A toast to my SWO friends-DDG-51 class longest U.S. warship production run (almost)

[Jim123]

Who knew? The Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers have been in production for 22 years, longer than any other U.S. warship class except the Nimitzes.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_WARSHIP_RECORD

Raise a glass (Cup o' Joe?) to the "workhorse of the surface navy."

 

[HeyJoe]

Those who have spent any time in the Ready Room studying ships (and subs...and airplanes) under tutelege of the Intel bubbas (and bubbettes), got to know the designs (at least visually) of ships around the world particularly made in the USSR. When the Udaloy and Sovremenny showed up, what did we have? Sprucans and Figs out of the Boxy looking school of Naval Architecture with minimalist school of weaponry.

Udaloy

Sovremenny

Then somebody in NAVSEA got it right and the Arleigh Burkes showed up. They look like bad-ass warships. They look fast just sitting still. They are armed to the teeth. And we have a lot of them!

061115-N-0490C-001 Arabian Sea (Nov. 15, 2006) — The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61) sails alongside the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) during a vertical replenishment (VERTREP). Ramage is part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group on a regular scheduled deployment in support of Maritime Security Operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Miguel Angel Contreras (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

010110-D-9880W-076 Pentagon, Arlington, Va. (Jan. 10, 2001) -- Former Secretary of the Navy Paul H. Nitze (right) and Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen look at a model of an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer at a Pentagon press conference, following the announcement that a destroyer will be named in honor of Nitze. USS Nitze (DDG 94), which is due to join the fleet in 2004, is a multi-mission ship equipped with the Navy's AEGIS combat weapons system, and operates in support of carrier battle groups, surface action groups, and amphibious groups. Guided missile destroyers primarily perform anti-submarine, anti-air and anti-surface warfare roles. DoD photo by R. D. Ward. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

030424-N-0021M-002 Singapore (Apr. 24, 2003) -- (Right to left), Cmdr. Mike Gilday, Commanding Officer (CO) of the guided missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76), is relieved by Cmdr. Randy Hill Commanding Officer of the guided missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) marking the first ever crew swap of an Arleigh Burke class destroyer. This is the second phase of the Navy's Sea Swap initiative, which involves rotating three crews through a single ship to allow for more time on station in theater, while returning crews home at six-month intervals. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Todd Macdonald. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

030726-N-2383B-178 San Diego, Calif. (Jul. 26, 2003) -- Sailors “man the rails” of USS Mustin (DDG 89), as the Navy's newest warship is brought to life by her crew at a twilight commissioning ceremony held at North Island Naval Air Station. Mustin is the 39th Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer and is named in honor of four members of the Mustin family, a namesake that carries a legacy of distinguished naval service stretching over a century. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny Bivera. (RELEASED)

030726-N-8209D-083 Naval Air Station North Island, Calif. (Jul. 26, 2003) -- Sailors “man the rails” as Cmdr. Ann Phillips, Commanding Officer of USS Mustin (DDG 89), reads her orders at a twilight commissioning ceremony held at North Island Naval Air Station. Mustin is the 39th Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer and is named in honor of four members of the Mustin family, a namesake that carries a legacy of distinguished naval service stretching over a century. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class John DeCoursey. (RELEASED)

030726-N-2383B-188 San Diego, Calif. (Jul. 26, 2003) -- Adm. Vern Clark, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is interviewed by media in front of USS Mustin (DDG 89). Mustin is the Navy's newest warship commissioned and the 39th Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer named in honor of four members of the Mustin family. The namesake carries a legacy of distinguished naval service stretching over a century. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny Bivera. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

031018-N-1928O-081 Naval Station Newport, R.I. (Oct. 18, 2003) Crewmembers man the rails for the first time aboard USS Chafee (DDG 90) after the ship was 'brought to life' during the commissioning ceremony. Chafee is named after the late Senator John H. Chafee, former Secretary of the Navy and decorated veteran of the Marine Corp. The ship is the Navy’s fourteenth Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Mark O’Donald. (RELEASED)

031018-N-1928O-050 Naval Station Newport, R.I. (Oct. 18, 2003) -- General Michael Hagee, Commandant of the Marine Corps, speaks aboard USS Chafee (DDG 90) as part of the commissioning ceremony for the ship. Chafee is named after the late Senator John H. Chafee, former Secretary of the Navy and decorated veteran of the Marine Corp. The ship is the Navy’s fourteenth Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Mark O’Donald. (RELEASED)

031219-N-8157C-040 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Dec. 19, 2003) -- The newly commissioned USS Chafee (DDG 90) sails into its new homeport of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Chafee is the 40th Arleigh Burke class destroyer and was commissioned Oct. 18, 2003, in Newport, Rhode Island. The destroyer was named after Senator John Chafee, who served in the Marine Corps during World War II and as the Secretary of the Navy from 1969-1972. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Dennis C. Cantrell. (RELEASED)

031219-N-3228G-007 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Dec. 19, 2003) -- Sailors eagerly go ashore aboard the newly-commissioned guided missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) shortly after she arrived in her new homeport. USS Chafee is the 40th Arleigh Burke class destroyer and was commissioned Oct. 18, 2003, in Newport, Rhode Island. Commanded by Cmdr. John Ailes, Chafee was named after Senator John Chafee, who served in the Marine Corps during World War II and as the Secretary of the Navy from 1969-1972. U. S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class William R. Goodwin. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

030520-N-0295M-012 Pacific Ocean (May 20, 2003) – The Arleigh Burke-class gided missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) underway while returning from a deployment in the Arabian Gulf. Milius conducted multiple missions in supported of Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Guided missile destroyers operate in support of carrier strike groups (CSG), and expeditionary strike groups (ESG). These destroyers are multi-mission Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW)] surface combatants. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain. (RELEASED)

040120-N-0780F-012 Souda Bay, Crete, Greece (Jan. 20, 2004) -- USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) sits moored at the Marathi NATO pier facility during a brief port visit at Souday Bay. Home ported in Norfolk, Va., Gonzalez is the 16th Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer. U.S. Navy photo by Paul Farley. (RELEASED)

031219-N-8157C-068 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Dec. 19, 2003) -- The newly commissioned guided missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) sails into her new homeport of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Chafee is the 40th Arleigh Burke class destroyer and was commissioned Oct. 18, 2003, in Newport, Rhode Island. The destroyer was named after Senator John Chafee, who served in the Marine Corps during World War II and as the Secretary of the Navy from 1969-1972. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Dennis C. Cantrell. (RELEASED)

040201-N-5319A-005 Mediterranean Sea (Feb. 1, 2004) - The Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) joins USS George Washington (CVN 73) and Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7) as they transit the Strait of Gibraltar. Bulkeley is on her maiden voyage and is part of the Norfolk, Va. based George Washington strike group. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Brien Aho. (RELEASED)

030728-N-3994W-004 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Jul. 28, 2003) – The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS O’Kane (DDG 77) returns home to Pearl Harbor following a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Tim Walsh. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

021109-N-2383B-680 Boston, Mass. (Nov. 9, 2002) -- Sailors assigned to the newly commissioned destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) man the rails as the guided-missile destroyer is “brought to life” and into naval service. The ship and her crew will undergo a year of sea trials before making an initial deployment. Preble is the 64th Aegis-class warship to be commissioned during a traditional Navy ceremony in South Boston's Commonwealth Pier. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny Bivera (RELEASED).

021109-N-0000X-001 Boston, Mass. (Nov. 9, 2002) – The newly guided missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) held its commissioning ceremony on South Boston's Commonwealth Pier while moored bow to bow with USS Constitution, the world’s oldest commissioned warship, commissioned on October 21st, 1797. The Preble is as the 64th Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer. U.S. Navy photo (RELEASED)

031015-N-9214D-048 Aboard USS Shiloh (CG 67) Oct. 15, 2003 -- USS Preble (DDG 88) fires a surface-to-air SM2 missile while conducting missile-firing exercises off the coast of Southern California. Also participating in the exercises were USS Mobile Bay (CG 53), USS Valley Forge (CG 50), and USS Shiloh (CG 67). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Juan Eduardo Diaz. (RELEASED)

090530-N-4047W-024 PAPEETE, Tahiti (May 30, 2009) The guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) is moored pier side in Papeete, Tahiti. Preble, part of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, is in Tahiti for a scheduled port visit during a six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Shannon Warner/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

040126-N-0570I-011 Gulf Of Mexico (Jan. 26, 2004) - A view of the starboard bow of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) underway during her builder's sea trials. U.S. Navy photo. (RELEASED)

040511-N-3019M-003 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (May 11, 2004) - Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59) man the rails as the ship departs Pearl Harbor. Russell and her crew of more than 330 Sailors are deploying to the Western Pacific to participate in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Exercise (CARAT 2004). U.S. Navy photo by Journalist Seaman Ryan McGinley. (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

040625-N-0780F-070 Souda Bay, Crete, Greece (June 25, 2004) - The guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71), top, cruises into Souda Harbor for a brief port visit as the guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61) departs following a brief stay in the eastern Mediterranean port. Both Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are assigned to Destroyer Squadron Two Eight (DESRON 28) and homeported in Norfolk, Va. Both ships are currently in the Mediterranean Sea conducting a regularly scheduled deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Paul Farley (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

040615-N-4953E-004 Mediterranean Sea (June 15, 2004) - Aviation Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Floyd Scamahorn prepares to move an aircraft on the flight aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) as the Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72) maneuvers nearby. Truman is one of seven aircraft carriers involved in the Summer Pulse 2004. Summer Pulse 2004 is the simultaneous deployment of seven aircraft carrier strike groups (CSGs), demonstrating the ability of the Navy to provide credible combat power across the globe, in five theaters with other U.S., allied, and coalition military forces. Summer Pulse is the Navy's first deployment under its new Fleet Response Plan (FRP). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Danny Ewing Jr. (RELEASED) For more information go to: www.cffc.navy.mil/summerpulse04.htm

 

[HeyJoe]

042806-N-0373Q-850 Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (June 29, 2004) - Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) man the rails as the ship transits the channel into Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. John Paul Jones is visiting Pearl Harbor to take part in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2004. RIMPAC is the largest international maritime exercise in the waters around the Hawaiian Islands. This years exercise includes seven participating nations; Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. RIMPAC is intended to enhance the tactical proficiency of participating units in a wide array of combined operations at sea, while enhancing stability in the Pacific Rim region. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Mario A. Quiroga (RELEASED) For more information go to: http://www.cpf.navy.mil/RIMPAC2004/

042806-N-0373Q-855 Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (June 29, 2004) - Family members at Hickam Air Force Base welcome the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) as the ship transits the channel into Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. John Paul Jones is visiting Pearl Harbor to take part in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2004. RIMPAC is the largest international maritime exercise in the waters around the Hawaiian Islands. This years exercise includes seven participating nations; Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. RIMPAC is intended to enhance the tactical proficiency of participating units in a wide array of combined operations at sea, while enhancing stability in the Pacific Rim region. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Mario A. Quiroga (RELEASED) For more information go to: http://www.cpf.navy.mil/RIMPAC2004/

 

[HeyJoe]

040728-N-8796S-052 Da Nang, Vietnam (July 28, 2004) - The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) enters the Vietnamese port of Da Nang, Vietnam. Curtis Wilbur is visiting for a scheduled port visit, and is the second U.S. Navy ship to visit Vietnam and the first to visit Da Nang since 1973. These visits symbolize the continuation of normalized relations between the United States and Vietnam. Curtis Wilbur is part of the Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group (CSG), the Navy’s only permanently forward-deployed carrier strike group, currently operating from Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Timothy Smith (RELEASED)

040728-N-8796S-093 Da Nang, Vietnam (July 28, 2004) – Vietnamese military officials watch as USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) prepares to moor in the Vietnamese port of Da Nang. The Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer is on scheduled port visit, and is the second U.S. Navy ship to visit Vietnam and the first to visit Da Nang since 1973. These visits symbolize the continuation of normalized relations between the United States and Vietnam. Curtis Wilbur is part of the Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group (CSG), the Navy’s only permanently forward deployed carrier strike group, currently operating from Yokosuka, Japan. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Timothy Smith (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

040910-N-9076B-064-064 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii – (Sept. 10, 2004) - Sailors aboard the Navy’s newest and most advanced Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), are greeted by Hawaiian hula dancers as the ship arrives in her new homeport of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. After the arrival, the ship’s crew will prepare for their commissioning ceremony on Sept. 18. The ship is named in honor of Rear Adm. Gordon Paie'a Chung-Hoon, who was born and raised in Hawaii and awarded the Navy Cross and Silver Star for gallantry as Commanding Officer of USS Sigsbee during the Battle of Okinawa. Chung-Hoon was also assigned to USS Arizona during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer’s Mate Don Bray (RELEASED)

040910-N-6507M-013 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii – (Sept. 10, 2004) - Sailors man the rails aboard the Navy’s newest and most advanced Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), while passing USS Arizona Memorial in her new homeport of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. After the arrival, the ship’s crew will prepare for their commissioning ceremony on Sept. 18. The ship is named in honor of Rear Adm. Gordon Paie'a Chung-Hoon, who was born and raised in Hawaii and awarded the Navy Cross and Silver Star for gallantry as Commanding Officer of USS Sigsbee during the Battle of Okinawa. Chung-Hoon was also assigned to USS Arizona during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Teresa Martinez (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

041118-N-4953E-017 Arabian Sea (Nov. 18, 2004) - The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) changes course, after refueling with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Truman’s Carrier Strike Group Ten (CSG-10) and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3) are currently on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Danny Ewing Jr (RELEASED)

041028-N-3019M-003 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (Oct. 28, 2004) - Gas Turbine System Mechanical 2nd Class Mario Ramirez, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90), watch a group of simulated demonstrators during a civil disturbance scenario. The exercises are part of an ongoing qualification process to prepare Pearl Harbor-based ships for deployment. Ships must qualify every 24 months in a variety of anti-terrorism/force protection exercises, including small boat, wave runner and swimmer attacks. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist Seaman Ryan C. McGinley (RELEASED)

040929-N-0511C-143 Fremantle, Australia (Sept. 29, 2004) - The Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57), foreground, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) sit moored at the pier in Fremantle, Australia, during a scheduled port visit. Lake Champlain and Howard are currently participating in a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific Ocean with the USS John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (CSG). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman David A. Cochran (RELEASED)