Also on Sunday, I went to browse the other ship open to the puglic. The other two ships are part of the Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyer as opposed to the newer Zumwalt class of the Monsoor. Outfitted slightly differently, they are more like fraternal instead of identical twins.
The only other view of the ships was available from the cameras above Salesforce Tower.
Informational placards introduce some of the systems on the ship. The CIWS is a type of automated sentry gun. Able to track missiles and small craft(airborne or surface borne) with radar and infrared sensors. When triggered, it can fire 3000-4500 20mm rounds with a core of tungsten per minute
Shoup has one Phalanx system in the rear while McCain has an additional unit in the front. Six barrels throw up a curtain of protection against incoming threats
Boarding the rear of the Shoup on to the helipad like we did on the Monsoor.
We were not allowed to walk around to the front of ship while on the pier. Would have liked to get some head on views.
Each ship in this class has two 25mm chain guns on either side of the ship. It is remotely operated from inside. It has an electronic sight with laser range finder and infrared.
The gang plank is not as rigid as before and it did bob and weave slightly while boarding. Thankfully, winds were light and the weather accomodating
There two seperated hangar bays. Its amazing to think that a helicopter can be folded up and stored in here
Walking along the starboard deck to the front of the ship. Outside, pictures ok. Videoes, no go.
Still making our way to the bow, we pass the engines and underneath the M242 Bushmaster gun
For the life of me, I cant remember what the guide said about this. This banner was draped over a piece of equipment. All I can reember is it had to with ship to ship resupply or refueling
The 5inch gun on the forward deck. It could easily take out Coit Tower. I cant help making that reference. All these ships are aimed at the tower
Amno supply is 600 rounds. Each round has a range of just under 15 miles
The older McCain's turret is much more rounded than the Shoup's. Possibly to decrease radar signature.
Guides talking about the chain weighs more that the anchor and that it is what keeps the ship in place. The buildings of the financial district loom behind the docents
The ships are offset so that you can board the DDG 56 without having to board DDG 86 first
McCain's second Phalanx mounted in front behind the 5 inch gun.
Sister ships side by side
Admiring the armaments of the ship while the conning tower of Monsoor is visible in the background
If you recall the Monsoor, the bow is the inverse of the Arleigh Burke class of ships and other similar design. Apparently, waves that hit the side of these ships will rock the boat more than the Monsoor. The inward angles of the Monsoor hull dissipate the wave energy
I count 6, 6 20mm barrels...ah ha ha ha(imagine The Count from Sesame Street)
Vertical missile launchers on the forward deck. Another set of bays located at the rear as well
The M242 Bushmaster 20mm chain gun on the McCain behind the guide.
Almost back to where we started, we make our way back to the rear deck of the ship
Looking back at where we came from. We proceeded through some inside hallways before coming back outside
Infrared sensor to one side of the radar dome
You can see the individual 20mm rounds in the feed chute
Electrically driven, rounds are loaded into each barrel as it pass a certain point in its cycle. Another position fires the round and yet another extracts and ejects it.
Because of the shape, they do refer to it as R2D2. This would make it his rear. The only thing that comes out of this are 20mm brass
