Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Class overview
USS Arleigh Burke in the Chesapeake Bay in 2013
Name:	Arleigh Burke class
Builders:	Ingalls Shipbuilding Bath Iron Works
Operators:	United States Navy
Preceded by:	Kidd class Charles F. Adams class
Succeeded by:	Zumwalt class
Cost:	US$1.843 billion per ship (DDG 114–116, FY2011/12)
Built:	1988–present
In commission:	1991–present
Planned:	89 as of April 2020
On order:	3
Building:	6
Completed:	68
Active:	68
Retired:	0
Preserved:	0
General characteristics
Type	Guided missile destroyer
Displacement	Fully loaded: Flight I: 8,184 long tons (8,315 t) Flight II: 8,300 long tons (8,400 t) Flight IIA: 9,300 long tons (9,500 t) Flight III: 9,500 long tons (9,700 t)
Length	Flights I and II: 505 ft (154 m) Flight IIA: 509 ft (155 m)
Beam	66 ft (20 m)
Draft	30.5 ft (9.3 m)
Installed power	3 × Allison AG9140 Generators (2,500 kW (3,400 hp) each, 440 V)
Propulsion	4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines each generating 26,250 bhp (19,570 kW); coupled to two shafts, each driving a five-bladed reversible controllable-pitch propeller; Total output: 105,000 bhp (78,000 kW)
Speed	In excess of 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range	4,400 nmi (8,100 km) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × rigid hull inflatable boats
Complement	Flight I: 303 total Flight IIA: 23 officers, 300 enlisted
Sensors and processing systems	AN/SPY-1D 3D radar (Flight I,II,IIa) AN/SPY-6 AESA 3D radar (Flight III) AN/SPS-67(V)2 surface-search radar AN/SPS-73(V)12 surface-search radar AN/SPG-62 fire-control radar AN/SQS-53C sonar array AN/SQR-19 tactical towed array sonar AN/SQQ-28 LAMPS III shipboard system
Electronic warfare & decoys	AN/SLQ-32(V)2 Electronic Warfare System AN/SLQ-25 Nixie Torpedo Countermeasures MK 36 MOD 12 Decoy Launching System AN/SLQ-39 CHAFF Buoys
Armament	Guns: DDG-51 to 80: 1 × 5-inch (127 mm)/54 Mk. 45 Mod 1/2 (lightweight gun) DDG-81 onwards: 1 × 5-inch (127 mm)/62 Mk. 45 Mod 4 (lightweight gun) DDG-51 to 84: 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS DDG-85 onwards: 1 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS 2 × 25 mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun Missiles: 2 × Mk 141 Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile Launcher (Flight I & II only) Flights I & II: 90-cell Mk 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) Flight IIA: 96-cell Mk. 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missile RIM-66M Surface-to-Air Missile with an ASuW mode RIM-161 Anti-Ballistic Missile RIM-162 ESSM quadpacked configuration (DDG-79 onward) RUM-139 Vertical Launch ASROC RIM-174A Standard ERAM Torpedoes: 2 × Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes: Mark 46 torpedo Mark 50 torpedo Mark 54 Lightweight Torpedo
Aircraft carried	Flights I and II: None Flight IIA onwards: up to two MH-60R Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters
Aviation facilities	Flights I and II: Flight deck only, but LAMPS III electronics installed on landing deck for coordinated DDG-51/helo ASW operations Flight IIA onwards: Flight deck and enclosed hangars for two MH-60R LAMPS III helicopters

The Arleigh Burke class destroyers are powerful warships used by the United States Navy. These ships are named after Admiral Arleigh Burke, a famous American naval officer from World War II. The very first ship of this class, the USS Arleigh Burke, was even named while Admiral Burke was still alive!

These destroyers are like multi-talented superheroes of the sea. They can handle many different missions. They can launch Tomahawk missiles to hit targets on land. They are also great at defending against air attacks using their strong Aegis radar and special surface-to-air missiles. They can hunt down submarines and even protect against other ships. Some of these ships can even defend against antiballistic missiles.

The first ship of this class began service on July 4, 1991. The Arleigh Burke class has been built for a very long time. It is the longest-running production for any U.S. Navy surface combat ship since World War II.

What are Arleigh Burke Class Destroyers?
- Why are these ships important?
How Big are These Ships?
Key Features of the Arleigh Burke Class
Images for kids
See also

What are Arleigh Burke Class Destroyers?

The Arleigh Burke class is a type of guided missile destroyer. These ships are built around a special system called the Aegis Combat System. This system includes a powerful SPY-1D radar. This radar helps the ships see far and track many targets at once.

Why are these ships important?

These destroyers are designed to do many jobs. They can:

Launch Tomahawk missiles to hit targets on land.
Defend against air attacks with powerful radar and surface-to-air missiles.
Hunt for submarines using special sonar and rockets.
Fight against other ships using Harpoon missiles.
Some ships in this class can even shoot down antiballistic missiles.

Their design also helps them avoid being easily seen by enemy radar. This is called having a reduced radar cross-section.

How Big are These Ships?

The Arleigh Burke class destroyers are quite large. They are longer than a football field!

Their length is about 505 to 509.5 feet (153.9 to 155.3 m).
They weigh between 8,230 and 9,700 tons when fully loaded.
They carry over 90 missiles.

These ships are bigger and have more weapons than many older ships that were called guided missile cruisers.

Key Features of the Arleigh Burke Class

These ships have different versions, called "Flights." Each Flight has some unique features.

Ship's Power and Speed

Arleigh Burke class destroyers are very fast.

They use four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines for power.
These engines give the ship a total of 105,000 bhp (78,000 kW).
They can travel faster than 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph) (about 34 miles per hour).
They can travel about 4,400 nmi (8,100 km) at a speed of 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph).

Weapons and Defense Systems

The destroyers are packed with various weapons:

Guns: They have a large 5-inch (127 mm) gun on the front. They also have smaller 20 mm and 25 mm guns for closer defense.
Missiles: They use a Vertical Launching System (VLS) to fire many types of missiles. These include:
- Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles for hitting land targets.
- Standard Missiles for air defense.
- Anti-Ballistic Missiles to intercept enemy missiles.
- ESSM for close-range air defense.
- Vertical Launch ASROC for anti-submarine warfare.
Torpedoes: They carry torpedoes to attack submarines.

Aircraft on Board

Earlier versions (Flight I and II) had a Flight deck for helicopters to land, but no hangar.
Later versions (Flight IIA onwards) have a flight deck and enclosed hangars. These can hold up to two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters. These helicopters are used for hunting submarines and other tasks.

Images for kids

USS Cole and two other Arleigh Burke-class vessels docked at Naval Station Norfolk in July 2009
Flight I ship USS Fitzgerald with TACTAS (tactical towed array sonar) in the center of the fantail, no helicopter hangars, Harpoon missile launchers, and distinctive stacks
Flight IIA ship USS Mustin without TACTAS in the center of the fantail and no Harpoon launchers but with aft helicopter hangars and different exhaust stacks
Starboard side of USS Momsen, with torpedo tubes mounted on missile deck, rather than earlier amidships mounting, and superstructure changes to accommodate a Remote Minehunting System (RMS) holding bay
USS Forrest Sherman in 2007, test firing her new 5"/62 caliber Mark 45 Mod 4 gun, located forward of her 32-cell missile pack module
Profile of Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyer
Combat information center aboard the USS John S. McCain (DDG-56)
USS Cole being towed from the port city of Aden. Blast damage to the hull is visible mid-ship.