USS Stethem (DDG-63)

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The USS Stethem in the Gulf of Thailand (2009)
The USS Stethem in the Gulf of Thailand (2009)
Overview
Order February 22, 1990
Keel laying May 11, 1993
Launch June 17, 1994
1. Period of service flag
Commissioning October 21, 1995
Technical specifications
displacement

8315 tons

length

154 m

width

20 metres

Draft

9.5 meters

crew

26 officers, 315 men

drive

2 propellers, driven by 4 gas turbines; 100,000 wave horsepower

speed

31 knots

Armament

90 VLS cells
2 triple torpedo launchers
1 127 mm gun

The USS Stethem (DDG-63) is a destroyer of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer . The United States Navy named the ship after Petty Officer Robert Stethem , who was killed in the hijacking of TWA Flight 847 .

history

The United States Navy commissioned DDG-63 in 1990. In May 1993 the destroyer was laid down at Ingalls Shipbuilding and was launched in June of the following year. The ship's godmother was Patricia L. Stethem, Robert's mother. Official commissioning was on October 21, 1995.

On November 23, 1995, the Stethem ran out to search for the crew of a crashed Lockheed C-130 of the United States Air Force . In 1997 the destroyer ran out for its first transfer, on July 3, the ship reached Bahrain . During Operation Southern Watch , the Stethem sailed with the carriers USS Constellation (CV-64) and USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) . Also in 1999 the ship's destination was the Persian Gulf. Partly she sailed with USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) . 2001 began the third transfer to the Gulf, this time with USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) . Later that year she took part in Operation Noble Eagle , the direct response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States . The ship then went into dry dock.

In 2002 and 2003, the Stethem mainly spent with exercises, on April 5, 2003 the first BGM-109 Tomahawk Block IV ever took off from the destroyer .

In 2006 the ship relocated again and took part in an exercise with the Japanese Navy. In 2007 the Valiant Shield exercise was on the Stethem's agenda . In 2008 the destroyer protected the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) during a transfer in the Western Pacific and took part in a port visit to Hong Kong with the combat group in April . In 2009, the Stethem sailed alongside the USS Essex (LHD-2) in the Western Pacific. After the bombing of Yeonpyeong , the destroyer moved alongside the USS George Washington (CVN-73) into the Yellow Sea .

Web links

Commons : USS Stethem  - collection of images, videos and audio files