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UPI
20-05-2025
- General
- UPI
Keel laid for future guided-missile destroyer USS Quentin Walsh
Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) is seen anchored in Kanagawa-Prefecture, Japan, in June 2023. On Tuesday, the keel for the future destroyer USS Quentin Walsh (DDG-132), the first Arleigh Burke-class ship to be built in honor of a Coast Guard member, was laid in a ceremony at Bath Iron Works in Maine. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo May 20 (UPI) -- The keel for the future guided-missile destroyer USS Quentin Walsh was officially laid Wednesday in a ceremony at Bath Iron Works in Maine. It is the first time an Arleigh Burke-class ship will be built in honor of a Coast Guard member. The keel, the structure at the bottom of the ship's hull, represents the start of construction or birth of the ship. Madison Ann Zolper, the great-granddaughter of the ship's namesake Coast Guard Capt. Quentin Walsh, attended Wednesday's ceremony and welded the family's initials into the keel plate. "We are honored to mark the beginning of the construction for the future USS Quentin Walsh and celebrate his legacy with his family," said Capt. Jay Young, Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer program manager for PEO Ships. "DDG 132 will provide our Navy with critical strategic capabilities to support fleet readiness." The Arleigh Burke-class Flight III destroyer, designated as DDG 132, will feature upgraded air and missile defense radar to provide "enhanced war fighting capability to the fleet," according to the U.S. Navy. The destroyers are designed to fight air, surface and subsurface battles at the same time. Walsh, who died in 2000 and held various roles in the U.S. Coast Guard, was awarded the Navy Cross for heroic actions in the 1944 Battle of Cherbourg during World War II. Walsh's 53-man reconnaissance unit captured 750 German soldiers and freed 52 American prisoners of war. Walsh, who also served during the Korean War, was among those honored in France on the 75th anniversary of D-Day. "Capt. Walsh was a hero whose efforts during World War II continue to inspire, and his leadership in securing the French port of Cherbourg had a profound effect on the success of the amphibious operations associated with Operation Overlord," former Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer said at a 2019 ceremony in Cherbourg. That same year, Adm. Karl Schultz -- former commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard -- announced the USS Quentin Walsh. "Naming a future Navy destroyer after Capt. Walsh, the first Arleigh Burke-class ship to be named after a Coast Guard legend, highlights not only his courageous actions but the bravery of all U.S. service members involved in the D-Day invasion of Normandy," Schultz said in 2019, as the Navy on Tuesday celebrated the start of construction. "The keel laying of future USS Quentin Walsh (DDG 132) symbolizes the Navy's 250-year commitment to innovation and maritime dominance," the U.S. Navy said in a statement. "This milestone marks the Navy's enduring legacy and commitment to shaping the future of maritime power."
Newsweek
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Destroyers Stage Shows of Force With Missiles in Pacific
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A trio of United States destroyers staged a show of force in the Western Pacific Ocean by launching missiles to enhance their warfighting capabilities amid the Chinese naval buildup. The U.S. Seventh Fleet will continue to work with allies and partners to deter aggression and preserve a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific, a spokesperson for the Fleet told Newsweek. The Chinese Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Why It Matters The U.S. has stationed warships such as aircraft carriers, destroyers, and submarines in the Western Pacific Ocean. The Seventh Fleet, the largest forward-deployed fleet of the U.S. Navy, maintains a "continuous forward presence" in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Seventh Fleet claimed that there are 50 to 70 ships and submarines, 150 aircraft, and more than 27,000 sailors and marines within the fleet's area of operations at any given time. China has the largest navy in the world by hull count, with over 370 vessels. The Chinese military is expanding its naval fleet, as well as its reach and presence, seeking to challenge America's naval dominance within and beyond the Western Pacific Ocean. The United States Navy destroyer USS "Dewey" fires a Standard Missile-2 missile in the Philippine Sea on April 24, 2025. The United States Navy destroyer USS "Dewey" fires a Standard Missile-2 missile in the Philippine Sea on April 24, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Devin Monroe/U.S. Navy What To Know According to photos and videos released by the U.S. Navy, destroyers USS Benfold, USS Shoup, and USS Dewey were seen firing a total of three Standard Missile-2 surface-to-air defense missiles during a tactical training exercise in the Philippine Sea from April 24 to 25. The United States Navy destroyer USS "Shoup" fires a Standard Missile-2 missile in the Philippine Sea on April 24, 2025. The United States Navy destroyer USS "Shoup" fires a Standard Missile-2 missile in the Philippine Sea on April 24, 2025. Ensign Sawyer Blazar/U.S. Navy The Philippine Sea is between the First and Second Island Chains, which are part of a U.S. containment strategy that seeks to restrict the Chinese military's access to the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. and China have recently sent their aircraft carriers to the Philippine Sea. These destroyers, which are of the Arleigh Burke-class, provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities, the U.S. Navy said. The Standard Missile-2 defends against anti-ship threats out to 90 nautical miles [103 miles], according to defense contractor Raytheon. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force said the event, which took place from April 7 to 25 and included the Japanese destroyer JS Ashigara, featured antiair, anti-submarine, anti-surface, and electronic warfare, as well as antiair missile drills and replenishment at sea. This bilateral exercise aimed at improving the Japanese navy's tactical capabilities and the interoperability with the U.S. Navy, as well as strengthening the capability of the U.S.-Japan alliance for "effective deterrence and response," the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force said. The employment of surface-to-air defense missiles in the exercise comes as U.S. naval ships operating near Yemen became the targets of the Iranian-backed Houthi group. The U.S. has stationed a pair of aircraft carriers in the region, which are protected by escorting destroyers. What People Are Saying The U.S. Seventh Fleet told Newsweek: "The mission of the U.S. [Seventh] Fleet is to provide operational control and planning for its forces in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, while promoting regional stability and maritime security through engagements with allies and partners." U.S. defense contractor Raytheon said: "The [Standard Missile-2] missile is a cornerstone of a ship's layered defense. It provides firepower against high-speed, highly maneuverable anti-ship missiles and aircraft and protects naval assets that give warfighters greater operational flexibility." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether USS Preble, a Japan-based U.S. destroyer, will carry out any exercises with its high-energy laser weapon to destroy fast attack craft and drones in the Western Pacific Ocean.
