US Navy News and updates

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro

USN P-8A Poisedon off shoot the Runway in Hawai and ditch in the water off the ramp. All 9 passanger safely make to shore.

Add: Video on Navy's try to salvage the P-8A.

As one RNZAF veteran (not me) put it: "They are testing the new Mk-1A Eyeball sub surface detection system."
 

Meriv90

Active Member

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
Astonishing that the WH would even consider a reduction in the SSN build rate, the most important naval asset IMHO.

 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro

Constellation got delayed by a year.
It reflects over US naval shipbuilding problems with lack of new apprentices etc., signing on. Skilled blue collar careers aren't seen as desirable anymore with university educations being far more valued. Problem is that university degree careers are becoming harder to get and generally aren't as well paid as tradies (tradesmen) jobs. That's why I have been advising my grandkids to forget uni (university) and take up apprenticeships.
 

Volkodav

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
It reflects over US naval shipbuilding problems with lack of new apprentices etc., signing on. Skilled blue collar careers aren't seen as desirable anymore with university educations being far more valued. Problem is that university degree careers are becoming harder to get and generally aren't as well paid as tradies (tradesmen) jobs. That's why I have been advising my grandkids to forget uni (university) and take up apprenticeships.
Up to a point.

You can earn more as an apprentice than a junior in a profession, and definately more as a qualified tradesperson. The trouble is tradies top out long before professionals do.

A decade ago, I was working at principle technical officer / technical manager level, and seen as future technical director, now almost every role at senior technical officer or above requires a four year engineering degree, irrespective of whether you have post trade or even post grad studies to your name.

The US it's worse, you want to get off the tools you need a base engineering degree and a master's, from the right schools.
 

Volkodav

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro

It's a lot to read but very informative.

Interestingly the article appears to indicate that the baseline Constellation has a tactical length, as opposed to a strategic length VLS, I wasn't aware of this.

To be honest, it's starting to look like the USN would have been better off with a Type 26 derivative. At least that would have been able to be easily upgraded with additional VLS, and would have had strike length from the get go.
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group

It's a lot to read but very informative.

Interestingly the article appears to indicate that the baseline Constellation has a tactical length, as opposed to a strategic length VLS, I wasn't aware of this.

To be honest, it's starting to look like the USN would have been better off with a Type 26 derivative. At least that would have been able to be easily upgraded with additional VLS, and would have had strike length from the get go.
I would imagine the supply chain for the T26 might have been able come up with better pricing with an additional 20 ships.
 

StingrayOZ

Super Moderator
Staff member
Interestingly the article appears to indicate that the baseline Constellation has a tactical length, as opposed to a strategic length VLS, I wasn't aware of this.
That is interesting. SM6 seems to be more doable for them, maybe more of a weight limitation?

I would imagine the supply chain for the T26 might have been able come up with better pricing with an additional 20 ships.
Not just pricing, the whole project would have been elevated to higher levels of priority, with greater funding on things like planning, benchmarking, procurement, etc.

The US is big, their build capacity is huge. They built two types of LCS. For a frigate, it maybe worthwhile to have two types of frigate. Taking an off the shelf product may mean in 5-10 years time, they are building type 26 ships. I wonder.. Particularly if things keep going the way they are going.

Part of this is also to put in new ideas and concepts into US navy thinking about design, manning, performance etc.
 

DDG38

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Note the NSM launchers aft of the 57mm gun.
"USS Mobile prepares to take station during a multilateral maritime cooperative activity between Australia, the United States, Japan and the Philippines off the coast within the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone." Image Source : ADF Image Library
20240407ran8535379_0039.jpg
 

Redlands18

Well-Known Member
The forward 155mm AGS has been removed from USS Zumwalt in preparation for fitting the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) integration. The AGS will be replaced by four Multiple All-Up Round Cannisters (MACs) each capable of carrying three of the new hypersonic boost-glide missiles. The aft AGS will be removed at a later date.
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
The forward 155mm AGS has been removed from USS Zumwalt in preparation for fitting the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) integration. The AGS will be replaced by four Multiple All-Up Round Cannisters (MACs) each capable of carrying three of the new hypersonic boost-glide missiles. The aft AGS will be removed at a later date.
Surely it would have been more cost effective to remove both AGSs. The aft mount might accommodate a 127 mm or some SM series missiles if more MACs can’t be installed. I assume the remaining AGS has no available ammo.
 

Redlands18

Well-Known Member
Surely it would have been more cost effective to remove both AGSs. The aft mount might accommodate a 127 mm or some SM series missiles if more MACs can’t be installed. I assume the remaining AGS has no available ammo.
From reading the article I get the feeling, they want to get the CPS system into service ASAP, they may also want to test the system before a more comprehensive refit to all 3 ships. The major problem with the AGS was the astronomical cost of firing the 155mm rounds, IIRC it was in the high 6 figures per round. A Mk 45 127mm or a Mk 110 57mm in place of the 2nd AGS would make some sense as the Zumwalt's have nothing useable above 30mm at present, would need to waste an ESSM to deal with a small attack craft at this stage.
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
An AGS shell was estimated to be $800k. This was a huge amount and although the range was decent, not sure about the explosive weight of the projectile. Having a multi billion dollar warship lobbing $800k shells from 100 miles offshore…..talk about missile bait.
 

seaspear

Well-Known Member
Is there any thought on what these guns they are removing may be used for, for the U.S.N to just place into storage seems either frustration ,face saving ,or waiting for the return of the heavy cruiser lol
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
There is no ammunition for these guns and no plans to develop less expensive shells, sort of pointless for just six guns. The real shame about these guns was they were a major factor in cutting off the Zumwalt class at three ships instead of the planned 30 plus ships. The 78 MW IEP setup will allow lasers and possibly rail guns at some point in lieu of more MACS as another option for the aft gun replacement.
 

Terran

Well-Known Member
The ammunition was cut because the number of guns were cut the number of guns were cut because the number of ships was cut.
A good deal for the reason the shells were so expensive is to pay for all the R&D and overhead to start a completely new gun system for the class. But since only 6 guns were made… The shells become even more expensive.
The dirty secret of budget cuts. Slashing an order doesn’t mean slashing the costs.
 

StingrayOZ

Super Moderator
Staff member
I hope they can find a use. I can understand they aren't doing much good on the ships. But I had heard there was some interest on putting them on Guam, where a new larger ammunition handling system could be created, to fire regular 155mm munition. But perhaps an airburst type of flak. Able to take out drones and missiles.

After Ukraine, there may be others interested in a gun based solution for mass munition interception. Korea, Japan, Poland, Taiwan may be interested in such a land based system. Such munition may be useful for SPG in some cases. But with only six guns, and a new role, it would require a lot of development.
 
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