Photos taken during a recent port visit to Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka in Japan show extensive discoloration, corrosion streaks, and visible surface damage on the ship’s composite exterior.
The imagery triggered a wave of online discussion, with some users posting sarcastic commentary in Japanese, suggesting the vessel looks more like an aging relic than a cutting-edge warship. Others questioned whether such degradation might compromise the destroyer’s radar-evading stealth design.
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One post read, “That level of aging… the oil streaks are bad too… you’d need courage to go into battle with this.” Another user added, “If this ship gets deployed in that condition, its operational life may be over. Better to just shout loudly to drown out the sound,” raising concerns about how surface grime and corrosion might affect the vessel’s low-observable profile.
In a statement responding to the images, Navy representatives downplayed the concerns. Officials explained that the discoloration and streaking seen in the photos are common results of extended operations at sea. They cited routine exposure to saltwater, UV radiation, and maritime pollutants as contributing factors. The dark stains and rust lines are also associated with tethering equipment—metal cable systems used to moor the ship in port.
“This type of surface wear is typical of large vessels that operate continuously in challenging marine environments,” a Navy spokesperson said, emphasizing that the cosmetic condition shown in the photographs does not impact the ship’s combat readiness or mission capability.
The USS Michael Monsoor is the second of only three Zumwalt-class destroyers built. Initially conceived as a 32-ship program, the class was drastically curtailed due to cost overruns, shifting mission requirements, and difficulties with key weapons systems. Designed to provide naval gunfire support for amphibious landings, the class lost that role after the Navy opted not to purchase ammunition for its twin 155mm Advanced Gun Systems.
From the start, the Zumwalt program faced rising costs and evolving expectations. The Government Accountability Office reported that initial projections in 1998 placed the cost per ship at $1.3 billion. By the early 2020s, the total cost per vessel—including research and development—had soared to over $9 billion. With only three ships delivered, the entire class remains a costly and isolated experiment within the surface fleet.
Navy officials have since reoriented the class’s mission around future integration of hypersonic weapons and long-range strike systems. The ships are expected to host the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) capability in the coming years, with structural modifications already underway.
Despite the program’s limitations, the Zumwalt-class remains among the most technologically advanced warships in the world. The vessels are powered by an integrated electric propulsion system and feature a unique tumblehome hull designed to reduce radar signature. However, the steep costs, reduced production run, and questions over reliability continue to spark debate.
Critics argue that the photos from Yokosuka reinforce the perception of the Zumwalt-class as a symbol of overpromised capability and underdelivered results. Supporters, meanwhile, contend that the ship’s aging exterior should not be conflated with its internal performance or strategic value.
The Navy has not issued any further comments on the specific condition of USS Michael Monsoor. The vessel remains forward-deployed in the Pacific and is expected to undergo periodic maintenance and modernization in line with fleet standards.