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The USA’s DDG-51 Arleigh Burke Class destroyers are the core of the modern US Navy, with 51 ships of class afloat and serving, and 63 ships total contemplated. They are built by General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works, and Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Ingalls shipyard. Now Gannett’s Navy Times reports that 13 of these destroyers have suffered “significant” structural damage in rough seas from ‘bow slams’ on the hulls. A US Navy Power Point presentation obtained by the publication allegedly confirms the Jane’s report, and adds that repairs and design changes could cost almost $63 million. Support beams and other structures inside the destroyers will reportedly need to be cut out and replaced, even in new ships.
Repairs have already taken place to the USS Gridley [DDG 101] a latest-version Flight IIA destroyer built by General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works and commissioned in February 2007. Other damaged ships, including their designation number, version, and builder (General Dynamics or Northrop Grumman), reportedly include:
* USS Arleigh Burke [DDG 51], FLT I. GD. First of class.
* USS Curtis Wilbur [DDG 54], FLT I. GD
* USS Stout [DDG 55], FLT I. NGC
* USS Paul Hamilton [DDG 60] FLT I. GD
* USS Stethem [DDG 63], FLT I. NGC
* USS Carney [DDG 64], FLT I. GD
* USS Gonzalez [DDG 66], FLT I. GD
* USS The Sullivans [DDG 68], FLT I. GD
* USS Ross [DDG 71], FLT I. NGC
* USS McFaul [DDG 74], FLT II. NGC
* USS Higgins [DDG 76], FLT II. GD
* USS Winston S. Churchill [DDG 81], FLT IIA. GD
* USS Lassen [DDG 82], FLT IIA. NGC