USS Zumwalt has Returned to Base After First Builder Trial

The first-in-class guided missile destroyer Zumwalt (DDG-1000) is back at the yard after six days of builders trials.

The trials were the first time the long delayed ship – which began construction in 2008 – had left the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) shipyard after a series of delays in construction.

USNI News understands the builder’s trials were primarily staffed by BIW staff with only had a handful of Navy personnel onboard and ended when Zumwalt returned on Sunday, a BIW spokesman told USNI News on Tuesday.

The BIW spokesman referred all questions on Zumwalt’s six days out to the service.

“During this initial at-sea period, representatives from BIW, PCU Zumwalt, the Navy’s Program Office, SUPSHIP Bath, and various technical subject matter experts including Raytheon personnel, demonstrated several ship systems including small boat operations, anchors, Integrated Propulsion System [IPS] and auxiliary systems,” read a statement from the service.

“Primary risk reduction objectives were successfully met and, as with any trials, the Navy learned a great deal about ship performance during the more than 100 hours of extensive testing.”

link.