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James E. Williams (DDG 95) conducts First AEGIS 'Super Trial'

NAVSEA

Release Date: 7/23/2004

By From Naval Sea Systems Command PEO Ships

PASCAGOULA, Miss.-- USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) successfully conducted the first-ever Super Trial July 11 - 16 in Pascagoula, Miss. Super Trial combines the events from three underway trials (Builder's Alpha trial, Builder's Bravo trial, and Board of Inspection and Survey INSURV Acceptance Charlie trial) into a single sea trial. This first-of-its-kind approach on a complex surface combatant used 30% less time and 50% less manpower compared to recent Builder and Acceptance trials of other new construction DDG 51 class destroyers.

The Super Trial approach helps the DDG 51 shipbuilding program and the Navy to achieve notable cost avoidance. This results from several key elements, including: preparing for and conducting trials only one time; maximizing the use of local SUPSHIP subject matter experts in support of the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) to reduce technical support agent travel costs; restricting tests and inspections conducted at-sea to those that absolutely require the ship to be underway; and reducing duplicative logistic support requirements such as air services. The DDG 95 trial also marks the first time (INSURV) that the DDG shipbuilding program office used the same deficiency tracking and workflow management system to document trial cards, streamlining a critical administrative process.

This Sea Enterprise initiative adds to the DDG shipbuilding program's history of successful innovation during the past three decades, proactively addressing numerous risk areas. And preparations for Super Trial harnessed, and carefully applied, extensive experience in the introduction of new systems technology and business practices. Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, SUPSHIP Gulf Coast, and PMS 400D made significant efforts to ensure the ship's performance would achieve "first time quality." In addition, INSURV was an integral partner in adapting past practices to achieve efficiencies, while maintaining rigorous criteria for ship acceptance.

DDG 95's Super Trial spanned six days, which included four days of pier-side testing and a two-day at-sea testing period. At-sea weapons firings included two SM-2 missiles and 24 rounds of 5" gun ammunition. All INSURV-graded areas/events achieved "GREEN" rated scores above 80%, with seven demonstrations awarded a 100%.

James E. Williams will be commissioned in Charleston, SC, on December 11, and join the Fleet for unrestricted operations in the fall of 2005.