USS Gravely

Last updated

Gravely Visits Greece 130611-N-MO201-035.jpg
USS Gravely in 2013
History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
NameGravely
Namesake Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. [1]
Awarded13 September 2002 [2]
Builder Ingalls Shipbuilding [2]
Laid down26 November 2007 [2]
Launched30 March 2009 [2]
Sponsored byAlma Gravely [1]
Christened16 May 2009 [1]
Commissioned20 November 2010 [3]
Homeport Norfolk [2]
Identification
MottoFirst To Conquer
Statusin active service [2]
Badge USSGravelyDDG107coatofarms.png
General characteristics
Class and type Arleigh Burke-class destroyer
Displacement9,200 long tons (9,300 t)
Length509 ft 6 in (155.30 m) [2]
Beam66 ft (20 m) [2]
Draft33 ft (10 m) [2]
Propulsion4 × General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines, 2 shafts, 100,000  shp (75 MW) [2]
Speed30  kn (56 km/h; 35 mph) [1]
Complement312 officers and enlisted [2]
Armament
Aircraft carried2 × MH-60R Seahawk helicopters

USS Gravely (DDG-107) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. She is named after Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely Jr. Commissioned in 2010, she has been on several overseas deployments.

Contents

Construction

Gravely is the 57th destroyer in her class. She was authorized on 13 September 2002 and her keel was laid down on 26 November 2007 at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's Ingalls Shipbuilding shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Gravely was launched on 30 March 2009. [2] The ship is named after Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, Jr., the first African American in the U.S. Navy to serve aboard a fighting ship as an officer, the first to command a Navy ship, the first fleet commander, and the first to become a flag officer, retiring as a vice admiral. [4] [5] Admiral Gravely's wife, Alma Gravely, christened the ship on 16 May 2009 and serves as ship's sponsor. Retired Navy Admiral J. Paul Reason was the principal speaker at the ceremony, which was held at Northrop's facility in Pascagoula. [1] She successfully completed sea trials in June 2010. [6] Gravely, Northrop Grumman's 27th Aegis'equipped guided missile destroyer, was commissioned at Wilmington, North Carolina on 20 November 2010. [3]

Service history

Forward 5 in/62 caliber gun of USS Gravely. Taken during Fleet Week 2012 in Boston. The superstructure of a German destroyer is in the left background. USS Gravely Forward gun.JPG
Forward 5 in/62 caliber gun of USS Gravely. Taken during Fleet Week 2012 in Boston. The superstructure of a German destroyer is in the left background.
Gravely fore VLS. Picture taken during Fleet Week 2012 in Boston. The ship in the background is a German destroyer. USS Gravely Fore VLS.JPG
Gravely fore VLS. Picture taken during Fleet Week 2012 in Boston. The ship in the background is a German destroyer.

In late August 2013 along with her sister ships Mahan, Barry, and Ramage, Gravely was sent to patrol the eastern Mediterranean Sea in response to rising rumors of an imminent US military intervention in the Syrian civil war. [7] On 28 October 2013, the destroyers Gravely and Ramage answered a distress call from a vessel carrying immigrants located 160 nautical miles (300 km; 180 mi) off the coast of Kalamata, Greece. [8] On 18 November 2013, Gravely returned to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, completing her first overseas deployment. [9]

On 28 March 2016, Gravely provided assistance to USS Sirocco, which had seized a stateless dhow transporting weapons. Once the weapons were offloaded, the dhow and its crew were released. [10] In June 2016 while escorting the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman the destroyer had a close encounter with a Russian Navy frigate, causing Russian and US Navy officials to accuse each other of dangerous and unprofessional conduct. [11] On 11 March 2019, as part of Carrier Strike Group Eight (CSG-8), Gravely received the Meritorious Unit Commendation award in support of Operation Inherent Resolve during the 2015-2016 deployment. [12]

On 13 May 2022, Gravely took part in a PASSEX training with the Finnish and Swedish navies in the northern Baltic Sea. [13] In May 2022, Gravely was homeported out of Naval Station Norfolk and a part of Destroyer Squadron 28, along with Carrier Strike Group 8 led by the USS Harry S. Truman. [14]

On 24 June 2022, Gravely returned to Norfolk. [15]

United States–Houthi conflict (2023–present)

On 14 October 2023, Lloyd Austin directed Dwight D. Eisenhower and her carrier strike group, which includes the cruiser Philippine Sea, along with Gravely and sister-destroyers Laboon and Mason, to the eastern Mediterranean in response to Israel's war with Hamas. [16] This is the second carrier strike group to be sent to the region in response to the conflict, following Gerald R. Ford and her group, which was dispatched only six days earlier. [17]

On 30 December 2023, Danish container ship Maersk Hangzhou issued a distress call after coming under fire from four small ships commanded by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen. Attempts were also made to board Maersk Hangzhou by force, while a contracted security team defended the ship. Gravely and aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower responded to a distress call from the container ship. Verbal commands were radioed to the Houthi ships, while helicopters from Eisenhower were dispatched. After taking small arms fire, U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire, sinking three of the four Houthi ships. There was no damage to U.S. equipment or personnel. In the process of responding to the distress call, Gravely shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired from Yemen. [18] [19]

On 12 January 2024, Gravely along with destroyer Mason and cruiser Philippine Sea fired Tomahawk cruise missiles at Houthi rebels in Yemen. Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing Three embarked on the carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower participated in the strikes. [20]

On 30 January 2024, Gravely used its Phalanx CIWS to shoot down an incoming anti-ship cruise missile fired by the Houthis. U.S. officials said that the missile came within a mile of the destroyer. [21] No damage or injuries were reported. [22]

Awards

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anti-ship missile</span> Missile used to attack ships

An anti-ship missile is a guided missile that is designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming variety, and many use a combination of inertial guidance and active radar homing. A large number of other anti-ship missiles use infrared homing to follow the heat that is emitted by a ship; it is also possible for anti-ship missiles to be guided by radio command all the way.

USS <i>Dwight D. Eisenhower</i> US Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier currently in service with the United States Navy. Commissioned in 1977, the ship is the second of ten Nimitz-class aircraft carriers currently in service, and is the first ship named after the 34th President of the United States and General of the Army, Dwight D. Eisenhower. The vessel was initially named simply as USS Eisenhower, much like the lead ship of the class, Nimitz, but the name was changed to its present form on 25 May 1970. The carrier, like all others of her class, was constructed at Newport News Shipbuilding Company in Virginia, with the same design as the lead ship, although the ship has been overhauled twice to bring her up to the standards of those constructed more recently.

USS <i>Cole</i> (DDG-67) Arleigh Burke-class destroyer

USS Cole (DDG-67) is an Arleigh Burke-class Aegis-equipped guided missile destroyer home-ported in Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. Cole is named in honor of Marine Sergeant Darrell S. Cole, a machine-gunner killed in action on Iwo Jima on 19 February 1945, during World War II. Cole is one of 62 authorized Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, and one of 21 members of the Flight I-class that used the 5 in(127 mm)/54 caliber gun mounts found on the earliest of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The ship was built by Ingalls Shipbuilding and was delivered to the Navy on 11 March 1996.

<i>Arleigh Burke</i>-class destroyer US Navy guided-missile destroyer class

The Arleigh Burke class of guided-missile destroyers (DDGs) is a United States Navy class of destroyer centered around the Aegis Combat System and the SPY-1D multi-function passive electronically scanned array radar. The class is named after Admiral Arleigh Burke, an American destroyer officer in World War II and later Chief of Naval Operations. With an overall length of 505 to 509.5 feet, displacement ranging from 8,300 to 9,700 tons, and weaponry including over 90 missiles, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are larger and more heavily armed than many previous classes of guided-missile cruisers.

USS <i>Ramage</i> American guided missile destroyer

USS Ramage (DDG-61) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer of the United States Navy. The ship is named for Vice Admiral Lawson P. Ramage, a notable submarine commander and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II.

USS <i>Arleigh Burke</i> Arleigh Burke-class destroyer

USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51), named for Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN (1901–1996), is the lead ship of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers. She was laid down by the Bath Iron Works company at Bath, Maine, on 6 December 1988; launched on 16 September 1989; and commissioned on 4 July 1991.

USS <i>Barry</i> (DDG-52) Arleigh Burke-class destroyer

USS Barry (DDG-52) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, commissioned in 1992. Barry is the fourth United States Navy ship named after the "Father of the American Navy", Commodore John Barry (1745–1803). Her homeport is Naval Station Everett, Washington. Several improvements over Arleigh Burke exist on this ship and all following Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, such as the ability to refuel a helicopter.

USS <i>Laboon</i> American guided-missile destroyer

USS Laboon (DDG-58) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. She is named for Father John Francis Laboon (1921–1988), a captain in the Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy, who was awarded the Silver Star during World War II while serving on the submarine USS Peto.

USS <i>Carney</i> Arleigh Burke-class destroyer

USS Carney (DDG-64) is the 14th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. The guided-missile destroyer is the first to be named after Admiral Robert Carney, who served as Chief of Naval Operations during the Eisenhower administration.

USS <i>Porter</i> (DDG-78) Arleigh Burke-class destroyer

USS Porter (DDG-78) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. Porter is the fifth US Navy ship to be named after US Navy officers Commodore David Porter, and his son, Admiral David Dixon Porter. This ship is the 28th destroyer of her class. Porter was the 12th ship of this class to be built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She was laid down on 2 December 1996, launched and christened on 12 November 1997, and commissioned 20 March 1999, in Port Canaveral, Florida.

USS <i>Bulkeley</i> Arleigh Burke-class destroyer

USS Bulkeley (DDG-84) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. She is named for Medal of Honor recipient Vice Admiral John D. Bulkeley. This ship is the 34th destroyer of its class. USS Bulkeley was the 15th ship of this class to be built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and construction began on 10 May 1999. She was launched on 21 June 2000 and was christened on 24 June 2000. On 8 December 2001 she was commissioned during a pierside ceremony at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in New York City, New York, with Commander Carlos Del Toro in command. Del Toro later became the 78th Secretary of the Navy in 2021.

USS <i>Mason</i> (DDG-87) American guided missile destroyer

USS Mason (DDG-87) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. She is named in honor of the Black crewmembers who served on board USS Mason (DE-529) during the period of racial segregation in the United States Armed Forces.

USS <i>Nitze</i> United States Navy destroyer

USS Nitze (DDG-94) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. She is named for Paul Nitze, who served as Secretary of the Navy under president Lyndon B. Johnson and as chief arms control adviser in the administration of president Ronald Reagan.

USS <i>Forrest Sherman</i> (DDG-98) Arleigh Burke-class destroyer

USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy and is the second US Navy ship to bear the name. She is part of Destroyer Squadron 28.

USS <i>Dewey</i> (DDG-105) Guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy

USS Dewey (DDG-105) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. Dewey is the third Navy ship named after Admiral of the Navy George Dewey, hero of the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish–American War.

USS <i>Stockdale</i> (DDG-106) United States Navy guided missile destroyer

USS Stockdale (DDG-106) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. The third U.S. Navy ship of that name, Stockdale is named after Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale (1923–2005) and is the 56th destroyer in her class. She was authorized on 13 September 2002 and was built by Bath Iron Works. Stockdale was christened 10 May 2008 by Admiral Stockdale's widow, Sybil, and delivered to the Navy on 30 September 2008. She transited the Panama Canal in March 2009; Admiral Stockdale's youngest son and grandchildren joined the ship for the trip. USS Stockdale was commissioned on 18 April 2009 at Port Hueneme.

USS <i>Bainbridge</i> (DDG-96) United States Navy guided missile destroyer

USS Bainbridge (DDG-96) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. She is the fifth ship to carry that name, and the 46th destroyer of a planned 75-ship class. Bainbridge is named in honor of Commodore William Bainbridge, who as commander of the frigate USS Constitution distinguished himself in the War of 1812 when he and his crew captured HMS Java, a 38-gun fifth-rate frigate of the Royal Navy.

USS <i>William P. Lawrence</i> American guided missile destroyer

USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. She is the 60th ship in her class. The ship is named for Vice Admiral William P. Lawrence (1930–2005), a naval aviator, fighter pilot, test pilot, Mercury astronaut finalist, Vietnam War prisoner of war, a U.S. Third Fleet commander, a Chief of Naval Personnel, and a Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy.

USS <i>Spruance</i> (DDG-111) United States Navy guided missile destroyer

USS Spruance (DDG-111) is a United States Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. She is the 61st ship in her class. Spruance is the second ship to be named for Admiral Raymond A. Spruance (1886–1969), who commanded American naval forces at the Battles of Midway and the Philippine Sea. He was later Ambassador to the Philippines. Her keel was laid down on 14 May 2009. She was christened by the admiral's granddaughter, Ellen Spruance Holscher, on 5 June 2010 in Bath, Maine at Bath Iron Works, where the ship was built at a cost of $1 billion. The completed ship left Bath on 1 September 2011 for her commissioning in Key West, Florida on 1 October 2011.

USS <i>Fitzgerald</i> Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the US Navy

USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62), named for United States Navy officer Lieutenant William Charles Fitzgerald, is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the US Navy.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Navy Christens Newest Arleigh Burke Class Ship Gravely". Navy.mil. Navy News Service. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Gravely". Naval Vessel Register . NAVSEA Shipbuilding Support Office (NAVSHIPSO). Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  3. 1 2 Trettor, Eric (13 November 2010). "PCU Gravely Arrives in Wilmington for Commissioning". Navy News Service. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
  4. ↑ "Navy Names Newest Arleigh Burke Class Ship USS Gravely". Department of Defense. 12 September 2006. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  5. ↑ Bayot, Jennifer (26 October 2004). "Samuel L. Gravely Jr., 82, First Black Admiral in Navy, Dies". New York Times. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "Pascagoula-built destroyer Gravely returns from sea trial". gulflive.com. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  7. ↑ "U.S. and U.K. Move Ships Closer to Syria". USNI News. United States Naval Institute. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  8. ↑ "U.S. ships head towards migrant vessel in distress off Greece". Reuters . 28 October 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  9. ↑ "Destroyer Gravely returns to Norfolk Naval Station". The Virginian-Pilot . 18 November 2013. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  10. ↑ LeGrone, Sam (4 April 2016). "U.S. Navy Seizes Suspected Iranian Arms Shipment Bound for Yemen". USNI News. United States Naval Institute . Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  11. ↑ Martinez, Luis; Reevell, Patrick; McLaughlin, Elizabeth (29 June 2016). "US Officials Say Russian Warship Intentionally Interfered With Navy Operations". ABC News . Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  12. ↑ "CSG 8 Receives MUC for 2015-2016 Deployment". DVIDS. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  13. ↑ "Finnish Navy Holds Drills In Northern Baltic Sea". Naval News. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: May 23, 2022". usni.org. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  15. ↑ @USNavy (26 June 2022). "Welcome Home! ⚓ 🎉 🇺🇸 The USS Gravely (DDG 109) returns home to Naval Station Norfolk, June 24, 2022, after a mont…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ↑ Raddatz, Martha; Martinez, Luis (14 October 2023). "Exclusive: US to send 2nd aircraft carrier to eastern Mediterranean". ABC News . Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  17. ↑ "Statement From Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III on U.S. Force Posture Changes in the Middle E". U.S. Department of Defense . Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  18. ↑ US Central Command (31 December 2023). "Iranian-backed Houthi small boats attack merchant vessel and U.S. Navy helicopters in Southern Red Sea". X (formerly Twitter).
  19. ↑ Tanyos, Faris (30 December 2023). "Missile fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen strikes merchant vessel in Red Sea, Pentagon says". CBS News. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  20. ↑ Mongilio, Heather (12 January 2024). "Ike's Carrier Air Wing 3, USS Gravely, USS Philippine Sea and USS Mason Struck Houthi Targets". USNI News. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  21. ↑ Liebermann, Oren; Bertrand, Natasha (31 January 2024). "US warship had close call with Houthi missile in Red Sea". CNN. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  22. ↑ Sherman, Ella; Epstein, Jake (31 January 2024). "A Houthi missile got so close to a US destroyer the warship turned to a last resort gun system to shoot it down: report". Business Insider. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  23. ↑ https://www.cusnc.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/3849306/navcent-units-awarded-navy-unit-commendation/
  24. ↑ "Navadmin 179/23".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.