USS Stethem (DDG-63)

8315 tons

154 m

20 meters

9.5 meters

26 officers, 315 teams

Two propellers, each driven over 4 gas turbines; 100,000 shaft horsepower

31 knots

90 VLS cells, 2 triple torpedo launchers, 1 artillery 127 mm

The USS Stethem (DDG -63 ) is a destroyer of the Arleigh Burke-class. The United States Navy named after the ship Petty Officer Robert Stethem, who was killed in the abduction of TWA Flight 847.

History

The United States Navy was DDG -63 in 1990 in order. In May 1993, the destroyer was placed at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Kiel and launched in June of the following year from the stack. Godmother of the ship was Patricia L. Stethem, the mother of Robert. Official commissioning ceremony was on 21 October 1995.

On 23 November 1995, the Stethem ran out to look for the crew of a downed Lockheed C- 130 of the United States Air Force. In 1997, the destroyer ran out to his first installation, on July 3, the ship reached Bahrain. During Operation Southern Watch the Stethem drove (CV -64) and USS John F. Kennedy (CV -67) with the carriers USS Constellation. Also, 1999 was the target of the ship of the Persian Gulf. Some of them went with USS Theodore Roosevelt ( CVN -71). 2001 began the third installation in the Gulf, this time with the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN -75). Later in the year, she participated in Operation Noble Eagle, the direct response to the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001 in the United States. After the ship went into dry dock.

2002 and 2003, the Stethem spent mainly with exercises, on 5 April 2003 launched by the destroyers, the first BGM -109 Tomahawk Block IV all.

2006 moved the ship again, also grew, in an exercise with the Japanese Navy in part. Then in 2007 was the exercise Valiant Shield on the plan of Stethem. 2008 protected the destroyer the USS Kitty Hawk (CV -63 ) with a transfer in the Western Pacific and took in April with the battle group to a port visit to Hong Kong in part. 2009 drove the Stethem on the side of the USS Essex (LHD -2) in the West Pacific. After the bombardment of Yeonpyeong, the destroyer moved to the USS George Washington ( CVN -73) side into the Yellow Sea.