PASCAGOULA, Miss. - The Navy accepted delivery of the future USS John Finn (DDG 113) from shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Dec. 7.
DDG 113 was delivered after successfully completing three sets of at-sea and in-port trials that 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. I'm pleased that this well-built and capable ship will soon be joining the Fleet," said Capt. Casey Moton, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office, Ships.
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 that 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.
DDG 113 was notably delivered on the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks. 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 that 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 FY13-17. Another seven Arleigh Burke class destroyers are either under construction or contract at General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works shipyard.
As one of the Defense Department's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, boats and craft.
More information on DDG 113's namesake, John Finn, can be found here:
http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2016/12/06/pearlharbor75-chief-aviation-ordnanceman-john-finn
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