The US Navy’s newest Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the future USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), began its sea trials on December 16 and returned from the trials on 20th December, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (GD BIW) announced.
The DDG 118 is the first ship BIW down the Kennebec River in two years. This achievement is even more gratifying, as it occurs during a year of great challenges for the BIW shipyard and the entire country due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Upon completion of these sea tests, also called Builders Trials, the ship will be at sea again in March for acceptance tests, which will be conducted by the US Navy Inspection and Research Council (INSURV). The delivery of the ship to the Navy will occur after acceptance tests.
The future USS Daniel Inouye will be the 68th Navy Arleigh Burke class destroyer . The ship was named after Senator Daniel Inouye, a Medal of Honor winner for heroism during World War II. Senator Inouye represented Hawaii in the United States Senate for 50 years and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The keel was set up on May 14, 2018, and he was baptized by Inouye’s widow, Irene Hirano Inouye, during a ceremony held in Bath, Maine, on June 22, 2019. The BIW floated the destroyer in October 27, 2019.
Daniel Inouye will be the third of the eight planned “technology insertion” ships for Flight IIA, which will contain elements of Flight III ships that start with DDG-125 . The ship is 509.5 feet long and 59 feet wide, with a displacement of 9,496 tons. It will be based in Pearl Harbor.
Source: Defesa Aeréa & Naval
