USS Howard (DDG-83)

USS Howard (DDG-83)
Career (US)
Name:	USS Howard
Namesake:	Gunnery Sgt. Jimmie E. Howard
Ordered:	20 June 1996
Builder:	Bath Iron Works
Laid down:	9 December 1998
Launched:	20 November 1999
Commissioned:	20 October 2001
Homeport:	Naval Base San Diego
Status:	in active service, as of 2011[update]
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type:	Arleigh Burke class destroyer
Displacement:	9,200 tons
Length:	509 ft 6 in (155.30 m)
Beam:	66 ft (20 m)
Draft:	31 ft (9.4 m)
Propulsion:	4 × General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines, 2 shafts, 100,000 shp (75 MW)
Speed:	30+ knots
Complement:	320 officers and enlisted
Armament:	1 × 32 cell, 1 × 64 cell Mk 41 vertical launch systems, 96 × RIM-66 SM-2, BGM-109 Tomahawk or RUM-139 VL-Asroc, missiles 1 × 5"/62 caliber (127mm/62 caliber), 2 × 25 mm, 4 × 12.7 mm guns, 2 × Phalanx CIWS 2 × Mk 46 triple torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried:	2 × SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters
Motto:	Ready for Victory

For other ships of the same name, see USS Howard.

USS Howard (DDG-83) is the thirty-third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy and the nineteenth built at Bath Iron Works. Her keel was laid down 9 December 1998, launched and christened 20 November 1999 and commissioned 20 October 2001.

The ship is named in honor of Gunnery Sgt. Jimmie E. Howard, USMC, (1929–1993), recipient of the Medal of Honor for his leadership of a platoon against repeated attacks by a battalion-sized Viet Cong force. After receiving severe wounds from an enemy grenade, he distributed ammunition to his men and directed air strikes on the enemy. By dawn, his beleaguered platoon still held their position. Howard had also received the Silver Star Medal for his service in the Korean War. Every time USS Howard sets to sea from its homeport of San Diego, it passes within view of Gunnery Sgt. Howard's grave at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery and salutes its namesake.

On 16 February 2007, the USS Howard was awarded the 2006 Battle "E" award.^[1]

On September 28, 2008, USS Howard was reported to be in pursuit of the Ukrainian ship Faina, which on 25 September 2008 was captured by Somali pirates en route to Kenya. The Faina was reported to be carrying 33 Russian-built T-72 tanks along with ammunition and spare parts.^[2] 'Faina was eventually released by the pirates February 5, 2009.

In 2008, Howard received the 2008 Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy Award and provided humanitarian assistance to the Philippines.^[3]

Cmdr. Scott Switzer became the sixth commanding officer of Howard, replacing Cmdr. Curtis Goodnight on May 8, 2009 during a ceremony at San Diego.^[3]

Other ships with same name

A previous USS Howard (DD-179), had been named for Charles W. Howard, a U.S. Navy hero from the American Civil War, earned six battle stars in World War II.

References

1. ^ Surface Force Ships, Crews Earn Battle "E". US Navy. February 19, 2007.
2. ^ US destroyer watching hijacked ship off Somalia. Associated Press via ABC news. September 27, 2008.
3. ^ ^{a b} USS Howard Holds Change of Command Ceremony. ENS Jessica Kelz, USS Howard, PAO. Navy Compass. May 8, 2009

This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.