Page 34: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2025)

SHIP CONVERSION

Typically, the Pascagoula yard’s work involves new con-

EVOLVING WEAPONS CAPABILITIES struction instead of repair or modernization. But there are

The AGS gun and LRLAP ammunition were derived from some notable exceptions, such as the rebuilding of USS Cole the Army’s 155mm long range Excalibur howitzer program. (DDG 67) after she was severely damaged in a 2001 terror-

In fact, in 2016 the Navy considered using the existing Army ist attack; repairs to USS Fitgerald (DDG 62), which collided ammunition instead of creating the more capable but more with a merchant ship in the South China Sea in 2019; as well costly ammunition.

as the modi? cations to the Zumwalt class.

Although the Navy shelved its electromagnetic rail gun

Ingalls is one of two yards that are building the Arleigh several years ago, that technology was also considered for

Burke (DDG 51) class of AEGIS guided missile destroy- the Zumwalts, in part because the ship has the power re- ers (DDGs) (along with General Dynamics Bath Iron Works sources required.

(BIW) in Maine), and is the only yard building amphibious

The AGS gun was cancelled not because it didn’t work, but ships for the Navy—currently the amphibious transport dock because the bullets became unaffordable, and Navy priori- (LHD) and Flight II San Antonio-class LPDs; as well as the ties shifted from the littorals to blue water peer competitors

Coast Guard national security cutters. It is also the largest —China and Russia--than asymmetric threats in the littorals. manufacturing employer in the state.

Moreover, the Marines are focused on distributed maritime

BIW, the construction yard for the Zumwalt class, was an operations, with less emphasis on large scale amphibious “excellent partner,” Wilkinson said. “They shared a lot of in- landings requiring ? re support.

formation with us to make sure that we were all successful.”

A report from the Congressional Research Service stated, “In

USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) leaves drydock after having her Advanced Gun System mounts removed. Her forward mount is being replaced with hypersonic Conventional Prompt Strike missiles.

Images courtesy HII 34 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • February 2025

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