USS Patrick Gallagher (DDG-127) is a planned United States Navy Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA guided missile destroyer, the 77th overall for the class.[1][5] She will be named for Lance Corporal Patrick Gallagher (1944–1967), an Irish-born Marine who earned the Navy Cross during the Vietnam War.[6][7]

Graphical depiction of USS Patrick Gallagher
History
United States
NamePatrick Gallagher
NamesakePatrick Gallagher
Awarded28 September 2017[1]
BuilderBath Iron Works
Laid down30 March 2022[2]
Sponsored byTeresa Gallagher Keegan, Rosemarie Gallagher, and Pauline Gallagher[3]
Christened27 July 2024[3]
IdentificationHull number: DDG-127
StatusUnder construction
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeArleigh Burke-class destroyer
Displacement9,217 tons (full load)[4]
Length513 ft (156 m)[4]
Beam66 ft (20 m)[4]
Propulsion4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines 100,000 shp (75,000 kW)[4]
Speed31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph)[4]
Complement380 officers and enlisted
Armament
Aircraft carried2 × MH-60R Seahawk helicopters
Aviation facilitiesDouble hangar and helipad

Unlike the previous two Arleigh Burke-class ships USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125) and USS Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG-126) which were inserted into the previous multi-year contract and are planned to be built in the Flight III configuration, Patrick Gallagher was separately added to Navy shipbuilding plans by Congress and will be built in the Flight IIA configuration.[8][9] Bath Iron Works was awarded the contract for Patrick Gallagher on 28 September 2017[10] and construction started on 9 November 2018.[11] On 30 March 2022, her keel was laid down at Bath Iron Works.[2]

The ship was christened at Bath Iron Works shipyard on 27 July 2024. US Senator Susan Collins of Maine was in attendance.[3] Outside the north gate, a group of around 75 protesters of the Israel-Hamas war were blocking roads, criminal trespass and dumping red liquid on the area in front of BIW's main building. Several were arrested.[12]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Gallagher (DDG 127)". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Keel Authenticated for Future USS Patrick Gallagher" (Press release). United States Navy. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "U.S. Navy to Christen Guided-Missile Destroyer Future USS Patrick Gallagher" (Press release). United States Navy. 26 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e "DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class". Federation of American Scientists. FAS.org. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  5. ^ "SECNAV Names Newest Destroyer in Honor of U.S. Marine" (Press release). U.S. Navy. 12 March 2018. NNS180312-11. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  6. ^ LaGrone, Sam (12 March 2018). "Navy Names Destroyer After Irish Marine Patrick Gallagher". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  7. ^ "US War Memorials - Gallagher, Patrick 'Bob'".
  8. ^ Eckstein, Megan (20 December 2017). "DDG-51 Program Preparing RFP For Next Multi-year Buy". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Contracts" (Press release). U.S. Department of Defense. 28 September 2017. CR-189-17. Retrieved 13 March 2018. …and award of one fiscal 2016 ship (DDG 127) in the Flight IIA configuration.
  10. ^ LaGrone, Sam (28 September 2017). "Bath Iron Works Awarded Second Flight III Destroyer In Two Ship Contract Modification". USNI News. U.S. Naval Institute. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Construction Begins on Future USS Patrick Gallagher" (Press release). United States Navy. 13 November 2019. NNS181113-08. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  12. ^ "Several protesters arrested during Bath Iron Works ship christening event". newscentermaine.com. 27 July 2024. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.