USS Frank E. Petersen Jr.

USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121) is an Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy, the 71st overall for the class. The ship was named for United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General Frank E. Petersen Jr.[6] the first African-American Marine Corps aviator[7] and the first African-American Marine Corps general.[8] The contract for the ship, along with the name, was first announced in a press release from Huntington Ingalls Industries on 30 March 2016.[9]

USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. in August 2021
History
United States
NameFrank E. Petersen Jr.
NamesakeFrank E. Petersen
Awarded3 June 2013
BuilderIngalls Shipbuilding
Laid down21 February 2017[1]
Launched13 July 2018[2]
Sponsored byAlicia J. Petersen, D’Arcy Neller
Christened6 October 2018[3]
Acquired30 November 2021[4]
Commissioned14 May 2022
HomeportPearl Harbor
IdentificationHull number: DDG-121
MottoInto the Tiger's Jaw
StatusIn active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeArleigh Burke-class destroyer
Displacement9,217 tons (full load)[5]
Length513 ft (156 m)[5]
Beam66 ft (20 m)[5]
Propulsion4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines 100,000 shp (75,000 kW)[5]
Speed31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph)[5]
Complement380 officers and enlisted
Armament
Aircraft carried2 × MH-60R Seahawk helicopters
Aviation facilitiesDouble hangar and helipad

Construction and Career

The first "cutting of steel" took place in April 2016[10] and her keel was laid on 21 February 2017.[11] She was launched on 13 July 2018.[12] and christened on 6 October 2018.[3] The ship was commissioned on 14 May 2022 at Charleston, South Carolina.[13]

References
  1. "Huntington Ingalls Industries Authenticates Keel For Destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121)" (Press release). Huntington Ingalls Industries. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  2. "Huntington Ingalls Industries Launches Guided Missile Destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121)" (Press release). Huntington Ingalls Industries. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  3. "Huntington Ingalls Industries Christens Destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121)" (Press release). Huntington Ingalls Industries. 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  4. "Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Frank E. Petersen Jr" (Press release). NAVSEA. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  5. "DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class". Federation of American Scientists. FAS.org. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  6. Bernstein, Adam (26 August 2015). "Frank Petersen Jr., first black Marine Corps pilot and general, dies at 83". Washington Post. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  7. "MSNBC, LtGen Frank E. Petersen, First Black Aviator". MSNBC. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  8. "Encyclopedia.com, Frank E. Petersen 1932– bio". Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  9. "HII.com, DDG-121 Contract Awarded To Ingalls Shipbuilding". Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  10. "USS Frank E Petersen Jr Begins Fabrication". US Navy. Retrieved 10 December 2016. The milestone, which signifies the first 100 tons of steel being cut, was marked with a ceremony held in the shipyard's fabrication shop, April 27.
  11. "Keel Laid for Future USS Frank E. Petersen Jr" (Press release). United States Navy. 21 February 2017. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  12. "US Navy Launches Future USS Frank E. Petersen Jr" (Press release). United States Navy. 16 July 2018. NNS180716-21. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  13. "U.S. Navy Commissions Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer Frank E. Petersen, Jr. (DDG 121)". Naval News. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
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