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A nuclear-powered version of the Arleigh Burke DDG 51-class destroyer may become the next missile cruiser for the U.S. Navy. That is the view of congressman Gene Taylor of Mississippi who chairs the seapower subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee. He is seeking more funds for a program to build nuclear-powered warships that would be slightly larger versions of the 9200-ton DDG 51s, and would be powered by a nuclear reactor of the type developed for the new Gerald R. Ford CVN 78-class aircraft carriers.

Taylor would like to terminate the DDG 1000 Zumwalt class program with the two ships already ordered, thereby canceling plans to build a total of seven of these ships.

The Navy is working to design a new CG(X) cruiser based on the 16,000-ton DDG 1000 tumblehome hull, but Taylor said he does not see the need for that effort.

Tumblehome has been used in proposals for several modern United States Navy ship projects. This hull form has an exaggerated ram bow, a wave-piercing bow shape, in which the stem rakes aft. This results in a more stable weapons platform, because the vessel does not rise over waves, but passes through them. The rake of the stem continues on to the stern in the form of tumblehome. This combination of features results in lower radar reflection and a very wet deck, giving the vessel something of the faceted appearance of a stealth aircraft. Thus the ship is a compromise between a surface vessel and a submarine, which is designed to pass through the surface of the sea rather than over it.

Taylor said he does not see the need for the stealthy, tumblehome hull form of the DDG 1000s. Although navy leaders speak confidently of the hull's properties, lingering doubts about the ship's stability persist among a number of engineers and naval architects. The conventional, flared hull of the DDG 51 is more seaworthy and as Taylor sees it stealth is not that important for the cruiser.

As for the navy, they are not enthusiastic about going to nuclear power for its surface warships. A variety of factors are at work — the increased costs of procurement, the cost of training and retaining nuclear personnel and the participation of the naval reactors community in the surface warship realm.