Category Archives: Ship

Change of Command

Commander Ethan Reber relieved Commander Tyrchra Bowman as Commanding Officer on December 19, 2024.

Fair Winds and Following Seas to Commander Bowman, who led the ship through two successful FDNF-E deployments, including the first SM-3 operational employment. We look forward to continued success of Arleigh Burke under the leadership of Commander Reber.

  • NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain (Dec. 19, 2024) Cmdr. Tyrchra Bowman, the commanding officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), gives remarks at the ship’s change of command ceremony onboard Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota, Spain, Dec. 19, 2024. As the “Gateway to the Mediterranean,” NAVSTA Rota provides U.S, NATO and allied forces a strategic hub for operations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. NAVSTA Rota is a force multiplier, capable of promptly deploying and supporting combat-read
  • NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain (Dec. 19, 2024) Cmdr. Tyrchra Bowman, the commanding officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), left, shakes hands with Cmdr. Ethan Reber, the prospective commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke, after giving remarks during the ship’s change of command ceremony onboard Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota, Spain, Dec. 19, 2024. As the “Gateway to the Mediterranean,” NAVSTA Rota provides U.S, NATO and allied forces a strategic hub for operations in Europe, Africa a

Rough Seas

The history project is providing some new (old) artifacts. From Andy Summer’s files – rough seas transiting Atlantic on first deployment, March 1993, pictures from USS Theodore Rosevelt (CVN 71).

Oral History Project

One of the Association’s objectives is to preserve the legacy of the Admiral and his ship. 

We are starting a new effort for this preservation – oral histories of those that contributed to the success of Arleigh Burke.

Initial focus is the Arleigh Burke to Sea period, including design, construction, precomm, commissioning, DT-OT, PSA, deployment preparations, and first deployment. Time is of the essence as we are starting to lose the heroes that made Arleigh Burke to Sea a reality.

Note – this started with the title “Oral History” – but we are now using the more general title “History Project” – recognizing that submissions are also coming in as written answers to our questions and in the form of documents we are capturing to archive.

Read more ….

Arleigh Burke Change of Command

Commander Tyrchra Bowman relieved Commander Peter Flynn as Commanding Officer on Thursday, Aug 24, 2023.

Fair Winds and Following Seas to Commander Flynn, who led the ship through successful second and third FDNF-E deployments. We look forward to continued success of Arleigh Burke under the leadership of Commander Bowman.

Read more …

Have you seen me?

Renowned Maine Artist Roger Williams created an original work of art commemorating the Admiral and his ship for commissioning. It was originally displayed in the wardroom. At some point the painting went missing. The Association would like to locate this missing painting.

The painting is owned by the US Navy, as it was donated to the ship at commissioning.

Continue reading “Have you seen me?”

DDG51 Service Life Extended to 40 years

OPNAV N96 recently approved a five-year service life extension for USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51).
 
First-in-class Arleigh Burke’s estimated service life was 35 years, expected to expire in FY 2026, but efforts began early last year to request additional service time for the ship. The approval extension carries the ship out through FY 2031 now, when the ship will be 40 years old.
 
According to Rear Adm. Brendan McLane, commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, the extension is a testament to the success of the DDG 51 program as a whole and is an example of the Navy’s enduring relationship with industry partners.

“DDG 51’s are the best warships in history. They demonstrate that there are no limits to what we can accomplish with a strong American Navy-industrial partnership”

“Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are the backbone of the Navy’s surface fleet and critical to the Nation and the Navy today and long into the future.”

Rear Adm. Brendan McLane, commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic

Read more at: USS ARLEIGH BURKE (DDG 51) RECEIVES SERVICE LIFE EXTENSION – Naval Surface Force Atlantic Press Release – March 14, 2023