USS Preble (DDG-88)

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

USS Preble cruising in the Arabian Sea
Career
Name:	USS Preble
Namesake:	Edward Preble
Ordered:	13 December 1996
Builder:	Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi
Laid down:	22 June 2000
Launched:	1 June 2001
Acquired:	12 August 2002
Commissioned:	9 November 2002
Homeport:	Naval Base San Diego
Motto:	Intrepid Patriot
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 (155.3 m)
Beam:	66 ft (20 m)
Draft:	31 ft (9.4 m)
Propulsion:	4 General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines, two shafts, 100,000 total shaft horsepower (75 MW)
Speed:	>30 knots (56 km/h)
Range:	4,400 nautical miles at 20 knots (8,100 km at 37 km/h)
Complement:	33 Officers 38 Chief Petty Officers 210 Enlisted Personnel
Sensors and processing systems:	• AN/SPY-1D 3D Radar • AN/SPS-67(V)2 Surface Search Radar • AN/SPS-73(V)12 Surface Search Radar • AN/SQS-53C Sonar Array • AN/SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array Sonar • AN/SQQ-28 LAMPS III Shipboard System
Electronic warfare and decoys:	• AN/SLQ-32(V)2 Electronic Warfare System • AN/SLQ-25 Nixie Torpedo Countermeasures • MK 36 MOD 12 Decoy Launching System • AN/SLQ-39 CHAFF Buoys
Armament:	1 × 32-cell 1 × 64-cell Mk 41 vertical launch systems, 96 RIM-66 SM-2, RIM-162 ESSM, BGM-109 Tomahawk, or RUM-139 VL-Asroc missiles 1 × 5/62 inch (127/62 mm) 2 × 25 mm chain gun 4 × .50 caliber (12.7 mm) guns 1 × 20mm Phalanx CIWS (added aft) 2 × Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried:	Two SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters

USS Preble (DDG-88) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. She is the sixth U.S. Navy ship named for Commodore Edward Preble (1761–1807). Preble served in the American Revolutionary War and was one of the early leaders of the Navy, serving in the Quasi-War with France and the First Barbary War.

Preble was commissioned 9 November 2002 at the Commonwealth Pier/World Trade Center in Boston, Massachusetts. At her commissioning ceremony USS Preble was docked bow to bow with USS Constitution, the command of her namesake. The ceremony included a symbolic welcoming aboard of the spirit of Commodore Preble signaled by the ringing of chimes. Among the speakers at the commissioning were U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, U.S. Representative Stephen Lynch, then Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Vernon E. Clark USN (Ret.) and journalist and sailor Walter Cronkite.

History

Preble departed San Diego in June 2004 for her maiden deployment with the USS Belleau Wood Expeditionary Strike Group. Preble returned home after six months on 17 December 2004. On 20 January 2007, Preble departed for a routine deployment with the USS John C. Stennis carrier strike group. Preble supported Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, Expeditionary Strike Force training and exercise Valiant Shield 2007 during the deployment. She returned to her homeport after seven months on 29 August 2007. In 2008, Preble successfully completed an accelerated training cycle and passed a rigorous Inspection Board and Survey (INSURV) in May. That fall, Preble executed the integrated training phase with the Stennis Strike Group in preparation for a deployment in 2009.

Preble deployed on 17 January 2009 for a routine deployment with the Stennis Carrier Strike Group where she spent five months in the Seventh Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), participated in Exercise Foal Eagle and culminated the deployment with a diplomatic port visit in Tahiti, French Polynesia. Preble returned to home port on 15 June 2009. In 2010 Preble shifted to align with the USS Ronald Reagan Strike Group and hosted sailors from the New Zealand Navy. The Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Kaha and replenishment tanker Endeavour conducted exercises with Preble during a 3-day underway period. Additionally, Preble was called to act as the lead ship for a Destroyer Squadron Seven multi-group sail that showcased the ship's Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities.

In September 2010, Preble conducted an Operational Test Launch of two Block 3C Tomahawk missiles and one Block 4E Tomahawk missile off the coast of San Nicholas Island. The launch was successful and aided in the further development of the weapon system. Preble participated in an Integrated Anti-Submarine Warfare Course at sea as well as three weeks of exercises with Ronald Reagan and sister ships in Destroyer Squadron Seven during the Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) in October to November 2010. In November 2010, Preble successfully conducted a Mark 54 torpedo technical evaluation in support of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center’s development of the torpedo. Preble accurately fired six MK 54 torpedoes during the evaluation.

In all, Preble had a successful 2010 and was awarded the Destroyer Squadron Seven Battle Efficiency Award which recognizes sustained superior performance, operational effectiveness, and continuous readiness. In addition, the ship earned the Black E (Maritime Warfare Excellence), Blue E (Logistics Management and Supply Excellence), Yellow E (Ship Safety) and Red E (Engineering/Survivability Excellence).

In February 2011, Preble deployed with the Ronald Reagan Carrier strike group. Preble was a first responder to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The ship conducted humanitarian and disaster relief efforts off the coast of northeastern Japan.^[1] After spending nearly a month off the coast of Japan, Preble continued west to conduct operations in 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility. Preble chopped into 5th Fleet in May 2011 and conducted counter-piracy operations as part of Combined Task Force 151. As of 2011^[update], Preble is continuing operations on her deployment in the Western Pacific.

On 25 August 2011, BAE Systems Ship Repair was awarded a $14.5 million contract, in addition to a previous contract, to upgrade and repair Preble.^[2]

Ship's coat of arms

Shield

"Gold and dark blue are the traditional colors associated with the Navy. Commodore Preble’s attack and bombardment of the harbor at Tripoli in 1803 during his campaign against Barbary pirates is recalled by the embattlement and rayonny scarlet chief representing the fire and destruction he rained on the port. Scarlet symbolizes courage and Commodore Preble’s fiery resolve and determination to end attacks upon American trading vessels in the region. The ship’s sail further recalls his successful attack and blockade of Tripoli and refers to his other distinguished U.S. Navy commands, particularly of the USS CONSTITUTION and the frigate ESSEX. The head of the lion is derived from the Preble family coat of arms and symbolizes courage and strength. The crossed cutlass and sword represent combat and the readiness, past and present, to defend United States interests. Argent, or silver, signifies integrity, gold denotes excellence."

Crest

"The eight battle stars earned by USS PREBLE (DD 345) for World War II service are recalled by the points of the compass rose and by the laurel wreath, which signifies honor. The compass rose indicates worldwide capabilities and service of the new Preble and its predecessors. The blue escutcheon, in the shape of the radar cover panel used on Aegis vessels, represents the advanced technology and weapons systems of the new ship. It is charged with a cinquefoil, recalling the five previous ships to honorably bear the name Preble. Argent, or silver, denotes integrity and valor, gold signifies excellence."

Gallery

• 

  Commissioning of USS Preble in Boston, Massachusetts

• 

  USS Preble in San Diego in May 2008

References

• This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.

1. ^ Rabiroff, John. "U.S. military delivers 40 tons of supplies to hardest-hit areas," Stars and Stripes (US). March 17, 2011; Seawaves,"Warships Supporting Earthquake in Japan"
2. ^ Robbins, Gary (25 August 2011). "BAE gets $14 million to upgrade destroyer". The San Diego Union-Tribune. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/aug/25/bae-gets-14-million-upgrade-destroyer/. Retrieved 1 October 2011. 

External links

• USS Preble website
• Commissioning Ceremony, USS Preble United States Sea Cadets Corps, Quonset Point, RI