According to a press release published by the United States Department of Defense, the U.S. Navy has commissioned the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) during a ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in Port Canaveral, Florida.
According to a press release published by the United States Department of Defense, the U.S. Navy has commissioned the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) during a ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in Port Canaveral, Florida.
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The U.S. Navy’s newest guided-missile destroyer, the future USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), arrives at Port Canaveral. The Navy will commission DDG 119, the first ship in naval history to be named Delbert D. Black, Sept. 26, 2020 in Port Canaveral.(Picture source U.S. Navy)
The U.S. Navy USS Delbert D. Black is named for the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, the highest possible enlisted rank and the enlisted representative to the Chief of Naval Operations. Established by the Navy in 1967, Black oversaw the establishment of the senior enlisted advisor position, which eventually became known as Command Master Chief. Black was the first Navy enlisted man to receive the Distinguished Service Medal. Upon retirement from active duty, Black continued his involvement with the Navy through retired and active duty organizations. He still serves as an enduring example for the Chief’s Mess, with his service, character and performance demonstrating the highest ideals of a Navy chief petty officer in the world’s finest Navy.
Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Delbert D. Black is the 68th Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer to be delivered to the Navy and the first to bear his name. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet. These highly capable, multi-mission ships conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence to national security.
Following commissioning, USS Delbert D. Black will be homeported in Mayport, Florida, with sister ships USS The Sullivans (DDG 68), USS Lassen (DDG 82), USS Farragut (DDG 99), USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), and USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117).
The USS Delbert D. Black (DDG-119) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. It has a crew of 380 sailors including officers and enlisted. The Arleigh Burke-class employs all-steel construction and comprises four separate variants or "Flights." DDG 51-71 represent the original design and are designated as Flight I ships; DDG 72-78 are Flight II ships; DDGs 79-116 are Flight IIA ships in service, and will continue through DDGs 124 and 127.
The USS Delbert D. Black is armed with one 32 cells, one 64 cells Mk 41 vertical launch systems, 96 RIM-66 SM-2, BGM-109 Tomahawk or RUM-139 VL-Asroc, missiles, one 5 inches (130 mm)/62 naval cannon, two 25 mm Mk 38 automatic cannons, four .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns, tow Mk 46 triple torpedo tubes, and one 20 mm Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon System).
The USS Delbert D. Black is motorized with four General Electric LM2500 Gas Turbine Engines (GTEs). Each Engine Room contains two LM2500s, one propulsion reduction gear to convert the high speed, low torque output of the gas turbine engine to low speed, high torque output suitable to drive the propulsion shafting, and the related support systems and equipment. She has a maximum speed of 31 knots.
