USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) Guided-Missile Destroyer (1991)
The USS Arleigh Burke is the first ship in her class numbering some 60 vessels strong.
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyers maintain a distinct profile and sports a single aluminum mast atop her superstructure. She is noted in US Navy history for being the first warship of size to incorporate any semblance of stealth characteristics and does this through specialized shaping consistent with the stealth technology of the time. A special-engineered steel hull provides better operation in most rough seas than previous hulls and her armor consists of Kevlar-protected areas of critical operating posts throughout the ship. Another interesting note of the Arleigh Burke design is that she is a vessel capable of operating in dangerous areas contaminated by radiological, biological and chemical weapons thanks to her Collective Protection System.
Noted systems aboard the USS Arleigh Burke include AN/SPY-1D radar, AN/SPS-67(V)2 and AN/SPS-64(V)9 surface search radar systems, AN/SQS-53C sonar array and AN/SQR-19 tactical towed array. Her electronic warfare system consists of the AN/SLQ-32(V)2 EWS while decoys are provided through CHAFF buoys, torpedo countermeasures and the Mk 36 MOD 12 decoy launching system. Power for the vessel is supplied by four General Electric LM 2500-30 gas-powered turbines operating twin shafts and delivering up to 100,000 shaft horsepower allowing for speeds in excess of 30 knots in ideal conditions. The USS Arleigh Burke is crewed by 323 personnel and sports a helipad at her stern for operations of a single Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk LAMPS III, a pivotal addition to the anti-submarine operation role.
As a destroyer, the USS Arleigh Burke operates a variety of situation-specific weaponry making her a truly multi-faceted platform. Accessible systems include twin Mark 32 torpedo tubes (triple launchers) for anti-ship duty. She sports a single 5" gun turret at her bow with additional firepower provided by 2 x 25mm chain gun systems. Anti-aircraft and anti-missile support is handled by 2 x 20mm Phalanx Close-In Weapon System(s) (CIWS) which is further augmented by up to 4 x 12.7mm (.50 caliber) heavy machine guns. Probably the most important aspect of the USS Arleigh Burke's firepower, however, are her two collection of missile launchers firing from 29 and 61 cell groupings. These Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) can fire off either RIM-66 SM-2 missiles, BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles or RUM-139 VL-ASROC missiles as needed.
While undergoing a variety of deployments, the USS Arleigh Burke has more recently seen extensive action in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom utilizing her Tomahawk cruise missile launchers to strike at targets inland while previously having served in the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, the Black Sea and the Persian Gulf. More recently, the USS Arleigh Burke has been called upon to quell piracy operations now active off the coast of Somalia. In her time abroad, the vessel and her crews have been the recipient of no fewer than 15 honors in the form of ribbons, medals and commendations.
The USS Arleigh Burke was ordered in 1985 and not laid down until 1988. She was launched the following year and officially commissioned in 1991. The vessel makes her home port out of Norfolk, Virginia and fights under the motto of "Fast and Feared". As of this writing, she is in active service. The USS Arleigh Burke is named after former United States Navy Admiral Arleigh Albert Burke.
The Arleigh Burke-class family of ships is broken down into three distinct groupings known as Flight I (DDG-51 through DDG-71), Flight II (DDG 72 through DDG 78) and Flight IIIA (DDG 79 through DDG 112). Flight IIIA can be further broken down into three sub-groups from DDG-79 through DDG 80, DDG 81 through DDG 84 and DDG 85 through DDG 112 for various minor differences. Construction of the USS Arleigh Burke was handled by Bath Iron Works within Flight I. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
MilitaryFactory.com does NOT sell equipment/weaponry. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information. Our disclaimer. Email corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com.
Specifications for the
USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51)
Guided-Missile Destroyer
Country of Origin: United States
Initial Year of Service: 1991
Operators: United States
Crew: 323
Length: 505ft (153.92m)
Beam: 66ft (20.12m)
Draught: 30ft (9.14m)
Displacement: 8,885tons
Machinery: 4 x General Electric LM 2500-30 gas turbines with 2 x shafts delivering 100,000shp.
Surface Speed: 30kts (35mph)
Range: 5,033miles (8,100km)
Armament:
2 x Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes
1 x 5" Mark 45 gun
2 x 25mm chain guns
2 x 20mm Phalanx CIWS
4 x 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine guns
1 x 29 cell Mk 41 Vertical Launch Systems (for RIM-66 SM-2, BGM-109 Tomahawk OR RUM-139 VL-ASROC missiles)
1 x 61 cell Mk 41 Vertical Launch Systems (for RIM-66 SM-2, BGM-109 Tomahawk OR RUM-139 VL-Asroc missiles)
Air Arm: 1 x Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk LAMPS III helicopter
Ship Class: Arleigh Burke-class
Number-in-Class: 62
Ships-in-Class: USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51); USS Barry (DDG-52); USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53); USS Curtis Wilber (DDG-54); USS Stout (DDG-55); USS John S. McCain (DDG-56); USS Mitscher (DDG-57); USS Laboon (DDG-58); USS Russell (DDG-59); USS Paul Hamilton (DDG-60); USS Ramage (DDG-61); USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62); USS Stethem (DDG-63); USS Carney (DDG-64); USS Benfold (DDG-65); USS Gonzalez (DDG-66); USS Cole (DDG-67); USS The Sullivans (DDG-68); USS Milius (DDG-69); USS Hopper (DDG-70); USS Ross (DDG-71); USS Mahan (DDG-72); USS Decatur (DDG-73); USS McFaul (DDG-74); USS Donald Cook (DDG-75); USS Higgins (DDG-76); USS O'Kane (DDG-77); USS Porter (DDG-78); USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79); USS Roosevelt (DDG-80); USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81); USS Lassen (DDG-82); USS Howard (DDG-83); USS Bulkeley (DDG-84); USS McCampbell (DDG-85); USS Shoup (DDG-86); USS Mason (DDG-87); USS Preble (DDG-88); USS Mustin (DDG-89); USS Chafee (DDG-90); USS Pinkney (DDG-91); USS Momsen (DDG-92); USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93); USS Nitze (DDG-94); USS James E. Williams (DDG-95); USS Bainbridge (DDG-96); USS Halsey (DDG-97); USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98); USS Farragut (DDG-99); USS Kidd (DDG-100); USS Gridley (DDG-101); USS Sampson (DDG-102); USS Truxtun (DDG-103); USS Sterett (DDG-104); USS Dewey (DDG-105); USS Stockdale (DDG-106); USS Gravely (DDG-107); USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108); USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109); USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110); USS Spruance (DDG-111); USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112)
BY TYPE:
• Age of Sail
• Aircraft Carriers
• Escort Carriers
• Amphibious
• Amphibious Assault
• Battlecruisers
• Battleships
• Cargo Ships
• Corvettes
• Cruisers
• Destroyers
• Destroyer Escorts
• Dreadnoughts
• Pre-Dreadnoughts
• Personal Watercraft
• Frigates
• Helicopter Carriers
• Ironclads
• Mine Warfare
• Patrol Craft
• Special Forces Watercraft
• Special Purpose
• Submarines
• Steam and Sail Warships
• Torpedo Boats
• VIEW ALL
BATTLESHIPS:
• Battleships
• 2nd Class Battleships
• Pocket Battleships
SUBMARINES:
• Diesel-Electric Submarines
• Ballistic Missile Submarines
• Midget Submarines
• Nuclear Attack Submarines
• VIEW ALL
• VIEW ALL
WORLD WAR 2:
• Aircraft Carriers
• Battleships
• British Warships
• Destroyers
• French Warships
• German Warships
• German U-Boat Submarines
• Italian Warships
• Japanese Warships
• American Warships
• Submarines
• WW2 Warships (ALL)
VIETNAM WAR:
• VIEW ALL
MISCELLANEOUS:
• Battle of Trafalgar
• Civil War Ships
• How Submarines Work
• Modern Aircraft Carriers
• Modern Warships
• United States Navy Carriers
• United States Navy Classification
©2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • Content ©2003-2013 MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Site Contact Email: militaryfactory at gmail dot com. The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® trademarks and protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws.
Top MF Stuff: 2013 Military Pay Scale | Military Ranks | WW2 Weapons | Sniper Rifles | Kts to Mph | WW1 Aircraft | Automatic Rifles | Aircraft Cockpits | Vietnam War Weapons | Main Battle Tanks | Submachine Guns | Shotguns | French Military Victories
Most photographic images appearing on this site are courtesy of the United States Department of Defense and are approved for public use. Other images acquired through the public domain. Digital art work courtesy of Dan Alex. Business Consulting by Kyle Williams. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information.
