 USSBulkeley on 15 June 2004 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Bulkeley |
| Namesake | John D. Bulkeley |
| Ordered | 20 June 1996 |
| Builder | Ingalls Shipbuilding |
| Laid down | 10 May 1999 |
| Launched | 21 June 2000 |
| Commissioned | 8 December 2001[1] |
| Homeport | Rota |
| Identification |
|
| Motto | Freedom's Torch |
| Status | in active service |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Arleigh Burke-classdestroyer |
| Displacement | 9,200 tons |
| Length | 509 ft 6 in (155.30 m) |
| Beam | 59 ft (18 m) |
| Draft | 31 ft (9.4 m) |
| 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 | 2 ×MH-60R Seahawk helicopters |
USSBulkeley (DDG-84) is anArleigh Burke-class (Flight IIA)Aegisguided missile destroyer in theUnited States Navy. She is named for Medal of Honor recipient Vice AdmiralJohn D. Bulkeley. USSBulkeley was the 15th ship of this class to be built atIngalls Shipbuilding inPascagoula, Mississippi, and construction began on 10 May 1999. She was launched on 21 June 2000 and was christened on 24 June 2000. On 8 December 2001 she was commissioned during a pierside ceremony at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum inNew York City, New York, with CommanderCarlos Del Toro in command. Del Toro later became the 78thSecretary of the Navy in 2021.[1]
On 13 June 2004,Bulkeley came to the aid of a vessel in distress,Al-Rashid Mum 131. Shortly after turning the vessel over to an Iraniantugboat, it sank.Bulkeley rescued three crew and recovered the body of a fourth. The tug rescued one additional crewman; the other seven were lost at sea. The incident is recounted in the bookIn the Shadow of Greatness.[5]
In February 2011,Bulkeley was involved in amission to rescue four American citizens from theyachtQuest which was attacked bySomali pirates.[6]
On 5 March 2011,Bulkeley was involved in rescuing a Japaneseoil tanker,MV Guanabara, from Somali pirates while on duty withCombined Task Force 151 off the coast ofOman.[7] Three of the pirates were tried and convicted in Japan, the fourth was turned over to juvenile authorities, as it was determined that he was a minor.[8]
On 16 May 2011,Bulkeley responded to a mayday call from the Panamanian flaggedvery large crude carrierArtemis Glory by dispatching aSeahawkhelicopter (from HSL 48) to its position. Seeing that a piratical skiff carrying four men was firing uponArtemis Glory, the Seahawk investigated the skiff. The pirates opened fire on the helicopter with small arms and were summarily neutralized by crew served weapons from the helicopter in self-defense. The helicopter then withdrew without any casualties to its own crewmembers or that ofArtemis Glory.[9]
The ship returned to Norfolk on 15 July 2011. During its deployment, she had participated in operations which had captured 75 Somali pirates and had missile strikes by its carrier strike group against the Libyan government.[10]
On 4 August 2022,Bulkeley departed Norfolk for a homeport shift toRota, Spain, arriving on 17 August.[11][12] Her aftPhalanx CIWS was replaced with aSeaRAM CIWS.[13]
On July 16, while operating at a position betweenLibya andCrete, a helicopter from USSBulkeley spotted a vessel that appeared to be dead in the water. The destroyer asked a nearby oil tanker,Seaways Sabine, to intervene, after which it retrieved 31 people from the distressed craft.Bulkeley transferred medical corpsmen over to the tanker in aRHIB. The responders were able to stabilize two of the victims; the third died despite their intervention, including an attempt atCPR. The remaining survivors stayed aboardSeaways Sabine as the tanker got back under way. The vessel arrived at an anchorage offAlexandria on the morning of July 18.[14]
On 1 October 2024,Bulkeley was involved in the interception of missiles employingSM-3 andSM-6 missiles during theOctober 2024 Iranian strikes against Israel.[15]
The shield has background of blue and a medium blue trim. A red chevron with anchors surround a lion in the center of the shield, with a reversed star below.
The traditional Navy colors were chosen for the shield because dark blue and gold represents the sea and excellence respectively. The inverted star at the shield base refers to the Medal of Honor Admiral Bulkeley received for his forcefulness and daringness during the defense of the Philippines. The hallmarks of USSBulkeley, honor and high achievement, are represented in the gold wreath. From the family coat of arms, the red chevron represents the valor and sacrifice displayed by Admiral Bulkeley when he led a flotilla of PT boats and minesweepers to Utah Beach before troops stormed the beach at Normandy. The lion indicates the heritage of Normandy and represents courage and strength. Silver anchors surround the lion to display the U.S. Navy sailors' devotion and commitment while defending the countries freedom, keeping USSBulkeley and the United States Navy "Second to None."
The Philippine sun surrounds a Patrol Torpedo boat parting waves of the sea.
A PT boat from World War II is surrounded by the Philippine sun shows honor to Admiral Bulkeley's role in the Pacific. This includes the daring rescue of General MacArthur and Philippine President Quezon from the Battle of Corregidor.
The motto is written on a scroll of gold with blue trim.
The ships motto is "Freedom's Torch". The motto is a reference to both the honorable feats of Admiral Bulkeley and the Medal of Honor he received.
The coat of arms in full color as in the blazon, upon a white background enclosed within a dark blue oval border edged on the outside with a gold rope and bearing the inscription "USS Bulkeley" at the top and "DDG 84" in the base all gold.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from theNaval Vessel Register.
Media related toUSS Bulkeley (DDG-84) at Wikimedia Commons
