U.S. Navy destroyer USS Zumwalt departs on first operation

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – The U.S. Navy’s USS Zumwalt destroyer left San Diego today for its first operation. The ship’s crew completed an evaluation of its systems and equipment prior to departure.

The 610-foot-long ship contains cutting-edge weapons and engineering technology designed to maximize the USS Zumwalt’s stealth and combat capabilities, according to the Navy.

“This aids her role as a multi-mission surface combatant and improves the fleet commander’s options for delivery of naval combat power to meet the Navy’s emergent mission requirements,” said Capt. Andrew Carlson, the Zumwalt’s commanding officer.

Carlson assumed the ship’s commanding duties in November, becoming its third skipper. The Navy commissioned the USS Zumwalt in October 2017 as the lead ship in its class and the first named for Adm. Elmo Zumwalt, who served as the Chief of Naval Operations during the latter part of the Vietnam War.

The USS Zumwalt is part of the U.S. 3rd Fleet, which leads naval operations across the Pacific and helps train allied naval forces around the world.

“My crew has been looking forward to continued testing and operations at sea, leveraging the newly installed capabilities of this platform,” Carlson said. “Our primary focus is executing a safe underway, while building both competence and confidence in operating Zumwalt across the spectrum of naval warfare.”