Official caption of this 1982 work of art: “Artist’s concept, by Vincent Piecyk, of an experimental guided missile destroyer planned for delivery to the Navy in 1989. Piecyk equips his destroyer with an AGM-84A Harpoon missile, a RIM-67 Standard-MR/SM2 missile, a 5-inch 54-caliber gun, and a Phalanx 20mm close-in weapon system (CIWS). In addition, the 1989 destroyer will be equipped with YBGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles, advanced lightweight torpedoes, and a high-quality anti-air warfare (AAW) system.”
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U.S. Navy photo DNSC8203847, National Archives Identifier 6349352
Fast forward a decade and the result looked fairly close to the concept.
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A starboard view of the guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) underway off the Virginia Capes. 19 July 1991. Navy photo DNSC9201471 by PHAN Vann. National Archives Identifier 6474766
Ordered on 2 April 1985, launched on 6 December 1988, and commissioned on Independence Day 1991, USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) is still in service at age 34– and she has 92 sisters in service or planned, making them arguably the most numerous and successful destroyer class since the 98-ship WWII-era Gearing class.
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Bunting and a rainbow flag hoist adorn the guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) on its commissioning day, July 4, 1991, in Norfolk. DNST9202340. National Archives Identifier 6478464
