USS Jack H. Lucas

USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, first of the Flight III variants[11] and 75th overall in the class. She is named after then-Marine Corps Private First Class, later United States Army captain Jacklyn H. Lucas,[12] recipient of the Medal of Honor. On 17 September 2016, she was named by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus.[13]

USS Jack H. Lucas
USS Jack H. Lucas during acceptance trials.
History
United States
NameJack H. Lucas
NamesakeJacklyn H. Lucas
BuilderHuntington-Ingalls Shipbuilding
Laid down8 November 2019[1]
Launched4 June 2021[2]
Sponsored by
  • Ruby Lucas
  • Catherine B. Reynolds
Christened26 March 2022[3]
Acquired27 June 2023[4]
Commissioned7 October 2023[5]
HomeportSan Diego, California[6]
IdentificationHull number: DDG-125
MottoIndestructible[7]
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeArleigh Burke-class destroyer
Displacement9,496 long tons (full load)[8][9]
Length509.5 ft (155.3 m)[10]
Beam66 ft (20 m)[9]
Propulsion4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines 100,000 shp (75,000 kW)[9]
Speed31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph)[9]
Complement380 officers and enlisted
Armament
ArmorKevlar-type armor with steel hull. Numerous passive survivability measures.
Aircraft carried2 × MH-60R Seahawk helicopters
Aviation facilitiesDouble hangar and helipad

Construction

Jack H. Lucas was launched 4 June 2021,[2] and christened 26 March 2022.[3] The ship was commissioned on 7 October 2023 with the ceremony taking place in Tampa, Florida.[5]

Operational history

Jack H. Lucas left Ingalls on 12 December 2022 for three days of sea trials before returning to port on 15 December 2022.[14]

On 27 June 2023, the US Navy formally took delivery of Jack H. Lucas from Ingalls. She remained in Pascagoula for another 120 days after delivery to allow the crew to move onto the ship.[4][15]

On 26 September 2023, Jack H. Lucas left Ingalls for her home port in San Diego, California, with a stopover in Florida. She was commissioned in Tampa Bay on 7 October 2023.[5]

Namesake
Jacklyn H. Lucas

Jacklyn Harold "Jack" Lucas (1928–2008) was a U.S. Marine, and later U.S. Army airborne officer, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Iwo Jima, at the age of 17. He is the youngest Marine and youngest serviceman in World War II to be awarded the United States' highest military decoration for valor. When the keel of USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) was laid in 1997, Lucas placed his Medal of Honor citation in the ship's hull, where it remains sealed.[16]

  • Jack H. Lucas sits in drydock at Huntington-Ingalls Shipbuilding prior to launch
    Jack H. Lucas sits in drydock at Huntington-Ingalls Shipbuilding prior to launch
  • A bottle is smashed against the hull of Jack H. Lucas at the ship's christening ceremony
    A bottle is smashed against the hull of Jack H. Lucas at the ship's christening ceremony
  • Jack H. Lucas just after being launched
    Jack H. Lucas just after being launched

References
  1. "Huntington Ingalls Industries Authenticates Keel of Guided Missile Destroyer Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125)" (Press release). Huntington Ingalls Industries. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  2. White, Ryan (7 June 2021). "U.S. Navy Launches First Flight III Guided Missile Destroyer, the future Jack H. Lucas". Naval Post. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  3. "HII Christens Destroyer Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125)" (Press release). Huntington Ingalls Industries. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  4. "Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Jack H. Lucas" (Press release). United States Navy. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  5. Shelbourne, Mallory (10 October 2023). "First Flight III Destroyer USS Jack H. Lucas Joins Fleet". USNI News. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  6. "Navy to Christen Guided-Missile Destroyer Jack H. Lucas". United States Department of Defense. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  7. "About". Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. United States Navy. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  8. "US Navy Christens Arleigh BUrke-class Destroyer Jack H Lucas". Navy Recognition. 28 March 2022.
  9. "DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class". Federation of American Scientists. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  10. "Destroyers (DDG 51)". United States Navy. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  11. LaGrone, Sam (28 June 2017). "Huntington Ingalls Industries Awarded First Flight III Arleigh Burke Destroyer". USNI News. United States Naval Institute. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  12. Rumpf-Whitten, Sarah (7 October 2023). "U.S.S. Jack H. Lucas officially commissioned into service in Port Tampa Bay". Fox News. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  13. "Secretary Mabus Names Two Destroyers for Medal of Honor Recipients" (Press release). United States Navy. 17 September 2016. 96649. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  14. LaGrone, Sam (19 December 2022). "Flight III Arleigh Burke Destroyer Jack H. Lucas Underway for the First Time". USNI News. United States Naval Institute. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  15. Shelbourne, Mallory (27 June 2023). "Navy Takes Delivery of First Flight III Destroyer Jack H. Lucas". USNI News. United States Naval Institute. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  16. "Huntington Ingalls Industries Awarded Contract to Build Destroyer Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125)" (Press release). Huntington Ingalls Industries. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
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