With all that has been going on around here, there is one little thing that passed without much notice. I now plan to fix that little oversight by talking about the newest edition to the United States Navy. Granted, as a soldier it is easy to overlook these things, but this thing is impressive. So, what am I talking about? The latest Destroyer, the USS Zumwalt, while not commissioned yet, is now in the water. She is an odd looking beast, with a bow that resembles naval construction from over 100 years ago, and a silhouette that looks more like a submarine than a surface ship. What impresses me the most is her “stealth” capability and her main gun. Aside from the missiles and other “gee whiz”, she has the ability to launch a 155 millimeter shell over 100 miles. To put this in perspective, at 610 feet long and mounting in essence a 6" gun, the Zumwalt class destroyer is the size of a “Light Cruiser” from World War II, and almost twice as long as a Battleship from the Spanish American War. If she performs up to specifications, then we are looking at a very advanced warship.
This Naval advance naturally begs the question, why is this a big deal? Well, as a soldier, it is nice to know that she is out there watching my back. More to the point, a study of military history will show you that advances in naval construction, and warships, is part and parcel of most of the geopolitics of the 20th century. As the HMS Dreadnought changed the world view, I sincerely hope that the advance of the Zumwalt may do the same thing. It is no coincidence that China is building up her fleet to project her influence further into the Pacific. It is also no coincidence that the nation of Japan is re-evaluating her military limitations. Then there is the current state of Russian projection in the same region. Our movement to more advanced and armed warships is still vital, even now in the 21st Century. Science Fiction aside, to maintain ourselves as an influence in the Pacific, we have to maintain a well armed, well trained, and advanced United States Navy. I know this sounds odd coming from an old grunt, but there you have my take on it. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. Not my words, but still they have that resonance and application to the present! ~ Michael S. Pauley
This Naval advance naturally begs the question, why is this a big deal? Well, as a soldier, it is nice to know that she is out there watching my back. More to the point, a study of military history will show you that advances in naval construction, and warships, is part and parcel of most of the geopolitics of the 20th century. As the HMS Dreadnought changed the world view, I sincerely hope that the advance of the Zumwalt may do the same thing. It is no coincidence that China is building up her fleet to project her influence further into the Pacific. It is also no coincidence that the nation of Japan is re-evaluating her military limitations. Then there is the current state of Russian projection in the same region. Our movement to more advanced and armed warships is still vital, even now in the 21st Century. Science Fiction aside, to maintain ourselves as an influence in the Pacific, we have to maintain a well armed, well trained, and advanced United States Navy. I know this sounds odd coming from an old grunt, but there you have my take on it. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. Not my words, but still they have that resonance and application to the present! ~ Michael S. Pauley
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