No heavy armor for Arleigh Burke class destroyers

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 9): No heavy armor for Arleigh Burke class destroyers

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers may lack the protective armor of earlier classes of ships in the US Navy but they have more than compensated for it by their superior speeds and armaments which made them very capable of tackling hostile air, surface and submarine targets.

This was revealed by Cmdr. Frank Otaka, USS Pinckney (DDG-91) commanding officer, to this writer during the Saturday media tour of his ship.

He added that heavy armor, fitted in Iowa class battleships and other World War II era warships, were needed as you need to fight your foes at close quarters or ranges.

Otaka stressed that such protective equipment are no longer needed as Arleigh Burke class destroyers can engage any threats at very long ranges afforded by its two Mark 41 VLS (vertical launch system)of which 96 tubes are fitted to his ship.

The Mark 41 VLS can fire any anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine missile in the US Navy inventory.

Acting in a support role is the Mark 45 Model 4 five-inch automatic gun which can engage surface and air threats in conjunction with the 20mm Phalanx CIWS (closed-in weapon system) fitted at the stern of the ship.

Topping this off is the advanced radars and sonars installed in the USS Pinckney which can detect, track and if needed be, can guide these sophisticated missiles to their respective targets.

Despite this refinements, Okata said Kevlar is fitted to all vulnerable points of the ship to prevent fragments from penetrating and damaging the vessel or wounding or incapacitating any crew members.

The USS Pinckney belongs to the Flight II series and is the the 41st ship of the Arleigh Burke class of destroyers.

All, in all, the Arleigh Burke class consist of 62 ships.

Besides this, Flight II ships are equipped with more advanced radar, sensor systems and generally bigger flight decks that their predecessors.

The Arleigh Burke class is among the largest destroyers built in the United States measuring 505 feet.

Only the Spruance and Kidd classes were longer at 563 feet.

The USS Pinckney was named after USN cook William Pinckney, who was awarded the Navy Cross for rescuing a fellow crew member during the Battle of Santa Cruz in Solomon Islands in 1942.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&sid=&nid=0&rid=614226