Keel Laid for Future USS Sam Nunn

Keel Laid for Future USS Sam Nunn

By Team Ships Strategic Operations

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - The keel for the future USS Sam Nunn (DDG 133), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, was laid during a ceremony on Nov. 22 at HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division.

The ship is named in honor of United States Senator Samuel Augustus Nunn Jr, who represented the state of Georigia, served as Chairman of both the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services and the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

As the living namesake, Sen. Nunn attended the keel laying ceremony alongside his daughter and ship's sponsor, Michelle Nunn.

A keel laying ceremony represents the joining together of the ship's first major modular components at land level. During the ceremony, the keel is authenticated when a welder etches the initials of the ship's sponsor into the keel plate. In addition to Ms. Nunn's initials, Sen. Nunn's initials were also etched into the plate.

"The future USS Sam Nunn and all who sail aboard her will honor the legacy of Sen. Nunn and his dedication to the men and women serving our country," said Capt. Seth Miller, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office, Ships (PEO Ships). "DDG 133 will be yet another player on the field providing the most advanced capability to our Navy and the nation.

DDG 51 Flight III destroyers feature the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar and incorporate upgrades to the electrical power and cooling capacity plus additional associated changes to provide greatly enhanced warfighting capability to the fleet.

Future destroyers USS Ted Stevens (DDG 128), USS Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), and USS Thad Cochran (DDG 135) are also under construction at Ingalls.

PEO Ships, one of the Department of Defense's largest acquisition organizations, is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships and craft, auxiliary ships, special mission ships, sealift ships and support ships.