Photos United States Navy

[BravoZulu]

The final Independence-class LCS, the future USS Pierre (LCS-38), emerges from the assembly hall at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama. May 29, 2024.

 

[BravoZulu]

A Mark 38 25mm machine gun is fired during a live-fire exercise aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Oct. 30, 2025.

 

[BravoZulu]

USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA guided missile destroyer leaving San Diego - November 19, 2025

 

[BravoZulu]

Zumwalt-class destroyer USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) returns to San Diego following routine operations in the U.S. 3rd, and 7th Fleet areas of operations. 3 Oct 2025

Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) in the 3rd Fleet area of operations, Oct. 18, 2025.

Flight IIA Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) in San Diego. 5 Nov 2025

Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the future USS Ted Stevens (DDG 128) during final acceptance trials off Pascagoula, Mississippi. 21 Nov 2025

Block IV Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, the future USS Massachusetts (SSN 798) has been delivered on 21 Nov 2025. Due for commissioning in spring 2026

 

[BravoZulu]

Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) conducts an UNREP with Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18), Nov. 5, 2025.

Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN) 71, right, and Flight IIA Technology Insertion Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120), prepare for an UNREP, Pacific Ocean, Nov. 16, 2025.

 

[BravoZulu]

USS Spruance (DDG 111) Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA guided missile destroyer leaving San Diego on scheduled deployment - November 21, 2025

 

[BravoZulu]

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Nimitz-class aircraft carrier leaving San Diego on a scheduled deployment - November 21, 2025

 

[BravoZulu]

USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) Arleigh Burke-class Flight I guided missile destroyer coming into San Diego - November 21, 2025

 

[Chazman]

A Rare Sight — Two Cold War Legends, two titans of the U.S. Navy rest quietly side by side:

*USS Long Beach (CGN-9)* — the world’s first nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser.

*USS Chicago (CG-11)* — a heavily armed Albany-class cruiser reborn for the missile age.
*Long Beach*, launched in 1959, was a technological marvel: powered by nuclear reactors, she could sail for years without refueling. With her massive radar tower and long-range missiles, she was built to command the seas in a new era of electronic warfare.
Beside her, *Chicago* — once a World War II heavy cruiser — was transformed in the 1960s into a missile cruiser bristling with Talos and Terrier SAM systems, ready to defend carrier groups from airborne threats.
Together, they represent the U.S. Navy’s shift from traditional gunnery to high-tech, missile-dominant warfare.
They weren’t just ships — they were floating command centers, power projectors, and guardians of the fleet during the most intense years of the Cold War.
*One nuclear. One reborn. Both legendary.*

 

[muck]

It's a marvel of engineering that they never capsized.

 

[Chazman]

It's a marvel of engineering that they never capsized.

For sure. When the Chicago was rebuilt as a missile ship, it's entire superstructure was made of aluminum.

 

[Chazman]

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[muck]

What a bizarre decision.

 

[Chazman]

What a bizarre decision.

Actually, I think it's great. They should have moved forward with this 11 years ago and the Navy would have had several dozen in the water already. The key here is, to keep NAVSEA from turning this into a $2 billion Battlestar Galactica and delaying it 10 years before it becomes unworkable and canceled. It seems SECNAV has NAVSEA boxed up for now.

 

[Fluff]

Actually, I think it's great. They should have moved forward with this 11 years ago and the Navy would have had several dozen in the water already. The key here is, to keep NAVSEA from turning this into a $2 billion Battlestar Galactica and delaying it 10 years before it becomes unworkable and canceled. It seems SECNAV has NAVSEA boxed up for now.

Dunno, I saw a comment that it needs anti sub damping etc, and if the navy takes it as is, it’s getting a cg cutter painted grey. Or gray, whatever.

The canadian spec type 26 would be a better option, built in USA. USA weapons already designed in.

Bizarre, U.K. can’t build an Ifv, but builds a world class frigate.

Hell usa could even buy them, and sell them in 10 years, once it gets it’s S**t together.

 

[Chazman]

Dunno, I saw a comment that it needs anti sub damping etc, and if the navy takes it as is, it’s getting a cg cutter painted grey. Or gray, whatever.

The canadian spec type 26 would be a better option, built in USA. USA weapons already designed in.

Bizarre, U.K. can’t build an Ifv, but builds a world class frigate.

Hell usa could even buy them, and sell them in 10 years, once it gets it’s S**t together.

We don't know precisely what weapons and sensors would be used, but the first few may actually be up-armed NSC. It appears that Phalanx will be replaced by a 21 shot SEARAM, and have various canisterized missiles on the stern. There is also some sort of "shelf" in front of the bridge people are speculating about. They can continue to improve as they build, like the Burkes with Ft1, Flt 2, Flt 2A and now Flt3.

The Navy needs hulls in the water, like 10 years ago. And you can't send a $2+ billion, exquisitely armed ,Arleigh Burke for every mission. First it's overkill, second it materially wears ships needlessly.

The 10 USCG NSCs have integrated with USN operations globally very successfully.

 

[muck]

Actually, I think it's great. They should have moved forward with this 11 years ago and the Navy would have had several dozen in the water already. The key here is, to keep NAVSEA from turning this into a $2 billion Battlestar Galactica and delaying it 10 years before it becomes unworkable and canceled. It seems SECNAV has NAVSEA boxed up for now.

I can see the economic rationality, but I'm afraid there'll come a time when the USN decides that warships can't be built to civilian specifications, necessitating changes to the design. Besides, didn't they criticise the Constellation Class for being too lightly armed?

 

[Chazman]

I can see the economic rationality, but I'm afraid there'll come a time when the USN decides that warships can't be built to civilian specifications, necessitating changes to the design. Besides, didn't they criticise the Constellation Class for being too lightly armed?

My understanding is, the NSC as used by the USCG already meets 90% of the US Navy's design standards, requiring ballistic steel added to a few specific areas to be fully compliant.

NAVSEA put so many changes in the Constellation class, it became almost as expensive as a Burke but would have delivered nowhere near the combat power. Why choose a FREMM if you don't want a FREMM? The whole formula for the basic, affordable Frigate was turned on it's head.

I see so many people going on and on about it doesn't have this or that. This is a proven, reliable platform which is intended as a lower end, maybe $800-ish million dollar ship, rather than the over $2 billion Burkes. It perfectly fills the role previously filled byt the OHPs and before them Knox class.

Also, supposedly the first one will be in the water at least a year before the Constellation.

 

[muck]

Fair enough.

 

[BravoZulu]

San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio (LPD 17)conducts flight operations while underway in the Caribbean Sea, Nov. 18, 2025.