 gun.

Just a thought.

[Guest]

Right, I understand all of this, As the specs stand as now the DDV1 is quite worthless. Lets just say that this 'oversized frigate' was the only way to put more DDG hulls in the water after severe budget cuts or some other type of emergency.


One Gas turbine, no Aegis, Arleigh Burke hull... What can we do with this?

Thanks for the reply Dave i saw it while i was typing this up, I will look into what you are talking about...

[blandcorporation]

Oh, that preceding post was mine...

[navydavesof]

Here is the original SeaMod design based on the Spruance-class hull.
http://m149.photobucket.com/albumview/a ... .html?o=54

Here is the DDG-51 hull showing the options available to the hull.
http://m149.photobucket.com/albumview/a ... 1.png.html

The options are there. The DDV1 really didn't offer much at all, but here you can do a little with it.

[Cliffy B]

Right, I understand all of this, As the specs stand as now the DDV1 is quite worthless. Lets just say that this 'oversized frigate' was the only way to put more DDG hulls in the water after severe budget cuts or some other type of emergency.


One Gas turbine, no Aegis, Arleigh Burke hull... What can we do with this?

Thanks for the reply Dave i saw it while i was typing this up, I will look into what you are talking about...

See my post please and the machinery plan was halved, IE TWO LM-2500s, not one.

Dave, do you know of any larger versions of those shots? That one with all of the modules for the DDG is VERY interesting but so darn small and pixelated

[navydavesof]

Dave, do you know of any larger versions of those shots? That one with all of the modules for the DDG is VERY interesting but so darn small and pixelated

After years of looking, I happened to look again...and I found one.

May all of the world view in wonder...

[Russ2146]

Now that is..........Inspirational!!!
And should make the base kit manufacturers happy too!

Question: Is the aft most weapons module on the centerline or to starboard as it appears in the drawing?

[navydavesof]

...probably centerline. Let's just say it's centerline lol. It would probably bring up all kings of weird questions as to why it's off set.

[Russ2146]

Now to make these alts, which Flight/kit would you use as a base?

[Cliffy B]

Oh my!!!! The most interesting part is the after stack with the after SPY arrays on it...that just looks badass!

And I believe that the after most module is offset to starboard to allow for the helo hangar to be to port if you wanted only one helo and extra weapons. Rather neat way to go about it really and gives me a bunch of ideas Now I have to go get some 1/700 DDGs....

[navydavesof]

If you take a close look at it, it's seems to be a perspective issue. It is stepping down one level, moved back on the hull, and the ship is pitched at an angle. What convinces me it's centerline is that there is equal amounts of deck on either side of the module. Perspective messes with it, but especially when considering the shape of the hull, it has to be centerlined.

[Cliffy B]

Darn perspective... I took it as being offset to starboard and two decks above the flight deck instead of center line and flush with the flight deck and two decks deep. Oh well... I still like my idea of it being offset though.

[navydavesof]

Now to make these alts, which Flight/kit would you use as a base?

I would go wtih the USS Hopper. She is represents the Flight I/IIs with all of the bugs worked out.

You know, having spent a lot of time on the DDG-51 Flight I/IIs, it's really cool being able to examine this picture. I see what is in all of these weapons modues and spaces. This picture directly correllates with the original ships. For instance the aft most A-Module. It's so cool.

[navydavesof]

You know what else is cool about this picture? It also includes the Deadeye laser designator that was planned for the 5" laser guided projectiles.

Here are the rounds themselves. On the left is the Deadeye. On the right is the laser guided 8" extended ranged projectile fired from the Mk71:

Holly crap, the Mk71 still wins any gun fight!

Here is Deadeye from Navweaps:

Here is a cut-away view from the official 5-inch SAL-GP report:

Hooyah