On the 20th of May in the United States, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works celebrated the keel laying of the future USS Quentin Walsh (DDG 132).
The US Navy named the ship after a Coast Guard captain who was awarded the Navy Cross for bravery and leadership during World War II in France in 1944 following the Normandy Landing, protecting the port of Cherbourg.
The USS “Quentin Walsh” (DDG-132) will be the ninth Arleigh Burke-class destroyer of the Flight III version and the 84th unit of the class to be built.
The Flight III upgrade focuses on the AN/SPY-6(V)1 air and missile defense radar and incorporates updates to electrical power and cooling capacity, as well as additional modifications that enhance combat capabilities.
The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers are multi-mission surface vessels capable of conducting anti-air warfare (AAW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and anti-surface warfare (ASuW).
The Arleigh Burke-class destroyers play a significant role in attack war by deploying Tomahawk cruise missiles to strike deep land targets.
Flight III is the fourth upgrade in the over 30-year history of the Arleigh Burke-class, adding to the previous Flight I, II, and IIA.
In addition to the Quentin Walsh, Bath Iron Works is currently constructing the Arleigh Burke Flight IIA-class destroyers Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124) and Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127) and the Arleigh Burke Flight III-class destroyers Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), William Charette (DDG 130), John E. Kilmer (DDG 134), and Richard G. Lugar (DDG 136).
Source and photo credit @General Dynamics Bath Iron Works
