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USS Thomas Hudner

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USS Thomas Hudner on 30 October 2018
History
United States
NameThomas Hudner
NamesakeThomas J. Hudner, Jr.
Ordered28 February 2012
BuilderBath Iron Works
Laid down16 November 2015
Launched23 April 2017
Sponsored by
  • Georgea F. Hudner
  • Barbara Joan Miller
Christened1 April 2017
Acquired15 June 2018
Commissioned1 December 2018
HomeportMayport, Florida
Identification
MottoAbove all Others
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeArleigh Burke-class destroyer
Displacement9,217 tons (full load)
Length513 ft (156 m)
Beam66 ft (20 m)
Draft31 ft (9.4 m)
Propulsion4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines 100,000 shp (75,000 kW)
SpeedIn excess of 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)[2]
Complement380 officers and enlisted
Armament
Aircraft carried2 × MH-60R Seahawk helicopters
Aviation facilitiesDouble hangar and helipad

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.[3][4] On 7 May 2012, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced the ship name would be named 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.[5]

Construction and design

The Thomas Hudner commissioning ceremony (2018).

Thomas Hudner is the 66th ship of the Arleigh Burke class of guided-missile destroyers, the first of which, USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51), was commissioned in July 1991.[6] As an Arleigh Burke-class ship, Thomas Hudner's roles include anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare, as well as strike operations.[1] 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– ).[7] Thomas Hudner was 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 thirty-two to three.[8][9] 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) were expected to incorporate certain elements of Arleigh Burke class Flight III, which in turn was planned to run from DDG-125 onwards.[10]

Thomas Hudner's keel was laid on 16 November 2015.[11][12] Her christening took place on 1 April 2017,[13][14] and she was launched three weeks later, on 23 April.[15] She completed acceptance trials 3 May 2018,[16] and on 15 June 2018, the Navy accepted delivery of Thomas Hudner from shipbuilder General Dynamics Bath Iron Works.[17] Thomas Hudner was commissioned on 1 December 2018, in Boston, Massachusetts.[18]

Service history

2018–2022

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

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

On 20 February 2021, Thomas Hudner embarked on her maiden deployment, traveling over 45,000 nautical miles (83,000 km) before returning to her home port on 17 July 2021.[21] During her deployment, she made transits to the Black Sea,[22] operated in the Mediterranean Sea with the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and her battlegroup,[23] and also took part in the annual BALTOPS exercise with NATO allies.[24]

In September 2021, Thomas Hudner, along with her sister ship Forrest Sherman, participated in "Operation Cutlass Fury" with the Canadian and French navies.[25] Later that month, she became a part of the newly formed Task Group Greyhound.[26]

In November 2022, Thomas Hudner and the Spanish frigate Álvaro de Bazán, an air defense frigate, joined the new super-carrier as part of a NATO Carrier Strike Group operating in the Atlantic Ocean with multiple other nations. They arrived at Portsmouth, England, on 14 November 2022.[citation needed]

2023–present

On 8 October 2023, the day after the Hamas attack on Israel, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, directed the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean in response. Along with the carrier, the group also included the cruiser Normandy, and the destroyers Ramage, Carney, Roosevelt and Thomas Hudner.[27]

On 15 November 2023, Thomas Hudner shot down a drone that was headed toward the ship, which was launched from Yemen.[28][29]

On 23 November 2023, Thomas Hudner shot down multiple attack drones launched from Yemen.[30]

On 4 January 2024, Thomas Hudner returned to Mayport after an eight-month deployment and sailing more than 60,000 miles.[31]

Awards

References

  1. ^ a b "DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class". Federation of American Scientists. FAS.org. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Destroyers (DDG 51)". Fact Files. United States Navy. Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "Secretary of the Navy Announces DDG 116 to Be Named Thomas Hudner" (Press release). United States Navy. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  6. ^ "USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51)". Naval Vessel Register. United States Navy. 3 February 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  7. ^ "Arleigh Burke Class (Aegis), United States of America". Naval-technology.com. Net Resources International. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  8. ^ Ewing, Philip (31 July 2008). "Navy: No need to add DDG 1000s after all". Navy Times. Gannett Government Media. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  9. ^ Drew, Christopher (8 April 2009). "Contractors Agree on Deal to Build Stealth Destroyer". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Lays Keel of DDG 116" (Press release). Bath Iron Works. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  12. ^ "COMNAVSURFLANT Prepares to Welcome USS Thomas Hudner" (Press release). United States Navy. 18 November 2015. NNS151118-05. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  13. ^ "General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Christens Future USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116)" (Press release). Bath Iron Works. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  14. ^ "General Dynamics Christens Future USS Thomas Hudner". Marine Link. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  15. ^ "USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116)". Naval Vessel Register. United States Navy. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  16. ^ Miller, Kevin (5 May 2018). "BIW-built destroyer passes Navy 'acceptance trials'". Press Herald. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Thomas Hudner" (Press release). United States Navy. 16 June 2018. NNS180616-03. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  18. ^ "USS Thomas Hudner brought to life in Boston" (Press release). United States Navy. 3 December 2018. NNS181203-14. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  19. ^ Derby, Kevin (4 December 2018). "USS Thomas Hudner Heads to Mayport". Sunshine State News. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  20. ^ "U.S. Forces Participate in Canadian Operation NANOOK > United States Navy > display-news". www.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020.
  21. ^ "USS Thomas Hudner Returns from Deployment". dvidshub.net. 17 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  22. ^ "UPDATED: USS Monterey, USS Thomas Hudner Enter Black Sea for 'Multi-Domain' Operations". 19 March 2021.
  23. ^ "U.S. Navy destroyer joins French CSG in the Mediterranean". 29 May 2021.
  24. ^ "After NATO Baltic Sea exercises, USS Thomas Hudner stops in Germany". UPI.com.
  25. ^ "Forrest Sherman and Thomas Hudner Participate in Canadian Led Cutlass Fury 2021".
  26. ^ "Navy Creates New Atlantic Destroyer Task Group to Hunt Russian Submarines". 27 September 2021.
  27. ^ "Statement From Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III on U.S. Force Posture Changes in the Middle E". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  28. ^ "US Navy warship shoots down drone from Yemen over the Red Sea". AP News. 15 November 2023.
  29. ^ Britzky, Haley (15 November 2023). "US warship shoots down drone believed to have been launched from Yemen | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  30. ^ Casianio, Louis (22 November 2023). "US Navy warship shoots down multiple one-way attack drones launched from Yemen, officials say". Fox News. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  31. ^ Lundy, Jonathan (4 January 2024). "Welcome home! USS Thomas Hudner returns to Mayport after eight-month-long deployment". News 4 Jax. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
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