Navy Destroyers

Comment

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on July 31, 2009 at 12:15pm

That is an awesome book Hans-- I read it twice and sent it to my son while he was deployed....he found it to be an amazing read as well!

Comment by Hans, The Old Salt on July 31, 2009 at 12:12pm

The changes in design reflect the changes in technology of naval warfare. The destroyer in my photo (USS Henley) is classic gun-and-torpedo destroyer, expected to fight "toe-to-toe" with close range threats. A good description of that type of warfare is in the book "The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" which is an account of the battle off Samar.

Modern destroyers, by contrast, are designed to deal with threats at much longer ranges, and might only rarely have visual contact with the enemy.

Even so, having visited modern DDG's, the bloodlines of the classic destroyers goneby are evident.

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on July 31, 2009 at 12:04pm

Hey Hans--- I have to ask--- with the narrow beam those ships had and the amount or armament and superstructure that it seems the center of gravity was quite high and stability would be an issue in heavy seas. Did you get much roll in those conditions?

Comment by Paige on July 31, 2009 at 11:42am

Hans, thanks for posting the photo of your old destroyer. It's interesting to see how the ship's design has changed over the years.

Comment by Hans, The Old Salt on July 30, 2009 at 9:02pm

I like the photograph of the destroyer (USS Howard DDG-83) in the heading of this group.

Just thought I show one of my old destroyers "doing her thing".

Comment by Paige on July 29, 2009 at 6:42pm

NNS090729-04. Navy Christens New Guided Missile Destroyer Jason Dunham

From Department of Defense

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy will christen the newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, Jason Dunham, Aug. 1, 2009, during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine.

Designated DDG 109, the new destroyer honors Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, the first Marine awarded the Medal of Honor for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Dunham was born in Scio, N.Y., Nov. 10, 1981, sharing the same birthday as the U.S. Marine Corps.

On April 14, 2004, Dunham's squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in Karabilah, Iraq, when his battalion commander's convoy was ambushed. When Dunham's squad approached to provide fire support, an Iraqi insurgent leapt out of a vehicle and attacked Dunham. As Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground, he noticed that the enemy fighter had a grenade in his hand and immediately alerted his fellow Marines. When the enemy dropped the live grenade, Dunham took off his Kevlar helmet, covered the grenade, and threw himself on top to smother the blast. In an ultimate selfless act of courage, in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of two fellow Marines.

Retired Gen. Michael W. Hagee, former commandant of the U. S. Marine Corps, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Debra Dunham will serve as sponsor of the ship named for her late son. In accordance with Navy tradition, she will break a bottle of champagne across the ship's bow and christen the ship. Jason Dunham, the 59th Arleigh Burke class destroyer, will be able to conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection.

Jason Dunham will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously and contains a myriad of offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime warfare in keeping with "A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower," the new maritime strategy that postures the sea services to apply maritime power to protect U.S. vital interests in an increasingly interconnected and uncertain world.

Cmdr. M. Scott Sciretta, born in South Amboy, N.J., is the prospective commanding officer of the ship and will lead the crew of 276 officers and enlisted personnel. The 9,200-ton Jason Dunham is being built by Bath Iron Works, a General Dynamics company. The ship is 509 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet, and a navigational draft of 31 feet. Four gas turbine engines will power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots.

Comment by Paige on July 27, 2009 at 5:37pm

NNS090727-06. Gen. Petraeus Recognizes Bainbridge Sailors During Visit

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan Schaeffer, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain – (NNS) -- The commander, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM), visited the guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) while in port Bahrain July 27 to thank Sailors for their hard work while deployed to U.S. 5th Fleet.

Gen. David H. Petraeus, USCENTCOM commander, praised Bainbridge Sailors for their role in the successful rescue of Richard Phillips, the Maersk Alabama captain held captive by Somali pirates for five days in April.

Petraeus held an all hands call with Bainbridge's Sailors and also presented awards to three Sailors who were honored for their actions during Phillips' rescue from pirates.

"The eyes of the world were upon you that Easter weekend," said Petraeus. "You played important roles and should be proud of what you did. In moments of danger and decision during the rescue of Captain Phillips, you did what you were trained to do. You remembered your skills. You did your duty. You stood your watch. And you brought Captain Phillips home alive."

Petraeus presented Senior Chief Intelligence Specialist Joel Steinbach with the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal to both Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Mattew Olin and Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Joshua Waters for their exemplary service during the rescue.

Steinbach served as the chief negotiator and liaison between the FBI's Critical Incident Response Group/Crisis Negotiation Unit during hostage negotiation efforts between Bainbridge and the pirates holding Phillips.

"I am honored to be recognized with this award and to receive it from Gen. Petraeus," said Steinbach. "However, the credit for the rescue of Capt. Phillips belongs to all the Sailors who took part in the successful operation."

Olin and Waters are credited with leading a boat crew in the successful covert recovery of U.S. Navy SEALs, continuing to serve as coxswain for subsequent approaches by their boats to the pirate lifeboat holding Phillips despite coming under hostile fire on the initial approach, and navigating their boats alongside the lifeboat to facilitate direct negotiations for the release and subsequent rescue of Phillips.

"I am proud that I was part of this mission and that I made a difference," said Olin. "I am proud of all the Sailors involved who not only risked their lives, but brought honor upon our ship."

Bainbridge Commanding Officer Cmdr. Frank X. Castellano said it was an honor to host Gen. Petraeus and praised his crew for their role in the rescue and counterpiracy operations.

"The success of Captain Phillips' rescue belongs not to a single commander or a team of SEALs," said Castellano. "Those few days belong to everyone involved – officers and enlisted, not on one ship, but several — who diligently stood their watch. It belongs to the many."

Comment by Paige on July 20, 2009 at 7:14pm

Arleigh Burke, SAS Amatola Arrive in Simon's Town, South Africa
Story Number: NNS090719-09
Release Date: 7/19/2009 11:00:00 PM


By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) David Holmes, USS Arleigh Burke Public Affairs

SIMON’S TOWN, South Africa (NNS) -- USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) made its second South African port visit in Simon's Town July 18 after a week-long series of exercises with South African Navy ship SAS Amatola (F 145).

The two ships conducted a range of cooperative activities geared to enhance maritime interoperability between the two partner nations.

Additionally, each ship hosted several Sailors from the other ship to give them the chance to ride a foreign Navy ship.

"This last week has been extremely beneficial to our navies, as well as to both our navies' Sailors," said Capt. Jim Tranoris, commander of Task Force 363. "We have had the unique experience to refine our skill sets at sea with the South Africans, bringing us to a higher level of maritime awareness and interoperability. I am proud of both our nations' Sailors for the work they've accomplished and the new relationships that have been forged."

Exercises such as maneuvering drills, flashing light communications and small boat operations were some of the various activities carried out between the two ships.

"I really like the way they train here. I've learned a lot," said South African Navy Submarine Lt. Zanele Madiba, a ship rider aboard Arleigh Burke. "I think riding a foreign Navy's ship is a good idea to simply gain understanding. Everyone needs to understand other cultures and deal with different types of people. Especially if you're in a leadership position, you need to understand how others think and operate."

Arleigh Burke arrived in the port city of Durban, South Africa, July 13 to kick off the cooperative activities between the United States and South African Navy. An additional range of ashore and at-sea cooperative activities are scheduled in the coming week between the two nations' Navies.

Arleigh Burke, a guided-missile destroyer homeported in Norfolk, Va., is on a regularly scheduled deployment to the 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility. The ship has supported various partnership-building operations and training, including Africa Partnership Station 2009 port visits in Djibouti and Kenya. Arleigh Burke is scheduled to continue similar port visits to Mauritius and Tanzania in the coming months.

Comment by Paige on July 14, 2009 at 9:48am

-- USS Carney (DDG 64) visit, board, search and seizure team trains for upcoming deployment.
http://www.navy.mil/swf/mmu/mmplyr.asp?id=12864

Comment by Paige on July 14, 2009 at 9:45am

NNS090713-01. Arleigh Burke Arrives in South Africa

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) David Holmes, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa/Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

DURBAN, South Africa (NNS) -- USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) arrived in the port city of Durban, South Africa, July 13 to kick off a range of ashore and at-sea cooperative activities in the coming weeks between the two nations' navies.

During Arleigh Burke's visit, calls with local officials will take place as well as various at-sea evolutions geared to enhance maritime interoperability.

"It's always great when two partner nations can schedule meaningful and productive events such as these," said Capt. James Tranoris, commander, Task Force 363. "It not only enhances the professional element of each of our navies' ability to work with one another for a safer maritime domain but renews the strong ties of partnership we have with South Africa. For some of our Sailors, this will be their first time interacting with the South African Navy. It's a superb opportunity for them to make new friends and learn how another foreign navy operates."

Arleigh Burke, a guided-missile destroyer homeported in Norfolk, Va., is on a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility. The ship supports various partnership building operations and training through Africa Partnership Station port visits in Djibouti and Kenya and is scheduled to continue similar port visits to Mauritius and Tanzania in the coming months.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 14
• 15
• 16
• 17
• 18
• Next ›
• Page