The Navy announced Tuesday that its newest and most technologically advanced surface ship is scheduled to arrive in San Diego on Thursday.
The arrival of the USS Zumwalt will come a little more than two weeks after the $4.4 billion ship’s propulsion system broke down in the Panama Canal.
The 610-foot-long vessel had to pull into port in Panama to make repairs before continuing the voyage to San Diego, which will serve as its home port.
Commissioned in October in Baltimore, the Zumwalt has an angular appearance vastly different from current destroyers of the Arleigh Burke class, in order to lower its radar signature.
The destroyer, the first in its class, will be capable of performing a range of deterrence, power projection, sea control, and command and control missions while allowing the Navy to evolve with new systems and missions, Navy officials said.
“The only thing more impressive than the capabilities of the ship are the capabilities of its fine crew,” said Capt. James Kirk, the commanding officer.
Upon arrival in San Diego, BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair will begin installation of combat systems, while the crew will conduct testing and evaluation, and operational integration with the fleet.
The vessel is named after Adm. Elmo Zumwalt, who is credited with building the modern U.S. Navy. Two other Zumwalt-class destroyers are under construction.
—City News Service
