US Navy Laid Arleigh Burke-80
The U.S. Navy laid the keel of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS 80 at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard in Maine. During the event, the ship’s standard components were installed, and the initials of the ship’s sponsors were welded to the keel plate.
The future US William Schallett (DDG 130) was named after the hospital’s chief physician, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Korean War.
During the ceremony, Admiral Darren Via, U.S. Navy surgeon general and chief of surgery for the Office of the Surgeon General, identified the model on behalf of his sons.
“All of us in the Navy medical community are extremely proud to have a ship named after one of our ships,” Via said.
“The future USS William Sharrett will not only be a symbol of American strength, but also a testament to the courage and dedication of Navy doctors.”
“Naming the ship after ‘Navy Doctor’ embodies the principle of ‘Navy Doctor, Above!’ and embodies the spirit of bravery, dedication, and service above all else.”
Captain Seth Miller, Arleigh Burke Program Manager, noted that the DDG 130 hull “will be a welcome addition to the fleet and another player in the field, providing the Navy with state-of-the-art combat capabilities.”
“This ship honors the legacy of the late William Sharrett and his heroism during the Korean War,” he added. “We are honored to have their daughter as a sponsor and for the entire family to celebrate this important milestone.”
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer is designed to sail independently or as part of a large strike group.
Since its debut in the 1980s, the ship has been offered various configurations, each with anti-submarine, anti-air, and anti-surface capabilities.
The latest version of the ship is 155.3 meters (509.5 feet) long, has a 105,000 horsepower engine, a top speed of 30 knots (56 kilometers/35 miles/hour), and a range of 4,400 nautical miles (5,063 miles/8,100 kilometers).
It has light cannons, machine guns, torpedoes, laser weapons and multi-range missiles. It can carry over 350 personnel, rigid-hull inflatable boats and up to two tactical helicopters.
