SC-21 (United States) - Concept Designs

Concept Designs

The SC-21 COEA had an unusually wide remit, and studied a variety of designs from 2,500 tons to 40,000 tons. There were three main "concepts". Concept 1 looked at possible upgrades to existing vessels, Concept 2 looked at variations of existing designs, and Concept 3 was for new ships :

• 2A : newbuilds of Arleigh Burke Flight IIA
• 2B : further update of the Burke design
• 3A : Power Projection Ship, Aviation Cruiser, Heavy Cruiser – most had 256 VLS cells and amphibious capability
• 3B : Littoral Combatant - Affordable multimission ship with 128 VLS; similar to Improved Spruances
• 3C : Maritime Combatant, Armed Supertanker, Agile Maritime Patrol Ship, Small ASW Combatant, Focused Mission Local Area Combatant - 8-64 VLS
• 3D : Expeditionary Force Support Ship, Tailored Maritime Support Ship and other vessels with modular "mission packs".

Option 3B1 was closest to what became the Zumwalt class, with a pair of 64-cell VLS fore and aft and two standard 5" guns on a conventional flared hull of around 9,400 tonnes. A bigger hull would be required to enclose everything in a stealthy shape, and to accommodate the much bigger AGS gun system.