Power for the USS William P. Lawrence is made possible by the internal conventional arrangement of 4 x General Electric LM2500-30 series gas turbines delivering up to 100,000 shaft horsepower to 2 x shafts at the stern. Maximum speed in ideal conditions is approximately 30 knots and she displaces at 9,200 tons. She features a running length of 509.5 feet from bow to stern and a beam of 66 feet while her draught runs 31 feet.
The armament of a destroyer is the heart and soul of the vessel. As such, the Lawrence makes use of a 32- and 62-cell Mk 41 series vertical launch system (VLS) capable of firing BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles, RIM-66 SM-2 medium-range surface-to-air-missiles or RUM-139 VL-ASROC anti-submarine missiles to fulfill a variety of mission requirements. Utilizing a combination of these missile types, a single Arleigh Burke-class destroyer can engage land-based, sea-based and aerial targets with proven lethality. Along her forward deck is the 5" (127mm) /62 deck gun for principle engagement of surface/land-based targets at range including offshore bombardment in support of amphibious landings. This armament is backed by a pair of 25mm guns for supporting defense. A 20mm Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) is used against incoming aerial threats (be they enemy aircraft or cruise missiles) at close-range. 4 x 12.7mm heavy machine guns protect the vessel from short-ranged incoming threats such as those proposed by Al Qaeda operatives using personal watercraft to reach the vessel. To counter both surface and underwater threats at range, the Lawrence is further equipped with 2 x Mk 46 triple torpedo tubes which can hone in on unsuspecting targets wherever they may be.
The air arm of the USS William P. Lawrence consists of up to 2 x Sikorsky SH-60 Sea Hawk naval helicopters. The Sea Hawk is a specially-bred navy model of the famous land-based Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk series and developed specifically for over-water operations in conjunction with the scanning, tracking and engagement systems aboard the USS William P. Lawrence itself.
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