_steams_through_the_Mediterranean_Sea.jpg) USSArleigh Burke in theMediterranean Sea in March 2003 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Arleigh Burke |
| Namesake | Arleigh Albert Burke |
| Ordered | 2 April 1985 |
| Builder | Bath Iron Works |
| Laid down | 6 December 1988 |
| Launched | 16 September 1989 |
| Commissioned | 4 July 1991 |
| Homeport | Rota |
| Identification |
|
| Motto | Fast and Feared |
| Status | in active service |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Arleigh Burke-classdestroyer |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 505 ft (154 m) |
| Beam | 59 ft (18 m) |
| Draft | 31 ft (9.4 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 ×shafts |
| Speed | In excess of 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
| Range | 4,400 nmi (8,100 km; 5,100 mi) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Complement | |
| Sensors & processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 1 ×Sikorsky MH-60R |
USSArleigh Burke (DDG-51), named forAdmiralArleigh A. Burke,USN (1901–1996), is thelead ship of theArleigh Burke-classAegisguided missile destroyer. She is of theFlight I variant. She waslaid down by theBath Iron Works company atBath, Maine, on 6 December 1988;launched on 16 September 1989; andcommissioned on 4 July 1991.
Arleigh Burke's designers incorporated many lessons learned by theRoyal Navy during theFalklands campaign and from theTiconderoga-classguided-missile cruisers. TheTiconderoga-class cruisers were becoming too expensive to continue building and too difficult to upgrade.[4]Arleigh Burke was the first modern destroyer designed with features meant to lower itsradar cross-section, which improves a ship's ability to evade radar detection. She also used a slightly downgraded version of theAegis Combat System, which allows for launching, tracking, and evading missiles simultaneously. Her all-steel construction provides good protection for her superstructure, while her Collective Protection System allows her to operate in environments contaminated by chemical, biological, or radiological materials.
BeforeArleigh Burke was commissioned, the Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force was involved in the initial phases of testing. New systems, operated by fleet sailors ashore, were examined at land-based test facilities. The combat systems testing took place at theCombat System Engineering Development Site inMoorestown, New Jersey. The propulsion plant testing occurred at the Gas Turbine Ship Land-Based Engineering Site inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania. These test results supported the acquisition decision to begin limited production of the ship class.
The ship was launched on 16 September 1989 by Mrs. Roberta (Gorsuch) Burke. Admiral Burke was present in person at hercommissioning ceremony on 4 July, which was held on the waterfront in downtownNorfolk, Virginia.
After being commissioned and throughout 1992,Arleigh Burke conducted extensive testing at sea. As is often the case with new ship classes, U.S. Navy officers andshipyard engineers encountered a number of problems with some shipboard systems that required the attention of the warship's design and production agencies. An additional phase of testing was added to verify the effectiveness of the modifications made to these systems—modifications incorporated into laterdestroyers of theArleigh Burke class.
Following her initial operational testing,Arleigh Burke was deployed to theMediterranean Sea and theAdriatic Sea in 1993, serving as the "Green Crown" duringOperation Provide Promise. During her second deployment in 1995,Arleigh Burke steamed in the Mediterranean Sea as the "Red Crown" in support of the No-Fly Zone overBosnia and Herzegovina. During her third cruise, in 1998, she steamed in the Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea,Red Sea, andBlack Sea, as a participant in numerous American and Allied exercises.
During her fourth cruise in 2000–2001,Arleigh Burke saw service in the Mediterranean and Red Seas and in thePersian Gulf, enforcing United Nations sanctions againstIraq and conducting exercises with allied naval partners.
On her fifth deployment in 2003,Arleigh Burke and the other units of theTheodore Roosevelt-ledcarrier battle group participated inOperation Enduring Freedom andOperation Iraqi Freedom. During this wartime cruise,Arleigh Burke firedTomahawk missile strikes against targets in Iraq, escorted merchant ships and naval auxiliaries through geographic choke points, and carried out "leadership interdiction" operations in the northernArabian Sea. She also undertook counter-piracy missions in theGulf of Aden. This cruise, which lasted from January through June 2003, sawArleigh Burke at sea over 92 percent of the time.
In March 2003, she was assigned toDestroyer Squadron 2.
Arleigh Burke has earned oneNavy Unit Commendation, threeMeritorious Unit Commendations, threeBattle Efficiency E Awards, theNational Defense Service Medal, theArmed Forces Expeditionary Medal, theKuwait Liberation Medal, and five Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.
As a member ofDestroyer Squadron 22,Arleigh Burke operated with theGeorge H.W. BushCarrier Strike Group under the direction of the Commander,Carrier Group 2.
In May 2007,Arleigh Burke ran what the Navy called a "soft aground" offCape Henry Light at the entrance to theChesapeake Bay.[5] Her captain, Commander Esther J. McClure, was relieved of her command shortly thereafter as a result of a "loss of confidence in her ability to command".[6][7]
In October 2007,Arleigh Burke was involved inanti-pirate operations inSomalia.
In 2009,Arleigh Burke was deployed to the eastern coast of Africa in support of AFRICOM'sAfrica Partnership Station. The ship represented the United States during a port visit to the island nation ofSeychelles where they played a role in securing a status of forces agreement between the two countries.
In August 2010,Arleigh Burke entered theBAE Systems Ship Repair shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia for DDG Modernization, a program to upgrade the ship's systems and to extend the service life to 40 years.[8]
On 23 September 2014,Arleigh Burke took part in the2014 military intervention against ISIS, firing Tomahawk missiles on targets inSyria while the ship was in the Red Sea.[9]
In 2018, the ship made two three-month overseas deployments, returning to Norfolk, Virginia, between cruises.
In 2019, she entered General Dynamics NASSCO's shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia, for continued work towards modernization for ballistic missile defense.[10]
In March 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic,Arleigh Burke transited the Atlantic Ocean and conducted a home port shift to Rota, Spain, joining the Forward Deployed Naval Forces in Europe as part of Destroyer Squadron 60. Prior to the port shift, she received extensive upgrades, including Aegis Baseline 9 for BMD capability, as well as replacing her aftPhalanx CIWS with aSeaRAM CIWS.[11] The ship crossed the Arctic Circle in May 2021.[10]
The crew began their first forward-deployed patrol in August 2021, returning in December 2021. During 2021,Arleigh Burke sailed more than 44,000 miles,[12] circumnavigated Europe, and executed operations in the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Barents Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and Arctic Ocean. Port calls included Tallinn, Estonia; Helsinki, Finland; Gdynia, Poland; Varna, Bulgaria; Constanta, Romania; and Golcuk, Turkey.[10]
In March 2022,Arleigh Burke was selected as the 2021 Battle E Winner for Destroyer Squadron 60. The Battle "E" recognizes the top ship in each squadron and is awarded for demonstrating sustained superior performance, operational effectiveness, and continuous readiness.[12]
In April 2022,Arleigh Burke completed the largest maintenance availability ever conducted in Rota, Spain, and then commenced her second forward-deployed patrol in May 2022.[12]
On 9 July 2022,Arleigh Burke arrived inRiga for a scheduled port visit.[13]
On 13–14 April 2024,Arleigh Burke andUSS Carney shot down at least six Iranian ballistic missiles during the2024 Iranian strikes in Israel.[14]
The shield outlined in blue and gold stands for the achievements in battle of Admiral Burke against the naval power of Japan. The fist and mace symbolize the offensive and defensive power of the new destroyer. The mace, also a symbol of authority, represents Admiral Burke's service asChief of Naval Operations. It also refers to AdmiralMarc Mitscher, an influential figure and mentor for whom Admiral Burke served as chief of staff. Admiral Burke'sDestroyer Squadron 23, represented by the border of 23 ovals, was the only United States Destroyer Squadron awarded aPresidential Unit Citation, signified by the canton of blue, yellow, and red. The ovals also refer to the year 1923, in which Midshipman Burke graduated from theUnited States Naval Academy atAnnapolis. Twenty-three also reflects Admiral Burke's distinguished service on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations as (OP-23).[15]
The mounted figure ofSaint George recalls Admiral Burke's celebrated victory in theBattle of Cape St. George over Japanese naval forces. His mantle bears a gold cross for theNavy Cross awarded to the admiral. Thebirch branch on the helmet represents Admiral Burke himself, a reference to his name derived from hisScandinavian heritage.[15]
The red sea dragon symbolizes Japanese naval power assaulted by forces under Captain Burke's command. It is gorged with the two gold stars he was awarded for outstanding service. The lance impaling the dragon signifies ordnance on target. The capabilities of the new destroyer, the most powerful and survivable ever built, are signified by the full armor and equipment of the warrior Saint George. The admiral's nickname "31-Knot Burke" is recalled by the number "31" on the horse.[15]
The motto of the ship is "Fast and Feared".[16] The ship's crest was designed by John Sproston of the Institute of Heraldry following a personal interview with Admiral Burke. The crest can also be found on aUnited States Postal Service postage stamp honoring Admiral Burke that was issued in 2010.[17]
Arleigh Burke has earned the following awards during her service career.[10]
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