USS Mitscher (DDG-57)

For other ships of the same name, see USS Mitscher.
Career (United States)
Name: USS Mitscher
Namesake: Admiral Marc A. Mitscher
Ordered: 13 December 1988
Builder: Ingalls Shipbuilding
Laid down: 12 February 1992
Launched: 7 May 1993
Commissioned: 10 December 1994
Homeport: Norfolk, Virginia
Motto: Seize the Day
Status: in active service, as of 2015
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type:Arleigh Burke-class destroyer
Displacement:Light: approx. 6,800 long tons (6,900 t)
Full: approx. 8,900 long tons (9,000 t)
Length:505 ft (154 m)
Beam:66 ft (20 m)
Draft:31 ft (9.4 m)
Propulsion:4 General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines, two shafts, 100,000 total shaft horsepower (75 MW)
Speed:>30 knots (56 km/h)
Range:4,400 nautical miles at 20 knots
(8,100 km at 37 km/h)
Complement:33 Officers
38 Chief Petty Officers
210 Enlisted Personnel
Sensors and
processing systems:
Electronic warfare
and decoys:
Armament:1 × 29 cell, 1 × 61 cell Mk 41 vertical launching systems with 90 × RIM-156 SM-2, BGM-109 Tomahawk or RUM-139 VL-ASROC missiles

2 x Mk 141 Harpoon Missile Launcher SSM
1 × Mark 45 5/54 in (127/54 mm)
2 × 25 mm chain gun
4 × .50 caliber (12.7 mm) guns
2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS

2 × Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried:1 Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk helicopter can be embarked

USS Mitscher (DDG-57) became the second United States Navy warship named to honor Admiral Marc A. Mitscher (1887–1947), famed naval aviator and World War II aircraft carrier task group commander. In 1988 the U.S. Navy contracted with Ingalls Shipbuilding, in Pascagoula, Mississippi to build the seventh ship of the Arleigh Burke class.

USS Mitscher was commissioned on 10 December 1994, and was sponsored by Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson. Mitscher transferred to her homeport in Norfolk, Virginia later in December 1994, and has since made three Mediterranean deployments and participated in many Caribbean exercises.

In 2001, Mitscher deployed with the carrier battle group centered on Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). During this deployment, Mitscher visited Algiers, Algeria and conducted joint training exercises with the Algerian Navy. In October 2006, Mitscher participated in Neptune Warrior, a joint war exercise with navies from all over the world.

On 16 February 2007, Mitscher was awarded the 2006 Battle "E" award.[1]

Beginning 23 July 2011, during its 2011 deployment, the strike group's anti-pracy capabilities was augmented by the addition of a U.S. Coast Guard 12-person Advanced Interdiction Team (AIT) embarked aboard the Mitscher. These deployable Coast Guard boarding teams consisted of highly trained maritime law enforcement specialists capable of Level III non-compliant boardings. As the only organization in the U.S. government with the combined authority of a law enforcement agency, an intelligence agency, and a military service, they brought additional capabilities and expertise to Mitscher‍ '​s embarked visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team. Mitscher‍ '​s VBSS team and the AIT trained together between operations to enhance their joint boarding tactics, boat operation skills, and internal movements.[2]

On 13 August 2011, as part of Combined Task Force 150 operating in the Gulf of Aden, the Mitscher provided assistance the Sri Lankan-flagged cargo vessel Al Habib which was experiencing engineering problems and running low on water. Mitscher‍ '​s VBSS-AIT boarding party transported supplies to the Al Habib via rigid-hulled inflatable boat, including two 3-gallon (11.36 liters) containers of water and four cases of bottled water (pictured).[3]

On 24 February 2012 Commander Monika W. Stoker became the first African-American female to become the Commanding Officer of a United States Warship. Commander Stoker relieved Commander Brian K. Sorrenson after serving as his Executive Officer for 20 months prior.

Gallery

References

This article includes information collected from the public domain sources Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships and Naval Vessel Register.

  1. ↑ MC1 Paula M. Ludwick (19 February 2007). "Surface Force Ships, Crews Earn Battle "E"". United States Navy. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
  2. ↑ Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Deven B. King, USN (15 August 2011). "Mitscher, Coast Guard Team Up to Fight Piracy". NNS110815-13. USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs. Retrieved 2011-08-16.
  3. ↑ Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Deven B. King, USN (22 August 2011). "Combined Maritime Forces' USS Mitscher Assists Vessel in Distress". NNS110822-04. USS Mitscher (DDG-57) Public Affairs. Retrieved 2011-08-23.

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