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Navy's new $4.6 billion destroyer was accepted despite need for new engine
When the Navy accepted delivery of the newly-built $4.6 billion Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer Michael Monsoor (hull DDG 1001) in April, it marked the occasion with a signing ceremony and a news release."Delivery of DDG 1001 marks the culmination of years of dedication and hard work from our Navy and industry team," Capt. Kevin Smith, the Zumwalt destroyer program manager, said at the time. "We have incorporated many lessons learned from DDG 1000 and are proud of the end result." The only problem was the Navy already knew ‐ and had known since February ‐ that the condition of the Monsoor was far from ship-shape. It already needed a new engine. That information would not be disclosed for another three months. News of the engine troubles broke on July 11, when Rear Adm. William Galinis ‐ the program executive officer of ships at the Naval Sea Systems Command ‐ acknowledged the issue at a Navy League breakfast. His comments were first reported by the U.S. Naval Institute. One of the Monsoor's two $20 million engines would need to be replaced before the ship could transition to its future homeport of San Diego, he said. The engine was damaged during sea trials early this year, and will be replaced at the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. "In February 2018, a post-cleaning inspection of one of the DDG 1001's two Main Turbine Generators revealed damage to the rotor blades of the generator's MT30 engine," Alan Baribeau, a spokesman for the Navy, said by email. "After the damage was identified, and out of an abundance of caution, the Navy decided to remove the engine in its entirety to ensure a successful and safe transit of the ship to her San Diego homeport." Baribeau said the Navy accepted delivery of the ship in April ‐ despite the damaged engine ‐ in order to remain on-schedule. Posted by: Frank G 2018-07-20 |
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