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The McFaul is one of the newer ships in the Improved Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers.
With onboard Vertical Launch Systems consisisting of 90 launch cells built right into the deck (29 forward and 61 aft), she is capable of rapid firing Tomahawk TLAM-D (Tactical Land Attack Missile) against land targets, as well as VLA -- Vertical Launched ASROC -- rocket assisted torpedos. An anti-ship version of the Tomahawk exists in the U.S. inventory, and speculation is that this missile is also loadable in the VLS cells. These weapons enable the Arleigh Burke class destroyer to aid in the overall defense of the task group which might consist of an aircraft carrier, cruisers, destroyers, frigates, amphibious assault vessels, and various replenishment ships as well as a attack submarine or two for underwater protection.
The McFaul will usually find herself near the edges of the task force as one of the ships protecting the capital and troop ships near the center of the task force. Through the control of the AEGIS network, she is able to direct defensive measures for the Carrier and other cruisers by controlling or slaving to AEGIS class cruisers, detecting and directing missile attacks against oncoming targets such as cruise missiles or aircraft.
For anti-submarine work, the McFaul has an anti-submarine control center and embarks 1 SH-60 LAMPS III helicopters which allow remote sonar sensing via "dipped" sonar detectors. This aids in extending the detection of underwater targets far from the hull of the ship.
The McFaul can attack with depth charges and rocket assisted or tube launched torpedoes. The McFaul supplements the remote sensing capabilities with her own towed array and sensitive underwater listening and active sonar capabilities built into her hull.
For close in work, the McFaul also has a 5 inch gun for surface targets, and a 20mm Phalanx CIWS gatling guns for last ditch defense against incoming missiles. A boxed quad launcher on deck allows the McFaul to fire Harpoon anti-ship missiles at surface targets.
Below we list the specifications:
Arleigh Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyer
For More Information, see the U.S. Navy Fact File
| Specification | Value | ||||||||||||||||||
| Builder | Bath Iron Works, commissioned on June 16, 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Displacement | 8500 tons, fully loaded | ||||||||||||||||||
| Dimensions (len x widx draft), ft | 505 x 66 x 30ft8.25in. (navigation) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Propulsion | 4 General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine engines; 2 shafts, 80,000 shaft horsepower total. 2 controllable pitch propellers | ||||||||||||||||||
| Performance | 30+ knots | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crew | 22 officers, 314 enlisted | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Aircraft
The LAMPS III system allows datalink for over the horizon attack on surface vessels as well as prosecution of underwater contacts detected with dipped sonar detectors. The system has radically expanded the ability of its other ships to detect and attack underwater targets, and when operated in conjuction with other prosecutors such as cruisers, destroyers and even maritime patrol aircraft such as S-3B Viking or P-3 Orion, provides for a nearly enescapable for submarine detection. |
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| Sensors - Air/Surface, Electronic Warfare |
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| Sensors - Anti-Submarine |
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