Posted on 07/28/2005 6:06:25 PM PDT by SandRat
The Navy will commission the newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, Halsey, Saturday, July 30, 2005, during an 11 a.m. PDT ceremony at Pier J, Naval Air Station, Coronado, Calif.
Sen. John McCain of Arizona will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Heidi Cooke Halsey, Anne Halsey-Smith, and Alice “Missy” Spruance Talbot will serve as sponsors of the ship named for their grandfather. In a time-honored Navy tradition, they will give the first order to "man our ship and bring her to life!"
Halsey honors U.S. Naval Academy graduate Fleet Adm. William F. Halsey Jr. (1882-1959). During World War I, Cmdr. Halsey was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions while in command of the USS Benham and the USS Shaw during convoy escort duties. Designated a naval aviator in 1935 at the age of 52, he took command of the USS Saratoga from 1935 until 1937. In February 1942, then Vice Adm. Halsey, while serving as commander, Carrier Division Two aboard the USS Enterprise, led the first counter-strikes of World War II against the Japanese with carrier raids on the Gilbert and Marshall Islands. Later that year, his task force launched the famous "Doolittle Raid" against targets on the Japanese homeland.
Assigned as commander, South Pacific Force and South Pacific Area on Oct. 18, 1942, Halsey led the Navy, Marine Corps, and Army forces that conquered the strategically important Solomon Islands. Subsequently as commander, Third Fleet, his task forces consistently won hard fought victories during campaigns in the Philippines, Okinawa, and other islands. Nicknamed "Bull" Halsey, he embodied his slogan, "hit hard, hit fast, hit often." On Dec. 11, 1945, he became the fourth officer to hold the rank of fleet admiral.
One previous ship has been named Halsey (DLG/CG-23), a guided missile destroyer leader, later classified a guided missile cruiser. The USS Halsey’s service (1963-1994) included eight battle stars for Vietnam Service in addition to a Navy Unit Commendation and a Meritorious Unit Commendation, and participation in contingency operations in Korean waters (1969-1971) and in the Indian Ocean (1980).
Halsey is the 47th ship of 62 Arleigh Burke class destroyers. In support of the National Military Strategy, this highly capable multi-mission ship can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection.. Halsey will be capable of fighting air, surface, and subsurface battles simultaneously. The ship contains a number of offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century.
Cmdr. James L. Autrey, of Moore, Okla., will become the first commanding officer of the ship with a crew of approximately 32 officers and 348 enlisted. The 9,300-ton Halsey was built by Northrop-Grumman Ship Systems Ingalls Operations, and is 509.5 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet, an overall beam of 66.5 feet, and a navigational draft of 31.9 feet. Four gas turbine engines will power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots.
For more information on Arleigh Burke class destroyers, visit http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/factfile/ships/ship-dd.html .
Navy PING
So comparing the Halsey to the Jimmy Carter is like comparing John Wayne to Barney Franks.
For those of you who dont know John Wayne & Barney Franks: John Wayne was a real macho man who starred in a lot of Cowboys & War movies, while Barney Franks is a real life "out of the closet" queer serving in Congress and pushing his radical homosexual agenda.
What? No pictures?
No offense to the Navy...but Bull deserves a carrier!
None were on the site.
I saw the Halsey today docked at North Island here
in San Diego with all the bunting, etc. ready for
commissioning.
For more information on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, visit
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/factfile/ships/ship-dd.html
The Arleigh Burke class "John Paul Jones" I saw
commissioned some yrs back.
Wow, I spent 4 years of my life on the first USS Halsey (CG-23). It was a fine ship manned by a fine crew (well mostly). It was a very stressful and arduous way to live, but I do not regret a moment of it. All of you other swabs know of what I speak.
I must take issue with one part of the write up though. The contingency operations in the Indian Ocean were conducted in 1981, not 1980 as stated in the article. We spent a whole bunch of time on Gonzo Station that cruise.
No pictures on the shipyard site either.
http://www.ss.northropgrumman.com/portfolio/shipsbb30.html
"Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh.
Farewell to college joys, we sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay.
Through our last night on shore, drink to the foam,
Until we meet once more. Here's wishing you a happy voyage home."
Godspeed to the Captain and crew of the Halsey!
I forget - was Halsey a Leahy-class double-ender? I was on USS Harry E. Yarnell (DLG-17, later CG-17) but this was back in the late 60's-early 70's. Brings back fond (and a few not-so-fond) memories.
Yep, the Halsey was a Leahy class, as was my other ship the Richmond K. Turner (CG-20). I remember a few of those not-so-fond memories.
BTTT!!!!!!
"Haul Ass with Halsey" as they used to say.
Well, you're probably right. And in any case, I've always thought Spruance was the better Admiral.
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