Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!mips!apple!veritas!amdcad!amdcad!military From: norton@manta.nosc.mil (LT Scott A. Norton, USN) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: DDG-51 Summary: Sheffield was all-steel! Message-ID: <1991Jun1.012802.27928@amd.com> Date: 31 May 91 15:38:53 GMT References: <1991May31.061148.13091@amd.com> Sender: military@amd.com Organization: Space & Naval Warfare Systems Command Lines: 20 Approved: military@amd.com From: norton@manta.nosc.mil (LT Scott A. Norton, USN) NO, NO, NO! Sheffield was all-steel. Also, the missile hit in the main hull, slightly above the waterline. The fires were due to flammables such as electrical cable insulation. The experience of USS Tatnall gives, I think, better reason for eliminating aluminum: a minor fire in her aft superstructure seriously warped the director pedistals for her SPG-51's. The maintenance and preservation problems with aluminum also make it undesirable. My own experience trying to get an aluminum handrail rewelded pointed this out to me. It took many tries, waiting for a still day so the argon wouldn't blow away, before we got the job done right. Aluminum-qualified welders are not as common as steel welders. LT Scott Norton