USS Thomas Hudner

USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The $663 million contract to build her was awarded on 28 February 2012 to Bath Iron Works of Bath, Maine.[6][7] On 7 May 2012, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced the ship name would be Thomas Hudner in honor of U.S. naval aviator Thomas Hudner, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in trying to save the life of his wingman, Ensign Jesse L. Brown, during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War.[8]

USS Thomas Hudner
USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) at Naval Station Mayport
History
United States
Namesake: Thomas J. Hudner, Jr.
Ordered: 28 February 2012
Builder: Bath Iron Works
Laid down: 16 November 2015[1]
Launched: 23 April 2017
Sponsored by:
  • Georgea F. Hudner
  • Barbara Joan Miller
Christened: 1 April 2017[2]
Acquired: 15 June 2018[3]
Commissioned: 1 December 2018[4]
Homeport: Naval Station Mayport
Motto: Above all Others
Status: in active service
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type: Arleigh Burke-class destroyer
Displacement: 9,217 tons (full load)[5]
Length: 513 ft (156 m)[5]
Beam: 66 ft (20 m)[5]
Propulsion: 4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines 100,000 shp (75,000 kW)[5]
Speed: 31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph)[5]
Armament:

History

Thomas Hudner is the 66th ship of the Arleigh Burke class of destroyers, the first of which, USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51), was commissioned in July 1991.[9] With 75 ships planned to be built in total, the class has the longest production run for any U.S. Navy surface combatant.[10] As an Arleigh Burke-class ship, Thomas Hudner's roles included anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare, as well as strike operations.[5] During its long production run, the class was built in three flights—Flight I (DDG-51–DDG-71), Flight II (DDG-72–DDG-78), and Flight IIA (DDG-79– ).[11] Thomas Hudner is to be a "Technology Insertion" ship with elements of the next generation of Arleigh Burke class destroyers, called Flight III, and Flight III proper is planned to start with DDG-125.

In 2008, the U.S. Navy decided to restart production of the Arleigh Burke class as orders for the Zumwalt-class destroyer were reduced from ten to three.[12][13] The first three ships (DDG-113—DDG-115) ordered following the product decision are known as the "restart" ships, while "technology insertion" ships (DDG-116—DDG-123) are expected to incorporate certain elements of Arleigh Burke class Flight III, which in turn is planned to run from DDG-125 onwards.[14]

Thomas Hudner's keel was laid on 16 November 2015.[1][15] Her christening took place on 1 April 2017,[2][16] and she was launched three weeks later, on 23 April.[17] She completed acceptance trials 3 May 2018[18] and on 15 June 2018 the Navy accepted delivery of Thomas Hudner from shipbuilder General Dynamics Bath Iron Works.[3] Hudner was commissioned on 1 December 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts.[4]

As of 2018, Thomas Hudner's home port is Naval Station Mayport, Florida.[19]

From July to August of 2020, Thomas Hudner participated in Operation Nanook alongside vessels from the Canadian, French, & Danish navies.[20]

References
  1. "General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Lays Keel of DDG 116" (Press release). Bath Iron Works. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  2. "General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Christens Future USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116)" (Press release). Bath Iron Works. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  3. "Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Thomas Hudner" (Press release). United States Navy. 16 June 2018. NNS180616-03. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  4. "USS Thomas Hudner brought to life in Boston" (Press release). United States Navy. 3 December 2018. NNS181203-14. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  5. "DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class". Federation of American Scientists. FAS.org. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  6. "General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Awarded Contract to Build Additional DDG 51-class Destroyer" (PDF) (Press release). Bath Iron Works. 28 February 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  7. "DDG 51 Class Ship Construction Contract Awards Announced" (PDF) (Press release). Naval Sea Systems Command. 26 September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  8. "Secretary of the Navy Announces DDG 116 to Be Named Thomas Hudner" (Press release). United States Navy. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  9. "USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51)". Naval Vessel Register. United States Navy. 3 February 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  10. Sharp, David (31 December 2009). "After 2-plus decades, Navy destroyer breaks record". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Associated Press. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  11. "Arleigh Burke Class (Aegis), United States of America". Naval-technology.com. Net Resources International. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  12. Ewing, Philip (31 July 2008). "Navy: No need to add DDG 1000s after all". Navy Times. Gannett Government Media. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  13. Drew, Christopher (8 April 2009). "Contractors Agree on Deal to Build Stealth Destroyer". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  14. Lyle, Peter C. (2010). "DDG 51 Arleigh Burke Burke-Class Destroyer – New Construction Program" (PDF). Naval Sea Systems Command. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  15. "COMNAVSURFLANT Prepares to Welcome USS Thomas Hudner" (Press release). United States Navy. 18 November 2015. NNS151118-05. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  16. "General Dynamics Christens Future USS Thomas Hudner". Marine Link. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  17. "USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116)". Naval Vessel Register. United States Navy. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  18. Miller, Kevin (5 May 2018). "BIW-built destroyer passes Navy 'acceptance trials'". Press Herald. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  19. Derby, Kevin (4 December 2018). "USS Thomas Hudner Heads to Mayport". Sunshine State News. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  20. https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/2299799/us-forces-participate-in-canadian-operation-nanook/
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