u-s-navys-hypersonic-missile-will-give-zumwalt-class-new-capability

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel solid read/share Brother William, thanks for sharing good buddy.

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Interesting History
There are interesting parallels to plans to equip warships with large ballistic missiles in the past. In the 1950s the U.S. Navy planned to equip surface vessels with the then-new intercontinental ballistic missiles. The famous nuclear-powered cruiser, USS Long Beach, was designed with this in mind. But the Italians went as far as actually installing the tubes on one of their cruisers.

In 1957-61 Italian Navy cruiser Giuseppe Garibaldi was rebuilt with four UGM-27 Polaris missile tubes. Political changes meant that the US missiles were never supplied. Although there was a program to built an Italian alternative, the Alfa, this too faltered. Ultimately remained empty.


The Italian Navy cruiser Giuseppe Garibaldi was fitted for 4 Polaris missiles in place of the aft gun turret. Test launches were made with surrogate missiles, but it wasn’t to be,
The success of submarine launched ballistic missiles was one of the nails in the coffin for the Cold War ballistic missile cruisers. And submarine platforms, not least the U.S. Navy’s Block V Virginia class, remain a focus.

But the three Zumwalts will provide a powerful and more overt capability. Their visually striking form may add to their ability to influence decision makers. In a return to battleship diplomacy of a century ago, their aesthetics may influence adversaries long before any missiles are thrown."...