Zumwalt Destroyer Leaves Yard for First Set of Sea Trials

December 7, 2015 6:51 PM - Updated: December 8, 2015 11:06 AM
Zumwalt (DDG-1000) is underway for the first time conducting at-sea tests and trials in the Atlantic Ocean on Dec. 7, 2015. US Navy Photo
Zumwalt (DDG-1000) is underway for the first time conducting at-sea tests and trials in the Atlantic Ocean on Dec. 7, 2015. US Navy Photo

On Monday morning, the first-in-class Zumwalt-class destroyer left its pier at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, headed down Maine’s Kennebec River bound for the Atlantic Ocean and its first taste of saltwater.

The 16,000-ton Zumwalt (DDG-1000) departed the yard for its first set of open ocean trials — years after the ship began construction in 2008 and after several production delays.

The trials follows a four day “fast cruise” in October in which the ship did everything from rolling the shafts, bringing up and down systems, testing failure modes, testing watch station effectiveness,” Sean Stackley, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development & Acquisition (RDA) told Defense News last month.
“We did everything that we could next to the pier prior to getting underway.”

Outside of releasing photos of the ship on social media and its website, the Navy did not give many details on the trials.

Zumwalt on Dec. 7, 2015. US Navy Photo
Zumwalt on Dec. 7, 2015. US Navy Photo

Zumwalt is the first of three planned ships in the $22.1 billion program that promises a next generation propulsion system that has enough energy to power future sensors and weapon systems.

However, delays in production for the ships at BIW have pushed back delivery schedules for other ships in the yard.

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone is the editor of USNI News. He has covered legislation, acquisition and operations for the Sea Services since 2009 and spent time underway with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Canadian Navy.
Follow @samlagrone

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