USS Mitscher (DDG-57)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Mitscher.
History
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
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:
Complement:
Sensors and
processing systems:
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 2 Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters 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 force 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 Carrier Group 2 centered on the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman. 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-piracy capabilities was augmented by the addition of a U.S. Coast Guard 12-person Advanced Interdiction Team (AIT) embarked aboard 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, Mitscher provided assistance to 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 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.

On 2 June 2015, Mitscher welcomed the French frigate Hermione in US waters on behalf of the US Navy.

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. ↑ King, Deven B. (15 August 2011). "Mitscher, Coast Guard Team Up to Fight Piracy". NNS110815-13. United States Navy. Retrieved 2011-08-16.
  3. ↑ King, Deven B. (22 August 2011). "Combined Maritime Forces' USS Mitscher Assists Vessel in Distress". NNS110822-04. United States Navy. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
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