USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81)

USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer of the United States Navy homeported in NS Norfolk, Virginia.

Related Topics:
''Arleigh Burke''-class - Guided missile destroyer - United States Navy - NS Norfolk, Virginia

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Winston S. Churchill sets the final physical pattern for all subsequent Flight IIA ships by mounting the Mk. 45 mod 4 5"/62 caliber gun, a major improvement over the previous Mk. 45 mod 3 5 in (127 mm) 54 caliber gun—the longer barrel allows more complete combustion of the propellant, reducing barrel flare and improving projectile velocity and firepower against shore targets.

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The contract to build Churchill was awarded to the Bath Iron Works Corporation on 6 January 1995, and the keel was laid down on 7 May 1998. Churchill was launched 17 April 1999, delivered 13 October 2000, and commissioned 10 March 2001. The launch and christening of the ship was co-sponsored by Lady Soames, the daughter of Sir Winston Churchill and Mrs. Janet Cohen, wife of the Secretary of Defense.

Related Topics:
Bath Iron Works - 6 January - 1995 - 7 May - 1998 - 17 April - 1999 - 13 October - 2000 - 10 March - 2001 - Winston Churchill - Secretary of Defense

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Churchill is the only active U.S. Navy warship named after a foreign national (though Churchill was granted honorary American citizenship), and is the first destroyer and only the fourth U.S. warship named after an Englishman. (The others were Alfred, an armed merchantman named after King Alfred the Great; Raleigh, a continental frigate, named after Sir Walter Raleigh and Effingham, named after Thomas Howard the 3rd Earl of Effingham who resigned his commission rather than fight the Americans during the American Revolutionary War.)

Related Topics:
Destroyer - ''Alfred'' - Alfred the Great - ''Raleigh'' - Frigate - Sir Walter Raleigh - ''Effingham'' - Earl of Effingham - American Revolutionary War

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Churchill is the only U.S. Navy vessel to have a Royal Navy Officer assigned to the ship's company. The U.S. Navy has a permanent U.S. Navy Officer on the Royal Navy ship, HMS Marlborough.

Related Topics:
Royal Navy - HMS ''Marlborough''

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On 14 September 2001, (three days after the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack), the Deutsche Marine destroyer Lütjens passed close aboard Churchill and rendered honors by manning the rails, flying the Stars and Stripes at half-mast, and the display of a banner reading "We Stand By You."

Related Topics:
14 September - 2001 - September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack - Deutsche Marine - ''Lütjens'' - Manning the rails - Stars and Stripes

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From an e-mail sent by an Ensign on board the Churchill

Related Topics:
E-mail - Ensign

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:"Dear Dad, Well, we are still out at sea, with little direction as to what our next priority is. The remainder of our port visits, which were to be centered around max liberty and goodwill to the United Kingdom, have all but been cancelled. We have spent every day since the attacks going back and forth within imaginary boxes drawn in the ocean, standing high-security watches, and trying to make the best of our time. It hasn't been that fun I must confess, and to be even more honest, a lot of people are frustrated at the fact that they either can't be home, or we don't have more direction right now. We have seen the articles and the photographs, and they are sickening. Being isolated as we are, I don't think we appreciate the full scope of what is happening back home, but we are definitely feeling the effects.

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:About two hours ago the junior officers were called to the bridge to conduct Shiphandling drills. We were about to do a man overboard when we got a call from the Lütjens(D185), a German warship that was moored ahead of us on the pier in Plymouth, England. While in port, the Winston S. Chruchill and the Lütjens got together for a sports day/cookout on our fantail, and we made some pretty good friends. Now at sea they called over on bridge-to-bridge, requesting to pass us close up on our port side, to say good-bye. We prepared to render them honors on the bridgewing, and the Captain told the crew to come topside to wish them farewell.

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:As they were making their approach, our Conning Officer announced through her binoculars that they were flying an American flag. As they came even closer, we saw that it was flying at half-mast. The bridgewing was crowded with people as the Boatswain's Mate blew two whistles- Attention to Port- the ship came up alongside and we saw that the entire crew of the German ship were manning the rails, in their dress blues. They had made up a sign that was displayed on the side that read "We Stand By You." Needless to say there was not a dry eye on the bridge as they stayed alongside us for a few minutes and we cut our salutes.

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:It was probably the most powerful thing I have seen in my entire life and more than a few of us fought to retain our composure. It was a beautiful day outside today. We are no longer at liberty to divulge over unsecure e-mail our location, but we could not have asked for a finer day at sea. The German Navy did an incredible thing for this crew, and it has truly been the highest point in the days since the attacks. It's amazing to think that only a half-century ago things were quite different, and to see the unity that is being demonstrated throughout Europe and the world makes us all feel proud to be out here doing our job.

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:After the ship pulled away and we prepared to begin our man overboard drills the Officer of the Deck turned to me and said "I'm staying Navy." "

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On 22 August 2005, Churchill was involved in a minor collision with USS McFaul (DDG-74) off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida. Both ships suffered minor damage, and no injuries were reported. Both ships returned to their homeport at Naval Station Norfolk under their own power.

Related Topics:
22 August - 2005 - USS McFaul (DDG-74) - Jacksonville - Florida - Naval Station Norfolk

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