Future US Navy destroyer ‘John Finn’ completes first set of sea trials

The future U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) completed initial builder’s sea trials on August 30 following three days at sea.

The Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) ship, built at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division, spent three days in the Gulf of Mexico testing the ship’s main propulsion system and other ship systems.

DDG 113 is planned to return to sea later next month for a second round of sea trials prior to a third underway period with members of the U.S. Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey.

During this underway period, many of the ship’s systems were tested to demonstrate that they are installed properly and are operational. John Finn successfully conducted a full power run and demonstrated key communication, damage control, and navigation systems as well as various hull, mechanical and electrical, and propulsion applications.

The ship is 509 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet, and a navigational draft of 31 feet. According to the Navy, four gas turbine engines will power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots.

“The DDG 51 program has been the backbone of our shipyard for nearly three decades,” said Ingalls Shipbuilding president Brian Cuccias. “Getting DDG 113 underway is a significant milestone in this program, and we are looking forward to continuing our legacy of building these quality, complex ships for our U.S. Navy customer.”

Ingalls has delivered 28 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the U.S. Navy. Other destroyers currently under construction at Ingalls include Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) and Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121). Construction on Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123) is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2017.