If the Zumwalt would have had railgun attack and scalar energy beam defense capabilities, as well as invisibility cloak technology (distortion fields around it), it would have lived up to its looks. Unfortunately, technology was not advanced enough to fill the ship with what is really needed. And to use fossil fuel engines is absurd, like having horses pull a combat tank. It must have been that there was a strong fossil fuel lobby.
I have never understood why the United States began dialing back our nation’s industrial infrastructure and capabilities. Our nation’s production footprint regarding ship building yards, petroleum refineries, shipping ports, etc. continues to shrink. However, China, South Korea and other nations are becoming a larger player and provider within our nation’s industry, military,agriculture, etc.