Denton takes to the water
The third Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to be built at Ingalls, the future USS Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), has hit the water for the first time. Importantly, she carries the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR).
The yard is working on four other Flight IIIs currently including the future Ted Stevens (DDG 128), George M. Neal (DDG 131), Sam Nunn (DDG 133) and Thad Cochran (DDG 135).
I stopped by the Point in Pascagoula a few days ago and snapped this quick shot of the West Bank, showing Denton still in the dock. To the right is the future USS Bougainville (LHA-8), fitting out. She launched last October.
Did we run out of hero’s? We’re scraping to bottom of the barrel naming them after politicians.
I agree and have written about that several times in the past. Politicians deserve bridges and buildings, not warships, especally destroyers which are traditionally for Navy/Marine heroes. Granted, Denton was a legit war hero prior to running for office (Rear admiral, Navy Cross, 3 Silver Stars, POW) but Thad? Thad was a cheerleader at Ole Miss in college then only served for two years in the peacetime navy before law school. The Armed Forces Committee needs to recuse themselves from consideration for ship names