USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001)

History of USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001)

USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-2001) is the second of three Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyers currently scheduled for service with the United States Navy (USN). The lead ship of the class was USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) himself, followed by Monsoor. The third ship of the group was named USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002).

USS Michael Monsoor was awarded to Bath Iron Works to build on 14th February 2008 and the keel was laid on 23rd May 2013. She plans to serve sometime in 2016. The ship is named after Michael Anthony Monsoor (1981-2006), who served in the US Navy SEALs and was killed in Iraq in 2006.

He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

The Zumwalt class represents the most advanced group of guided missile destroyers in the modern U.S. Navy. These are ocean-going, multi-mission ships designed for speed and balanced offensive and defensive capabilities. As such, they could be required to operate as part of the main force at sea, or as separate units of equal lethality.

A wide range of advanced shipboard systems (including handling and combat) and naval stealth technology played a major role in its design. Their construction is completely unique in the world of naval destroyers, as they have no handrails or similar obstacles and have board sides with angular faces. The bows of these ships feature almost nothing (except for a pair of deck turrets and aft flight decks, and a conical overall shape for cutting water.

The main superstructure is centered in the usual way, housing bridges, communication/tracking/engagement systems and smoke funnels.

USS Michael Monsoor is powered by two Rolls-Royce Marine Trent-30 gas turbine engines, supported by an auxiliary diesel power unit. This enables the sleek boat to reach sea speeds of up to 30 knots. She has 140 employees and has a displacement of 14,500 tons. Measurements include a length of 600 feet, a beam of 80.5 feet, and a draft of 27.5 feet.

Its onboard processing systems include the AN/SPY-3 series multifunction radar (MFR), volume search radar (VSR) and sonar.

Armament is at the heart of the Zumwalt-class destroyer group, and in this department the Monsur did not disappoint. She is equipped with 20 Mk 57 Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) for a total of 80 units (4 units per module). It uses the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) air defense missile, which is based on the original Sparrow airborne aircraft family of the past. Monsoor also supports Anti-Submarine Rocket System (ASROC), while more "traditional" ammunition-fed weapons include 2 x 155mm Advanced Artillery System (AGS) along the forecastle (precise long-range fire against surface combatants and offshore targets) and 2 x 57mm Includes the Mk 110 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) for close range defense against air targets (low-flying and cruise missiles).

The aft flight deck supports 2 Sikorsky SH-60 LAMPS anti-submarine naval helicopters or 1 Sikorsky MH-60R medium transport helicopter and 3 Northrop Grumman MQ-8 "Fire Scout" helicopter drones of launch and recovery vehicles (drones).

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

AIR WING