We often hear and see here on SD the tremendous naval shipbuilding that the PLAN is performing in China.
Less often do we see that the same type of work is also going on with multiple classes in the US.
For example, in the following pictures you see the type of rapid construction that we normally associate with Chinese yards. All of these were taken in 2015:
In the first, we see three destroyers under construction at Bath Iron Works in Maine. Bath is building the Zumwalt class of destroyers, and is also one of two yards building Arleigh Burke class destroyers. Right to left:
USS Zumwalt, DDG-1000 (1st Zumwalt)
USS Rafael Peralta DDG-115 (65th Arleigh Burke)
USS Michael Monsoor, DDG-1001 (2ndt Zumwalt)
Here you see the USS John Finn, DDG-113, being launched at Huntington Ingalls yards in Mississippi. where they also build the San Antonio Class LPDs. A building LPD can be seen in the background;
And then here, in Wisconsin at Mariette Yards, you see the Freedom class LCS (which is a frigate by any stretch) being built. Here are three under various stages of construction at once:
Then, in Mobile Alabama, at Austral yards, you see the Independence class LCS being built...again, three vessels at various stages of construction:
These are six classes of vessels being built at these facilities.
The US Navy is working on all of the following new classes of large vessels simultaneously at various yards around the country:
Ford Class CVN - Nuclear powered aircraft carrier
Zumwalt Class DDG - Very large multi-role guided missile destroyer
Arleigh Burke Class DDG - Large multi-role guided missile destroyer
Freedom Class LCS - Fast, Littoral Combat Ship/Fast frigate
Independence Class LCS - Fast, Littoral Combat Ship/Fast Frigate
America Class LHA - Very Lafarge Amphibious/Air Assault Ship
San Antoniio Class LPD - Large Amphibious Assault Ship with Well Deck
Virginia Class SSN - Nuclear powered attack submarine
Spearfish class EPF - Fast Transport Ship (Formerly HSSV)
Lewis B. Puller Class ESB - Afloat Forward Staging Base (Formerly AFSB)
Neil Armstrong Class AGOR - Oceanographic Research Ship
Pathfinder Class AGS - Oceanographic Survey Ship
Legend Class WMSL - National Security Cutter (Frigate Sized cutter)
