U.S. Navy’s Three New Arleigh-Burke Destroyers Named

A naming ceremony was held at Naval Base San Diego for the Arleigh-Burke class guided- missile destroyers USS John Finn (DDG 113), USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) and USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) Sept. 20.

Friends and family attended the ceremony and Lt. Gen. John A Toolan Jr., Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general, gave the keynote address.

This highly capable, multi-mission ships can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, all in support of the United States’ military strategy. DDGs are capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles. The ship contains myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century.

The combination of the ships’ AEGIS combat system, the Vertical Launching System, an advanced anti-submarine warfare system, two embarked SH-60 helicopters, advanced anti-aircraft missiles and Tomahawk anti-ship and land-attack missiles make the Arleigh Burke class the most powerful surface combatant ever put to sea.

Currently, the Navy has 13 DDG 51-class destroyers under contract, including the recent FY 2013-17 multi-year procurement of nine ships awarded to HII and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in June 2012. Other ships under contract include DDG 113 and DDG 114 at HII and DDG 115 and DDG 116 at Bath Iron Works.

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Source: navy, September 23, 2013