The guided missile destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55) deployed from its homeport of Norfolk on Sunday, Aug. 18.
After a whirlwind year that included a successful shipyard maintenance availability and intensive certification and training period, Stout, led by Cmdr. Bob Alpigini, departed on a deployment to conduct Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Operations in and around the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.
Alpigini expressed his excitement about bringing what he calls “the Navy’s premiere BMD asset” into the operational fold saying, “As Stout returns to the 6th Fleet area of operations, we’re looking forward to performing our mission in the most dynamic and exciting surface warfare environment in the world today. Our ship and crew are well prepared to do our nation’s business.”
Most recently, the ship returned to Norfolk on Apr. 15 following her participation in an intensive training exercise specifically tailored to ships that deploy independently, called IDCERTEX. The ship returned from her last 6th Fleet deployment in June, 2011.
Stout is the sixth of the Arleigh Burke class of destroyers, the first ships in the world designed and equipped with the AEGIS Weapons Systems. This system incorporates shaping techniques which reduce radar detect ability and the likelihood of counter-targeting. AEGIS excels in high-threat environments which include anti-air, anti-submarine, anti-surface, and strike operations.
Stout was commissioned on August 13, 1994 and was named after Rear Adm. Herald F. Stout. He was awarded two Navy Crosses for his outstanding service as commanding officer of USS Claxton (DD 571) in the Solomon Islands during World War II. The ship conducted operations as part of Destroyer Squadron 23 (“Little Beaver” Squadron).
[mappress] Press Release, August 19, 2013