US Navy receives newest guided missile destroyer on Pearl Harbor anniversary

The U.S. Navy has received its latest guided-missile destroyer, future USS John Finn (DDG 113), from shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII).

HII delivered the ship on the 75th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor, December 7, after the DDG 13 completed three sets of at-sea and in-port trials which proved the ship’s operational readiness.

“Delivery of the future USS John Finn marks the beginning of a new era of production for the Arleigh Burke class,” said Capt. Casey Moton, DDG 51 class program manager. “I’m pleased that this well-built and capable ship will soon be joining the fleet.”

The ship’s namesake, the late Lt. John Finn, earned the Medal of Honor for heroism displayed during the attacks on Pearl Harbor.

During the first attack by Japanese airplanes on Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Finn manned a .50-caliber machine gun in an exposed section under heavy enemy machine gun fire. Although wounded, it was only by specific orders he vacated his post to seek medical attention. Following first aid treatment, he returned to the squadron area and actively supervised the rearming of returning planes.

John Finn is the 63rd Arleigh Burke (DDG 51)-class destroyer and the first of the DDG 51 Flight IIA restart ships.

DDG 113 is equipped with Aegis Baseline 9 combat system upgrades, which include an Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) capability incorporating Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) 5.0 and Naval Integrated Fire Control-Counter Air.

Aegis Baseline 9 IAMD destroyers have increased computing power, along with radar upgrades which improve detection and reaction capabilities against modern anti-air warfare and BMD threats.

HII’s Pascagoula shipyard is currently in production on future destroyers Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) and Frank E. Petersen, Jr. (DDG 121) and under contract for two additional ships awarded as part of the five-ship, multi-year procurement for fiscal years 2013-17.

Another seven Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are either under construction or contract at General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works shipyard.