US Navy's stealthy new destroyer Zumwalt christened in Maine with bottles of Champagne

The Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer DDG 1000.

BATH, Maine — The U.S. Navy has christened the first ship of its newest class of destroyers, a 610-foot-long warship with advanced technologies and a stealthy design that will reduce its visibility on enemy radars.

The warship bears the name of the late Adm. Elmo “Bud” Zumwalt, who became the nation’s youngest chief of naval operations and is hailed as a reformer who spearheaded changes that helped minorities and women advance in their careers.

The Zumwalt, which will be the Navy’s largest destroyer, was christened Saturday at Maine’s Bath Iron Works with a smash of bottles of Champagne against its bow by his two daughters.

The Zumwalt is the first of three in its class to be built. It will be able to go to sea with half the crew of existing destroyers.