Zumwalt Class Destroyer (WIP)

RocketmanTan

RocketmanTan

Well-Known Member
Mar 21, 2010
1,122
296
78
New York, NY
rocketmantan.deviantart.com
With the summer holidays finally here, I've managed to finally get started on another model. This time it's a Zumwalt class destroyer. I'm using this as an opportunity to experiment with better textures, construction methods, etc. so this model will hopefully be a significant improvement from my previous models. So far I've finished drawing up the ribbing, and about 65% of the outer skin is done.

Progress pics:
http://rocketmantan.deviantart.com/#/d3l8j9g
http://rocketmantan.deviantart.com/#/d3l8izc
 
Very Cool! The Zumwalt will be either a white elephant or one of those, "I wish we built more than one" ships. I think air cover was one of the issues. I can't imagine that 2 or 4 Vulcan Phalanx units couldn't help it immensely. They are pretty much self contained.
 
Agree 100% Zath....The CIWS (seawizz) is a demon and always will be. The only problem it had is it wanted to kill everything. Commanders have always been afraid to set it lose! The rolling rocket airframe weapon that replaced or was replaceing it is useless! I love the Zumwalt and look forward to seeing it come alive here!
 
A most effective weapons system. Imagine someone trying to hijack an Oil Tanker that had one or two of these mounted, they would put an end to that, quickly too. I think Piracy would drop down, drastically! Of course, things being the way they are, I could also imagine a Pirate ship with one of these, it would have to be taken out, immediately.
 

Attachments

  • ciws-label.jpg
    ciws-label.jpg
    16.3 KB · Views: 211
See...the problem with the CIWS is it couldnt and still cant differentiate friend from foe! In your scenario, the tanker gets it too!!!! It was also one of the main reasons the Stark took the exocet in the persian gulf back when. The captain was afraid to go weapons free with the CIWS!!! The ultimate, "Everyone dies" weapon! I am looking forward to progress on this design from a modeling point of view. Over on RCgroups there have been several built from scratch and someone starting to offer a kit of one as well. Im speaking of the DDX of course.
 
If a person can't do friend or foe, well, that is a huge problem. I certainly wouldn't want to rely on a machine! I don't think having one on a super tanker would be a good idea, it just seemed compatible.
 
Good thing CIWS and similar systems are used to shoot missiles and/or projectiles out of the sky. For ship to ship combat, manned guns/cannon are used. CIWS can't even be aimed manually.
 
legion said:
Good thing CIWS and similar systems are used to shoot missiles and/or projectiles out of the sky. For ship to ship combat, manned guns/cannon are used. CIWS can't even be aimed manually.
Click to expand...

I can't imagine that would be that hard to set up, manual tracking and firing. The systems are so self contained, I wouldn't be surprised if that does not already exists. I have read references to the automatic systems being shut off. It would seem that going automatic is much harder than going manual, and due to the nature of the beast, you could be off a little bit..:twisted:
 
It is the perfect weapon for killing anti-ship missles, it is so effiecent at it that it destroys the peices of the remining missle after it destroys it...it even is capable of tracking and shooting at its previously shot rounds. The problem is its a radar aimed weapon and for some reason, it is incapable of recognizeing freind from foe signals, etc. Once it kills the missle it will start shooting at everyting else its radar picks up, includeing freindly ships or helicopters, etc. its still the mainstay of ship anti-missle defense. All the Burkes and Ticonderogas have it, includeing the carriers! They started replaceing them with the rolling airframe missle system on the Perrys and Spruances but that was it.
 
I have known people on ships who worked these things. Their description of operation is quite different from the "full on automatic" scenario. It is always human who decided friend or foe, from information given to them. From what I understand target selection can be made using this weapons system (or how would you target the "first target" ) and is then kept off auto while people select targets. There is some disinformation going on about this system. I have read this quote in many forums also, "the problem with the CIWS is it couldnt and still cant differentiate friend from foe!". That will ultimately be left up to the persons operating the systems, like all systems. Target acquisition can be entered manually. I have seen the films of these tests where this is done. The full on auto, that I don't know about.

I still think that Navy ships targeting system are manned and the final decision has to be left up to people. How good or bad that is is an entirely different story.
 
Dude! Awesome!! Scarey too! It looks like what might have been developed a lot earlier if the Civil War (American) had continued! Very cool!
 
Zathros said:
I have known people on ships who worked these things. Their description of operation is quite different from the "full on automatic" scenario. It is always human who decided friend or foe, from information given to them. From what I understand target selection can be made using this weapons system (or how would you target the "first target" ) and is then kept off auto while people select targets. There is some disinformation going on about this system. I have read this quote in many forums also, "the problem with the CIWS is it couldnt and still cant differentiate friend from foe!". That will ultimately be left up to the persons operating the systems, like all systems. Target acquisition can be entered manually. I have seen the films of these tests where this is done. The full on auto, that I don't know about.

I still think that Navy ships targeting system are manned and the final decision has to be left up to people. How good or bad that is is an entirely different story.
Click to expand...


And that was exactly the point...except that humans are not or were not fast enough to respond and target exocets, etc. The CIWS was developed from the Falklands war experience! Went to the web site Rocketman, a little confusing but looks good. is there a download button or is this still in development stage?
 
OhioMike said:
And that was exactly the point...except that humans are not or were not fast enough to respond and target exocets, etc. The CIWS was developed from the Falklands war experience! Went to the web site Rocketman, a little confusing but looks good. is there a download button or is this still in development stage?
Click to expand...


I think we are getting lost in words (I am anyways). For the type of attack you mention, which would have to be pretty close up, an automated system would be necessary. As far as tracking a missile and shooting it down, the Phalanx can be overridden. The Human response would be in the inability to track and shoot the target down with a manual weapon. This is where the Phalanx rules. As far as the Exocets fired in the Falklands, there was nothing available to hoot those down, even when they did track them. There was no defense platform integrated with any defensive system. From what I understood, the lack of air defense was the main problem with the Zumwalt (back to the beginning ), and if a system does exists (of which I think one does) , I doubt it would be publicized.
 
Me too!!!! I still for some odd reason love this ship design, maybe cause i am so utilitarian in nature. Kind of no frills kind of person. I hope it reaches completion.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom