Background Info on Ships & Weapon Systems for Circle William Readers

Data on Ships & Weapons in Circle William

While most of the characters in Circle William are ficticious, the ship and its weapons systems which play such a large part in the story do exist or will shortly. When USS WINSTON CHURCHILL, (DDG-81) goes to sea for the first time in 2000, it will be carrying the missiles and other systems described in the novel. Below you will find brief descriptions of some of the technical marvels of the novel and links to official U.S. Navy websites that can provide you with more detailed information.

(Photos not otherwise identified are from one of two excellent on-line imagery collections, one provide by the U. S. Navy and the other from the Department of Defense.)

USS WINSTON S. CHURCHILL (DDG-81) - Arleigh Burke Class AEGIS Guided Missile Destroyer

STANDARD Air-to-Surface Missile

TOMAHAWK Land Attack Cruise Missile

USS HARTFORD (SSN-768) - Los Angeles Class Attack Submarine

One system mentioned in Circle William, the Sea Ferret, is still in development. The unique feature about this cruise missile is its capability to transmit real-time images and other sensor data back to its launch platform and command headquarters. You can read more about the Sea Ferret and many other weapon systems on the extensive non-governmental site sponsored by the Federation of American Scientists.

USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81)

	IN WAR - RESOLUTION IN PEACE - GOODWILL Christened: April 17, 1999 Report from the Ceremony Navy Report on the Ceremony Commissioning: March 10, 2001 Current Status & Lots More Specifics: Official Website Length: 513 feet Beam: 66 feet Displacement: 9000+ tons Speed: 31+ knots (35.7 mph, 57.1 kph) Crew: 24 officers (including one British officer) 326 enlisted men & women 53 women (15% of the crew) WEAPONS: 1 5"/62 caliber Mk-45 Mod 4 lightweight gun 2 MK-41 Vertical Launching Systems 90 Cells (29 forward + 61 aft): - Standard Anti-Air Missiles - Tomahawk Land Attack - ASROC 8 Harpoon Anti-shipping Missile Launchers (2-Quad) 2 Close-in-Weapons Systems Phalanx Mounts (4500 rounds/min) 6 MK-46 Triple Torpedo Tubes LAMPS MK III Undersea Warfare Control System with facilities for two SH-60B helicopters LINKS TO: Navy Fact File on Arleigh Burke Class DDG's A Brief History of US Navy Destroyers Modern Destroyers
Launch of DDG-81
USS CARNEY (DDG-64)
USS JOHN S. MCCAIN (DDG-56)
The USS WINSTON S. CHURCHILL, named for the World War II British prime minister (and son of an American mother) will be the 31st of the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers (DDG). This class of ships are equipped for multiple missions relying heavily on their AEGIS combat weapons system, which brings together advanced communications, radar and weapons technologies.

STANDARD Air-to-Surface Missile

Standard Missile Launch from an FFG

Length:
14 feet, 7 inches (4.41 meters)

Range:
40-90 nautical miles
(46-104 statute miles)

Link to Navy Fact File

Surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missile. Two major types, the SM-1 MR/SM-2 (medium range) and the SM-2 (extended range). Used against missiles, aircraft and ships.

Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missile

	Length: 18 feet 3 inches (5.56 meters) Speed: 381-571 mph Cruise altitude: 50-100 feet Range: 870 nautical miles (1000 statute miles, 1609 km) Links to Navy Fact File
Long range, subsonic cruise missile used for land attack warfare.

USS HARTFORD (SSN-768)

USS ALBUQUERQUE (SSN-768)

USS TUCSON (SSN-770)

Length:
360 feet

Beam:
33 feet

Displacement:
approximately 6,900 tons submerged

Speed:
Greater then 25 knots

Depth:
Greater than 800 feet

Crew:
127 enlisted personnel
14 officers

Links to Navy Fact File

USS ALBUQUERQUE - Very informative

USS HARTFORD, the 57th of the 62 Los Angeles class submarines, is equipped with the Tomahawk cruise missile system, giving it a significant land attack and strike capability. HARTFORD also has a hardened sail and retractable bow planes for surfacing through the ice during Arctic missions.


	07/30/04

USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81)

IN WAR - RESOLUTION IN PEACE - GOODWILL

Christened: April 17, 1999 Report from the Ceremony Navy Report on the Ceremony

Commissioning: March 10, 2001

Current Status & Lots More Specifics: Official Website

Length: 513 feet Beam: 66 feet Displacement: 9000+ tons Speed: 31+ knots (35.7 mph, 57.1 kph) Crew: 24 officers (including one British officer) 326 enlisted men & women 53 women (15% of the crew)

STANDARD Air-to-Surface Missile

Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missile

USS HARTFORD (SSN-768)

IN WAR - RESOLUTION
IN PEACE - GOODWILL

Christened: April 17, 1999
Report from the Ceremony
Navy Report on the Ceremony

Length:
513 feet
Beam:
66 feet
Displacement:
9000+ tons
Speed:
31+ knots (35.7 mph, 57.1 kph)
Crew:
24 officers (including one British officer)
326 enlisted men & women
53 women (15% of the crew)