USS Benfold Tour WOW…What a Tour!

 

Literally thousands of local civilians …. and many veterans….lined up for a tour of the USS Benfold, DDG 65.  For the late arrivals the wait  to get on board was a little long but the tour of this vessel was an inspiration for all of us. 

 

  The Benfold is an Arleigh-Burke class Destroyer.  This is the largest ship being built for the U. S.  Fleet but this is definitely not one of the “Tin Cans” of WW II.  The ship is over 500 ft long and has a 60 ft beam and probably has a speed capability of 4o knots although the offical stats say 30. The Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers is the first destroyer of the United States Navy built around the Aegis combat system and the SPY-1D multi-function phased array radar. The first ship was commissioned on 4 July 1991. After the decommissioning of the last Spruance-class destroyer, USS Cushing, on September 21, 2005, the Arleigh Burke class ships became the U.S. Navy’s only active destroyers.

The class is named for Admiral Arleigh “31-Knot” Burke, the most famous American destroyer officer of World War II. Admiral Burke was alive when the class leader was commissioned. The first Arleigh Burke class was launched July 4, 1991, just after the last Spruance Class cruiser was de-commissioned. Ironically the USS Spruance DDG is presently on the ways at Bath, Maine and soon to be commissioned.  Admiral Spruance was the officer who replaced Admiral Halsey (who was in hospital) prior to the battle of Midway and his leadership was crucial to what is described as the greatest U.S. naval victory in history. 

This destroyer has more firepower than a WW II battleship.  This class were the first destroyers  built around the Aegis combat system and the SPY-1D multi-function phased array radar. Arleigh Burke class ships are the U.S. Navy’s only active destroyers.

The class is named for Admiral Arleigh “31-Knot” Burke, the most famous American destroyer officer of World War II. Admiral Burke was alive when the class leader was commissioned.

Her Collective Protection System makes the Arleigh Burke class the first U.S. warships designed with an air-filtration system against nuclear, biological and chemical warfare 

The United States Navy has begun a modernization program for the Arleigh Burke class aimed at improving the gun systems on the ships in an effort to address congressional concerns over the retirement of the U.S. Iowa-class battleships. Among other things this modernization includes is the extension of the range of the 5-inch (127 mm) guns on the Flight I Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (USS Arleigh Burke to USS Ross) with extended range guided munitions (ERGMs) that would enable the ships to fire projectiles about 40 nautical miles (74 km) inland.

 

 

 

 The United States Navy has begun a modernization program for the Arleigh Burke class aimed at improving the gun systems on the ships in an effort to address congressional concerns over the retirement of the U.S. Iowa-class battleships. Among other things this modernization includes is the extension of the range of the 5-inch (127 mm) guns on the Flight I Arleigh Burke-class destroyers (USS Arleigh Burke to USS Ross) with extended range guided munitions (ERGMs) that would enable the ships to fire projectiles about 40 nautical miles (74 km

 

“What’s Up in Seal Beach” in Seal Beach and the people of SealBeach thank the 275 officers and men of the USS Benfold for giving up their deserved weekend liberty to proudly show us their ship.  They are on their way back to the Middle Ease and we want to see them back here in a few months safe and sound and this time perhaps we can show them a good tour of our town. .