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Callaghan-class Cruiser

The U.S. Navy has, in many senses, squandered the past two decades trying to build a new surface combatant. First, the ludicrous COEA SC-21 of the 1990s delivered merely three of the dysfunctional Zumwalt-class. Then the CG(X) project proposed a nuclear-powered 25,000-ton monstrosity, far too expensive for congress to accept. By now, the Navy could only rely on Flight-III Arleigh Burkes to serve as partial replacements for the Ticonderoga-class, with the next-generation DDG(X) not expected to enter service until 2030. But there was no reason why the U.S. could not produce an effective Ticonderoga replacement around the late 2010s. The Callaghan-class cruiser is my interpretation of how such a ship might turn out.

In 2011, NAVSEA began drawing up designs for a new large surface combatant, primarily in reaction to the understanding that the upcoming AN/SPY-6 AMDR radar would push the Arleigh Burke hull to its limits. To comfortably accommodate AMDR and other emerging technologies, NAVSEA emphasized the need for additional weight-carrying, cooling and electrical power-generating capacities on the new ship. Compared to the Burkes and Ticonderogas, the Callaghan would be significantly larger and stealthier.

The final design is set on a 178m/584 ft long hull with angled surfaces and a clean, uncluttered superstructure. An integrated power system, using both diesel and gas turbine generators, was adapted the Zumwalt class to provide propulsion and massive amounts of electrical power for its various subsystems, while also reducing acoustic and thermal signatures. For its primary role of air and missile defense, the cruiser’s main sensor is Raytheon’s 14-ft diameter AMDR radar mounted high above the bridge. Replacing the earlier mess of radar dishes are various X and D band target illumination and surface search arrays, built into a stealthy composite mast. All of these radars, plus optical sensors and a sonar suite, were managed via AEGIS baseline 10 alongside spacious command facilities to direct the defense of entire battlegroups.

Firepower came primarily via 128 Mark-41 VLS cells, plus a 5-inch gun, torpedo tubes, and hangars for two helicopters. Advanced damage control features, as well as automation technology derived from Virginia class submarines, permitted a smaller crew complement in comfortable accommodations. A RAM launcher, Phalanx CIWS, Nulka decoy launchers and the latest set of electronic warfare jammers rounded out the ship's defenses. To increases durability, the hull is divided by airtight and watertight bulkheads, with each section featuring independent air filters, firefighting equipment and backup generators. The two VLS blocks are wrapped up by 700 tons of Kevlar and steel spaced armor.

Lead ship of the class, named after the WW2 Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan, began construction in March 2016, and commissioned in June 2020 after some minor problems with sensors integration and the electric motors. With a total of nineteen hulls planned, these ships are expected to replace the Ticonderoga class in the air defense leader role. Upgrades in the forms of a taller radar array, laser weapons to replace the CIWS and swappable larger-diameter VLS cells are expected to emerge by the early 2030s.

Stats
Displacement: 13,600 tons (full load)
Dimension: length 178m, width 21m, draft 6.9m
Machineries: Integrated-Electric Propulsion, 2x Rolls Royce MT30 turbines and 4x Colt-Pielstick diesels, powering 2x electric motors totaling 130,000 horsepower
Speed: 32.5 knots/60 km/h
Crew complement: 248

Sensors and electronics: SPY-6 AMDR S-Band air search AESA
Various target illumination/surface search AESA
AEGIS baseline 10
Hull-mounted sonar
Towed variable depth sonar
SEWIP Block 3 integrated electronic-warfare system

Weapons: 128x Mk 41 VLS cells (with 74x SM-6, 56x quad-packed ESSM, 40x AGM-156C LRASM)
1x 127mm/5-inch Mark 45 gun
1x Phalanx Mark 15 CIWS
1x RAM launcher
2x Mark 32 324mm triple torpedo launcher
4x 12.7mm/ .50 cal machine gun
Large helipad, 2x hangars for Seahawk/FLRAA-sized airframes.