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Navy Commissions New Guided Missile Destroyer Chafee (DDG-90)
Navy Newsstand ^

Posted on 10/17/2003 11:25:43 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity

Special from United States Department of Defense

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, Chafee, will be commissioned Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003, during an 11 a.m. eastern ceremony in Newport, R.I.

The ship honors John Hubbard Chafee of Providence, R.I. Chafee distinguished himself as a U.S. senator, Navy secretary, Rhode Island governor, and a Marine -- with service as both an enlisted man and commissioned officer.

Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Michael W. Hagee, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Serving as co-sponsors for the ship will be Virginia Chafee, wife of the ship's namesake and Diane Blair, wife of retired Navy Adm. Dennis C. Blair, former commander, U.S. Pacific Command. In the time-honored Navy tradition of commissioning U.S. naval ships, the co-sponsors will give the order to “man our ship and bring her to life!”

Chafee is the 40th ship of 62 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers currently authorized by Congress. This highly capable multi-mission ship can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, in support of the National Military Strategy. Chafee will be capable of fighting air, surface, and subsurface battles simultaneously. The ship contains myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century.

Cmdr. John W. Ailes of New London, Conn., will become the ship’s first commanding officer. Chafee will be homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and will have a crew of approximately 30 officers and 355 enlisted. Built by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, the 9,100-ton Chafee is 511 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet, an overall beam of 66 feet, and a navigational draft of 33 feet. Four gas turbine engines will power the ship to speeds of more than 30 knots.

For more news from around the fleet, visit the Navy NewsStand at www.news.navy.mil.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; US: Rhode Island
KEYWORDS: arleighburke; chafee; commissioning; usn; usschafee
The Navy has been commissioning Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyers like it's going out of style. Good.
1 posted on 10/17/2003 11:25:43 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
My oldest boy is on the Yorktown (CG-48), stationed in Pascagoula, MS. There are two DDG's being built in the shipyard next door to the naval base.

And I agree, the more the better. I'm afraid they will be needed.

2 posted on 10/17/2003 11:29:52 AM PDT by Pern ("It's good to know who hates you, and it's good to be hated by the right people." - Johnny Cash)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
Chafee was a Mustang ?
3 posted on 10/17/2003 11:30:07 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
The Chafee under construction at Bath Iron Works:


4 posted on 10/17/2003 11:34:26 AM PDT by Pyro7480 (“We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid" - Benjamin Franklin)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity

5 posted on 10/17/2003 11:38:34 AM PDT by Pyro7480 (“We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid" - Benjamin Franklin)
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To: Pern
My son is on the USS Roosevelt DDG 81. He just returned today from a 6 week exercise in the North Atlantic Near the UK. I's a beautiful ship I have a scale model of it that I am making to give him for Christmas. God Bless your son for his service, and all of our Soldiers and Sailors!!!!
6 posted on 10/17/2003 11:42:06 AM PDT by rangerofrage ("....and what to my wondering eyes did appear.......")
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To: Pern
Yep, I saw a thread from April 2003 talking about the USS Mason (DDG-87) being the newest ship in the fleet: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/885037/posts

Three have been commissioned since then!
7 posted on 10/17/2003 11:42:39 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity (Stop the violins!! Visualize whirled peas...)
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To: rangerofrage
Thank you, and I thank your son for his service. My son just called me from Jamaica, he's having a blast! Makes me think of my old navy days. To be young again. They're chasing drug runners in the Caribbean.
8 posted on 10/17/2003 12:14:19 PM PDT by Pern ("It's good to know who hates you, and it's good to be hated by the right people." - Johnny Cash)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
I thought it was named after still-sitting LINCOLN Chafee.

My joke, if so, was going to be:

"Navy sources said that the Chafee has a history of bad steering. 'For no good reason, her rudder always drifts to port,' admitted a junior-grade lieutenant aboard, who asked to remain unidentified."
9 posted on 10/17/2003 12:45:06 PM PDT by pogo101
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
What is the purpose of guided missile destroyers?
Kind of like a piece of a battleship that link up to equl the firepower of one?
10 posted on 10/17/2003 12:46:15 PM PDT by Frohickey
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To: Pern
Good for your boy. I was stationed many years ago in a cousin ship to the Yorktown, the Leyte Gulf. We were in pre-com out of Pascagoula, and spent an enjoyable shakedown period there. Is there an actual naval base in 'Goula, or is he just there for repairs? Either way, there's a good time to be had on the Gulf coast.
11 posted on 10/17/2003 1:47:42 PM PDT by Lou L
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To: Frohickey
It's purpose is to project American Naval Power to whatever part of the world American interests are threatened. But you already knew that.

Its function is twofold: It serves as a platform for the AEGIS air defense system, in which it protects carrier battlegroups or other groups of ships. It also serves as a platform for launching tomahawk cruise missiles, to destroy fixed targets inland.

12 posted on 10/17/2003 1:52:48 PM PDT by ArrogantBustard
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To: Lou L
It's an actual naval base, 2 Tico's, 2 Perry's, small, neat, and 3 hours drive from home. He lucked out, big time.
13 posted on 10/17/2003 2:52:27 PM PDT by Pern ("It's good to know who hates you, and it's good to be hated by the right people." - Johnny Cash)
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To: Excuse_My_Bellicosity
To the Crew;

God Bless, shoot fast,stright,& offten. May you have fair skies & following seas!

Semper Fi
14 posted on 10/17/2003 2:59:51 PM PDT by Knightsofswing (sic semper tranyis [death to tryants!!] & also improvise, adapt,&overcome)
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