USS Michael Murphy Completes ‘Super Trial’

The future USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), and the final ship of the original 62-ship procurement of the DDG 51 class shipbuilding program, successfully completed a combined builder’s and acceptance “super trial” Mar. 9, after spending four days underway in the Atlantic Ocean.

Because of the maturity of the class, the Navy holds only one round of trials on each ship prior to delivery, instead of separate builder’s and acceptance trials. This “super trial” requires less time, fuel and manpower than the typical method.

During the trial, Bath Iron Works and the U.S. Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) tested the ship’s weapons, communications, and propulsion systems as well as conducting several other inspections including habitability, water purification and food preparation.

“DDG 112′s strong performance in these combined trial has a very special significance,” said Capt. Mark Vandroff, DDG 51-class program manager for the Navy’s Program Executive Office Ships. “The success of these trials after 62 ships underscores the value of the DDG 51 class and its continued importance to the 21st century surface fleet.”

The DDG 51 class ship is a multi-mission guided missile destroyer designed to operate in multithreat air, surface and subsurface threat environments. The class provides outstanding combat capability and survivability characteristics while minimizing procurement and lifetime support costs due to the program’s maturity. The DDG 51 program continues to reinforce affordability and efficiency in its shipbuilding program, with a commitment to deliver ships at the highest possible quality allowing seamless transition to the Fleet.

The new destroyer honors the late Lt. Michael P. Murphy, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions as leader of a Navy SEAL team in Afghanistan. Lt. Murphy was the first person to be awarded the medal for actions in Afghanistan and the first member of the Navy to receive the award since the Vietnam War.

These trials are the last significant production milestone before delivery of the ship to the Navy this spring. A commissioning ceremony will be held in New York City in October.

As one of the Defense Department’s largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft. Currently, the majority of shipbuilding programs managed by PEO Ships are benefiting from serial production efficiencies, which are critical to delivering ships on cost and schedule.

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Naval Today Staff , March 16, 2012;