The Oddball Destroyers

The three Zumwalt class destroyers were once believed to be the follow-on to the Arleigh Burke class.Instead,their role is now focused on support for land forces from near-shore positions.The very expensive ships are thus among the oddball hardware of military history.Remember the Air Force's XB-70 bomber?Frankly,they are something of a mistake,but that doesn't mean they won't be put to good use.They are a Marine Corps sort of ship,in the same league as amphibious assault and amphibious dock ships.These destroyers can support the Marines and be testbeds for advanced naval technology such as open architecture.They will also sustain the shipyard workers who build and maintain them for Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics.