WEAPONS STRUCTURAL TEST FIRING ABOARD THE USS-ARLEIGH-BURKE

During gun or missile firings, Navy ships are subjected to extremely h igh blast levels: over pressure, noise, temperatures, gas and debris. These weapons firing effects may have serious impacts on ship structur e, personnel safety and operational capability The U.S. Navy's Structu ral Test Firing (STF) program exists to identify, quantify and correct problems associated with weapons blast. Results of the STFs are used to verify the adequacy of ship-building specifications and design, and to ensure that no safety hazards exist due to improper design, constr uction or installation. The tests also provide data to develop specifi cations for future ship design. STFs are required on the first ship il l a class to ensure the ship can be operated safely during its own wea pons fire. STFs are designed to impose the worst possible gun and miss ile blast effects to the ship. The USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), which r epresents the Navy's newest class of combatants, completed STF in 1991 . The Arleigh Burke was designed with a fully integrated Collective Pr otection System (CPS) which provides protection from chemical and biol ogical agents. The STF results show that the Arleigh Burke structure, equipment and systems are adequately designed to meet all the STF obje ctives.