Destroyer Life, Then and Now
by Robert Luster
Life Aboard a U.S. Navy Destroyer – Back in the Day
The year was 1943, and the USS Thompson was a brand-new destroyer, fresh off the assembly line. She was a sleek, fast ship, with four 5-inch guns and ten torpedoes. Her crew was made up of young men, many of them fresh out of boot camp, eager to serve their country and make a name for themselves.
Life aboard the Thompson was hard. The ship was cramped, and the men had to learn to live in very close quarters. The noise from the engines and the guns was deafening, and the constant rocking of the ship made it hard to sleep. But the men were tough, and they adapted quickly.
Their days were filled with drills and training exercises. They practiced firing their guns and launching torpedoes, honing their skills until they could hit their targets with deadly accuracy. They also spent long hours on watch, scanning the horizon for enemy ships and submarines.
But life aboard the Thompson wasn’t all work and no play. The men had their downtime, and they made the most of it. They played cards and dice games, told stories, and joked around. They even held impromptu talent shows, with sailors singing and playing instruments for their shipmates.
Despite the hardships and the dangers, the men of the Thompson were proud to serve their country. They knew that they were part of something bigger than themselves, and they were willing to make sacrifices for the greater good.
Life Aboard a U.S. Navy Destroyer – Modern Times
Fast forward to the present day, and life aboard a U.S. Navy destroyer is very different. The ships are larger and more technologically advanced, with radar systems and guided missiles. The crew is also more diverse, with men and women serving side by side.
But some things haven’t changed. Life aboard a destroyer is still hard, and the men and women who serve on these ships are still required to be tough and adaptable. They spend long hours on watch, scanning the horizon for potential threats. They also practice their skills relentlessly, so that they are ready for any situation.
But modern sailors also have access to amenities that their predecessors could only dream of. They have gyms and workout facilities, so they can stay in shape even when they are at sea. They also have internet access, so they can keep in touch with loved ones back home.
Despite the advances in technology and the increased comforts of modern life, the men and women who serve aboard U.S. Navy destroyers are still proud to serve their country. They know that they are part of a long and proud tradition of naval service, and they are willing to make sacrifices for the greater good. And just like their predecessors, they form tight bonds with their shipmates, forging friendships that will last a lifetime.
Destroyer History
The development of destroyers was related to the invention of self-propelled torpedoes in the 1860s. The first seagoing vessel designed to launch the Whitehead torpedo was HMS Lightning in 1876. Initially, torpedo boats were built to threaten large capital ships near enemy coasts.
As torpedo boats and torpedoes became faster and longer-ranged, the threat extended to cruising at sea. In response, heavily gunned picket boats called “catchers” were built to escort the battle fleet at sea. As these boats became larger, they were officially designated “torpedo-boat destroyers”. Destroyers were recognized to be ideal to take over the offensive role of torpedo boats themselves, so they were also fitted with torpedo tubes in addition to their antitorpedo-boat guns.
An important development came with the construction of HMS Swift in 1884, later redesignated TB 81, and the Japanese torpedo boat Kotaka, built in 1885. The German aviso Greif, launched in 1886, was designed as a “Torpedojäger”.Destroyers (DDG 51)
Current Navy
The DDG 51-class guided missile destroyers are warships that provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. Destroyers can operate independently or as part of Carrier Strike Groups, Surface Action Groups, and Expeditionary Strike Groups.
Guided-missile destroyers are multi-mission surface combatants capable of conducting Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW). The destroyer’s armament has greatly expanded the role of the ship in strike warfare utilizing the MK-41 Vertical Launching System (VLS), and, beginning with ships equipped with Aegis Baseline 9, Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD).
Background
The Arleigh Burke class (DDG 51) destroyers replaced the Charles F. Adams class (DDG 2). The Arleigh Burke class was designed with an all-new hull form, incorporating much of the Spruance class (DD 963) destroyer propulsion and machinery plant, and the integrated Aegis Weapons System (AWS) proven on the Kidd class (DD 993) destroyers and installed on the larger Ticonderoga class cruisers. The AWS is composed of a multi-function phased array radar, advanced AAW and ASW systems, VLS, and the Tomahawk Weapon System. DDG 51 was commissioned on July 4, 1991, and the class is still in production. The class has been continuously upgraded with advanced sensors and weapons and improved support systems.
The Arleigh Burke class employs all-steel construction and comprises four separate variants or “Flights.” DDGs 51-71 represent the original design and are designated as Flight I; DDGs 72-78 are Flight II ships; and DDGs 79-124 and DDG 127 are Flight IIA ships. The Flight III baseline begins with DDGs 125-126 and continues with DDG 128 and follow.
The DDG 51 Flight III upgrade is centered on the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) system that provides vastly increased capability over Flight IIA ships. The AMDR enables Flight III ships to simultaneously perform AAW and BMD, which satisfies the Navy’s critical need for an enhanced surface combatant Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) capability.
Seventy-one DDG 51 class ships have been delivered to the fleet (DDGs 51 -119, 121, 123), with 18 more on contract and 12 ships in various stages of construction.
A DDG modernization program is underway to provide a comprehensive mid-life upgrade that will ensure the DDG 51 class will maintain mission relevance. The modernization changes are also being introduced to new construction ships to increase the baseline capabilities of the newest ships in the class, and to provide commonality between new construction ships and modernized in-service ships. The goal of the DDG modernization effort is to reduce workload requirements and increase warfighting capabilities while reducing total ownership cost to the Navy. To date, 37 modernizations have been completed or are in progress and an additional 17 modernizations are planned through the Future Years Defense Program.
General Characteristics, Arleigh Burke class
Builder: General Dynamics — Bath Iron Works, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Ingalls Shipbuilding
Combat System Integrator: Lockheed-Martin
Date Deployed: July 4, 1991 USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51)
Propulsion: Four General Electric LM 2500-30 gas turbines; two shafts, 100,000 total shaft horsepower
Length: Flights I and II (DDG 51-78): 505 feet (153.92 meters); Flight IIA and III (DDG 79 AF): 509 1/2 feet (155.29 meters)
Beam: 59 feet (18 meters)
Displacement: 8,230 – 9,700 Ltons
Speed: In excess of 30 knots
Crew: Flight IIA: 329 Total (32 Officer, 27 CPO, 270 Enlisted)
Flight III: 359 Total (41 Officer, 27 CPO, 291 Enlisted)
Armament: Standard Missile Family; Vertical Launch ASROC (VLA) missiles; Tomahawk; six MK-46 torpedoes (from two triple tube mounts); Close In Weapon System (CIWS); 5-in. MK 45 Gun; Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM)
Aircraft: (Flight IIA and III (DDG 79 AF)): Two LAMPS MK III MH-60 R helicopters
Ships:
USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), Rota, Spain
USS Barry (DDG 52), Yokosuka, Japan
USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53), Everett, WA
USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), San Diego, CA
USS Stout (DDG 55), Norfolk, VA
USS John S McCain (DDG 56), Everett, WA
USS Mitscher (DDG 57), Norfolk, VA
USS Laboon (DDG 58), Norfolk, VA
USS Russell (DDG 59), San Diego, CA
USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), San Diego, CA
USS Ramage (DDG 61), Norfolk, VA
USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), San Diego, CA
USS Stethem (DDG 63), San Diego, CA
USS Carney (DDG 64), Mayport, FL
USS Benfold (DDG 65), Yokosuka, Japan
USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), Norfolk, VA
USS Cole (DDG 67), Norfolk, VA
USS The Sullivans (DDG 68), Mayport, FL
USS Milius (DDG 69), Yokosuka, Japan
USS Hopper (DDG 70), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Ross (DDG 71), Rota, Spain
USS Mahan (DDG 72), Norfolk, VA
USS Decatur (DDG 73), San Diego, CA
USS McFaul (DDG 74), Norfolk, VA
USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), Mayport, FL
USS Higgins (DDG 76), Yokosuka, Japan
USS O’Kane (DDG 77), San Diego, CA
USS Porter (DDG 78), Rota, Spain
USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), Norfolk, VA
USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), Rota, Spain
USS Winston S Churchill (DDG 81), Mayport, FL
USS Lassen (DDG 82), Mayport, FL
USS Howard (DDG 83), Yokosuka, Japan
USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), Norfolk, VA
USS McCampbell (DDG 85), Everett, WA
USS Shoup (DDG 86), San Diego, CA
USS Mason (DDG 87), Norfolk, VA
USS Preble (DDG 88), San Diego, CA
USS Mustin (DDG 89), San Diego, CA
USS Chafee (DDG 90), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Pinckney (DDG 91), San Diego, CA
USS Momsen (DDG 92), Everett, WA
USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Nitze (DDG 94), Norfolk, VA
USS James E Williams (DDG 95), Norfolk, VA
USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), Norfolk, VA
USS Halsey (DDG 97), San Diego, CA
USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), Norfolk, VA
USS Farragut (DDG 99), Mayport, FL
USS Kidd (DDG 100), Everett, WA
USS Gridley (DDG 101), Everett, WA
USS Sampson (DDG 102), Everett, WA
USS Truxtun (DDG 103), Norfolk, VA
USS Sterett (DDG 104), San Diego, CA
USS Dewey (DDG 105), Yokosuka, Japan
USS Stockdale (DDG 106), San Diego, CA
USS Gravely (DDG 107), Norfolk, VA
USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), Mayport, FL
USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Spruance (DDG 111), San Diego, CA
USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS John Finn (DDG 113), San Diego, CA
USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), Everett, WA
USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), Yokosuka, Japan
USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), Mayport, FL
USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), Rota, Spain
USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), Pearl Harbor, HI
USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), Mayport, FL
Carl M. Levin (DDG 120), under construction
USS Frank E. Petersen, Jr. (DDG 121), Pearl Harbor, HI
John Basilone (DDG 122), under construction
Future USS Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), San Diego, CA
Harvey C. Barnum, Jr. (DDG 124), under construction
Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), under construction
Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), under construction
Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127), under construction
Ted Stevens (DDG 128), under construction
Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), under construction
William Charette (DDG 130), under construction
George M. Neal (DDG 131), under construction
Quentin Walsh (DDG 132), under construction
Sam Nunn (DDG 133), under construction
John E. Kilmer (DDG 134), under contract
Thad Cochran (DDG 135), under contract
Richard G Lugar (DDG 136), under contract
John F. Lehman (DDG 137), under contract
J. William Middendorf (DDG 138), under contract
Telesforo Trinidad (DDG 139), under contract