U.S. Navy's newest addition

[Tater]

Drove down to the coast today and had a look at this ship. It was pretty impressive. Didn't get to go on her but from where we could get, I was pretty impressed.

Special from the Department of Defense

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy will commission the newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, the USS Kidd (DDG 100), June 9 in Galveston, Texas.

Designated hull number DDG 100, the new destroyer honors Medal of Honor recipient Rear Adm. Isaac Campbell Kidd Sr.

On Dec. 7, 1941, Kidd was commander of Battleship Division 1 and the senior officer present afloat during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. From the bridge of his flagship, the USS Arizona, Kidd directed the counterattack against enemy aircraft until the magazine of Arizona exploded by enemy ordnance, eventually sinking the ship. Kidd was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.

Rep. Ron Paul of Texas will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Regina Kidd Wolbarsht and Mary Corrinne Kidd Plumer will serve as sponsors of the ship named for their grandfather.

Two previous U.S. Navy destroyers have been named in honor of Kidd. The first ship was a Fletcher-class destroyer that was in service from 1943-1974. It is now a floating veterans' memorial and museum in Baton Rouge, La. The second, the lead ship of the Kidd-class destroyers, was also built at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems. It served from 1981-1998 and was sold to Taiwan in 2004 and renamed Tzuo-Ying, and given the hull number designation DDG 1803.

The newest USS Kidd is the 50th ship in the Arleigh Burke class of guided-missile destroyers. This multi-mission ship can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, in support of strategic maritime operations. Kidd will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously.

Cmdr. Richard E. Thomas is the ship's first commanding officer and will lead her crew of 276 officers and sailors. The 9,200-ton Kidd has an overall length of 511 feet, a waterline beam of 59 feet and a navigational draft of 33 feet. Four gas turbine engines will power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots.

[Tater]

Hers's a couple of pics I was able to take

[SHSURobert]

Tater,

Hey, thanks for posting this. I had no idea they were commissioning a ship down there. Now, I'm pissed that I missed it, although we had a birthday party for my son today. Anyhow, I was down there for the USS Ross (DDG 71) commissioning ceremony back in 1997 or so. We met a Sailor who gave us a private tour. I was blown away by all of the bells and whistles, literally, especially the Combat Information Center; it was awesome. Glad you made it down there. Thanks again...

[Taxx]

Is it just a coincidence that Jason Kidd played for the Phoenix Suns (in Arizona) and that someone with the same last name was the senior officer on the USS Arizona.......weird........anyone else get goosebumps! Oops, maybe this should be in the nerdy section. I'm not even an NBA fan.