The Arleigh Burke class of destroyers as been in service with the United States Navy for over 20 years now, and as become the main workhorse of the USN. The class has three primary versions, or "Flights", with Flight IIa having further sub-variants.

• Flight I (no helicopter hangar)
• Flight II (like Flt I with improved electronics suite)
• Flight IIa (helicopter hangars added, superstructure changes)
  • Flight IIa 5"/62 (5"/54 gun replaced with 5"/62 in a reduced signature mount)
  • Flight IIa 5"/62 no CIWS (Phalanx CIWS replaced with ESSM)
  • Flight IIa 5"/62 no CIWS, reduced signature exhaust housings

The USN has since decided to retrofit CIWS back onto the final version, due in part to the CIWS' effectiveness again small surface targets. With the recent cutbacks in the DDG-1000 program, the Burke production line has been restarted. There are also those who argue in favor of more Burkes, or a modified Burke class, in lieu of the LCS program.

USS Forrest Sherman is a Burke class of the latest version; Flight IIa 5"/62 no CIWS, reduced signature exhaust housings, with no RMS (Remote Mine System). This kit of Sherman has much in common with the earlier Momsen release; there is only one sprue's difference between them, plus a slight modification to the main deck.

Sherman's hull is molded in Trumpeter's standard 2-piece hull; grey upper hull, red plastic lower, with an red hull plate for the waterline option. All the parts fit well together, with a slight seam. Some care will be required when fixing this hull on full hull builds not to damage the hull details. The lower hull exhibits Trumpeter's usual heavy mold marks.

The hull has many small details molded on; some look good, and some need a little work. The large bow sonar dome is molded separately, and the bilge keels are a bit simplified. The Masker belts of the Prairie-Masker system are a little rough on the lower hull, and don't appear to extend far enough. The AN/SLQ-25 Nixie fairleads in the stern don't seem "beefy" enough. Trumpeter has added the wake reducing "step" to the stern of the lower hull. This step helps in reducing fuel consumption, and is being fitted to most ships in the US Navy.

The main deck is molded as one large, bagged piece. The helo deck is a separately molded part on a sprue, covered later in this review. The deck fits well into the hull, with little to no gaps.

The foredeck has some rather poor molded on anchor chains, and some raised areas for the forward VERTREP (Vertical Replenishment) station markings. The octagonal base for the 5"/62 is somewhat soft. The 32-cell Mk41 VLS has the appropriate number of cells, (Previous VLS's has 3 cells taken up by the strikedown module, which as been deleted on Flt IIa ships.) but is missing the exhaust vent doors between the rows of cells and the anti-skid atop each cell.

There are some slight mold lines on the deck just aft of the RHIB storage area; this is where the RMS would be on those appropriate ships. It is clear Trumpeter designed the mold with a swappable part for this location.

Sprue B is the first sprue of this kit. It has many of the various parts needed to complete the lower hull, such as the props and shafts and shaft supports, rudders and the bow sonar dome halves. It also other parts for around the ship; some platforms, anchors, and the antennas, yards and main sensor mast.

This is the "fun" sprue, with many of the more visible parts of the ship. These many parts include an assortment of radars, from the flat AN/SPY-1D arrays and the dish like AN/SPG-62 illuminators to the ship's Mk6 RHIBs, AN/SLQ-32 ECM/ESM antenna assemblies, Mk141 Harpoon launcher, UNREP Sliding Padeye, Mk38 25mm Bushmaster, Mk32 torpedo tubes, life raft canisters and SRBOC launchers.

These parts have differing levels of accuracy and appearance; the SLQ-32's are a multi-part assembly, and seem undersized. The 25mm Bushmasters are simplistic, but are so small in size to be difficult to reproduce accurately. There are also a number of unused parts on these sprues, from the earlier Flights of Burkes.

Sprue G is made mostly of bulkheads that form superstructure. They have multiple vents, fire hoses and ladders molded on. The vents and hoses are ok, but the ladders are very faint, and could be improved.

H is a small sprue, with the helo hangar doors (both open and closed), the rear part of the SLQ-32, some additional life raft canisters and the Nulka decoy launchers.

The main feature of this sprue is the helo deck, which make up the rear third of the hull. The helo deck is both the helo landing pad and the base of the twin helicopter hangars. There are also some decks and the rear section of the bridge, with the 2 after facing SPY-1 arrays.

The helo deck has the expected raised areas for the landing markings. The Recovery, Assist, Securing, and Traversing (RAST) system rails are well detailed. The deck hatches that border the landing pad seem out of scale, however.

Sprue M has a number of different bulkheads, mostly those which make up the interior of the two helicopter hangars. The inner hangar bulkheads are well detailed, as is the single piece outer hangar part. This sprue also has some carious smaller parts, notably the Mk45 Mod 4 5"/62 main gun.

N is comprised of the primary superstructure parts. All these bulkheads show moderate detail; vents, hoses and ladders, as previously discussed. The upgraded exhaust stack housings are also present; starting with USS Mustin DDG-89, the exhaust stack housings were raised slightly, and then squared off, eliminating the unstealthy characteristics of the older exhaust stacks.

This sprue has the other modified stack housing, and the front of the bridge/superstructure with the two forward facing SPY-1 arrays.

Sprue R has some bulkheads, the large deck/helo hangar roof/aft VLS piece, and the nameplate.

Sprue S is a clear sprue with the bridge windows and helicopter control/LSO area.

The included SH-60B LAMPS III helos are molded in the now standard classic clear plastic. I wish Trumpter would return to the multi-color sprues of 5 years ago, as this clear styrene is difficult to work with, and brittle. The aircraft itself is nicely molded, with a deployed and folded blade option. There is no option for a folded tail, however. The sonobuoy deployment rack seems well done- except for one nagging detail- there are 25 sonobuoy ejectors on a -60B, five rows of five. This model has five rows of FOUR.

Sherman comes with a common fret for all Burke class ships, comprised of railings and safety nets for the helo deck.

A normal decal sheet in included, with hull numbers, warning rings, helo and VERTREP lines, and some flags to adorn your Sherman. There appears to be some extra hull numbers, allowing others of the class to be built.

A 12 page instruction book is included, using Trumpeter's standard construction order and methods. The painting and decal steps are in the instruction book, not the full-color paint poster.

A full color poster showing the painting steps for Sherman is included. Mr. Hobby, Vallejo, Model Master, Tamiya and Humbrol colors are shown on a paint reference chart. There is no one manufacturer with every color referenced available, so some mixing may be required.

Thanks to Stevens International for the review sample. It is listed as #TSM-4528 1/350 Forrest Sherman DDG-98 with a retail price of $89.95 US. Stevens is the exclusive importer for Trumpeter kits in the US. If your hobby shop does not carry Trumpeter kits have them contact Stevens International or try their Hobby Shop Locator to find one that does.