The Great Golden Fleet
December 23, 2025
In this episode, Sal Mercogliano — a maritime historian at Campbell University (@campbelledu) and former merchant mariner — discusses the announcement by the United States of a new large surface combatant, to be named USS Defiant, a battleship.
#usnavy #battleship #warship
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00:00 Navy Shipbuilding and Battleship Announcement
03:30 Composition of the U.S. Navy’s fleet
05:22 Current Surface Ship Building Programs
11:45 What is a Battleship?
15:04 What is a Large Cruiser?
15:52 USS Defiant Specifications
21:43 Where can these ships be built?
23:28 What Is the US Navy missing?
27:07 Conclusion
President Trump Makes an Announcement with the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy
What We Know About The Trump Class “Battleship”
https://www.twz.com/sea/what-we-know-about-the-trump-class-battleship
Trump Unveils New Battleship Class; Proposed USS Defiant Will Be Largest U.S. Surface Combatant Since WWII
https://news.usni.org/2025/12/22/trump-unveils-new-battleship-class-proposed-uss-defiant-will-be-largest-u-s-surface-combatant-since-wwii
Constellation Class Frigate Program Cancelled By Navy Secretary (Updated)
https://www.twz.com/sea/navy-sinks-the-constellation-class-frigate-program
Navy Cancels Constellation-class Frigate Program, Considering New Small Surface Combatants
https://news.usni.org/2025/11/25/navy-cancels-constellation-class-frigate-program-considering-new-small-surface-combatants
U.S. Navy Now Wants A New Frigate And Fast
https://www.twz.com/sea/u-s-navy-now-wants-a-new-frigate-and-fast
SECNAV: New Frigate will be Based on National Security Cutter, First FF(X) to be Built at Ingalls
https://news.usni.org/2025/12/19/secnav-new-frigate-will-be-based-on-national-security-cutter-first-ffx-to-be-built-at-ingalls
This Will Be The Navy’s New Medium Landing Ship
https://www.twz.com/sea/this-will-be-the-navys-new-medium-landing-ship
Navy Retools Landing Ship Medium Program Around Dutch LST-100, Vessel Construction Manager to Lead Design Process
DDG(X) Next-Generation Destroyer’s Capabilities And Costs Are Solidifying
https://www.twz.com/news-features/ddgx-next-generation-destroyers-capabilities-and-costs-are-solidifying
Navy Wants 3-Year Overlap Between Arleigh Burkes and DDG(X), Considering Propulsion System
https://news.usni.org/2024/01/10/navy-wants-3-year-overlap-between-arleigh-burkes-and-ddgx-considering-propulsion-system
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