USS Carl M. Levin
 USS Carl M. Levin at her christening ceremony on 2 October 2021
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Carl M. Levin |
| Namesake | Carl Levin |
| Ordered | 14 March 2014 |
| Builder | Bath Iron Works |
| Laid down | 1 February 2019[1] |
| Launched | 16 May 2021[2] |
| Sponsored by |
|
| Christened | 2 October 2021[3] |
| Acquired | 26 January 2023[4] |
| Commissioned | 24 June 2023[5] |
| Homeport | Pearl Harbor |
| Identification | Hull number DDG-120 |
| Motto | Tenacious in the Fight |
| Status | In active service |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Arleigh Burke-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 9,300 long tons (full load)[6] |
| Length | 509 ft (155 m)[6] |
| Beam | 66 ft (20 m)[6] |
| Draft | 31 ft (9.4 m)[7] |
| Propulsion | 4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines 100,000 shp (75,000 kW)[6] |
| Speed | 31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph)[6] |
| Complement | 380 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 2 × MH-60R Seahawk helicopters |
| Aviation facilities | Double hangar and helipad |
USS Carl M. Levin (DDG-120) is a United States Navy Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA guided missile destroyer, the 70th overall for the class. The ship is named for Carl Levin, a former United States Senator and Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services.[8]
Construction and career
[edit]The contract for the ship, along with the name, was first announced in a press release from General Dynamics, parent company of Bath Iron Works, on 31 March 2016.[9] The official designation of DDG-120 as Carl M. Levin by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus was announced on 11 April 2016.[8]
On 2 October 2021, Carl M. Levin was christened at the Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine. She is the 42nd Flight IIA ship, and the fifth of the "technology insertion" (TI) builds with elements of the follow-on Flight III series. She is fitted with the Aegis Combat System baseline 9 which includes integrated air and missile defense capability.[10]
Carl M. Levin completed her sea trials on 9 December 2022[11] and delivered to the United States Navy on 26 January 2023.[4]
The ship was commissioned in Baltimore, Maryland on 24 June 2023, and arrived in her first homeport, Pearl Harbor, on 7 August 2023.[5][12] Her battle flag features a kraken splitting a pirate ship in two, designed by one of her sailors in an internal competition.[13]
Ship's Seal
[edit]Seal: The coat of arms as blazoned in full color on a white oval, enclosed by a dark blue border edged on the outside with a gold rope and inscribed “USS CARL M. LEVIN” above and “DDG 120” below in gold.[14]
Blazon
[edit]Shield: Gules, three pales Argent between two square flaunches Azure (Dark Blue) bearing six six-pointed mullets, three and three Argent (Silver Gray).[14]
Crest: From a wreath Argent and Azure a bald eagle crouched wings inverted Proper, clutching in dexter claw a Senate gavel Proper and in sinister claw a sword fesswise Proper; in chief radiant light Or surmounted by a Phrygian cap Gules, banded of the second and inscribed “LIBERTY” of the first.[14]
Supporters: Saltirewise a United States Navy Officer’s sword and Chief Petty Officer’s cutlass saltirewise, points downward.[14]
Motto: A tri-parted scroll Gules doubled Argent inscribed “TENACIOUS IN THE FIGHT” of the last.[14]
Symbolism
[edit]Shield: The hourglass shaped division of the field resembles the shape of the historic Senate gavel, implying Mr. Levin’s service as a United States Senator. The six six-pointed stars honor Mr. Levin’s 36 years in the Senate. The seven vertical stripes over a blue field denote USS CARL M. LEVIN (DDG 120) as the 70th ship in its class. The national colors of the United States are Red, White and Blue.[14]
Crest: The bald eagle, embodying the spirit of the United States, emphasizes the nation’s virtues of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The sword and Senate gavel allude to Mr. Levin’s service as a Senator and position of Chairman of the Armed Services Committee. The Phrygian (Liberty) cap amongst the radiant light conveys Mr. Levin’s work to protect the Great Lakes and their many lighthouses along Michigan’s coastline. The Liberty cap, adapted from the United States Senate Seal, conveys the paramount nature of America’s ethics and values, emphasized by the golden radiant light. Additionally, the eagle is featured on the coat of arms of the State of Michigan, in tribute to Mr. Levin’s home state.[14]
Supporters: The Navy Officer sword and enlisted cutlass pay tribute to the command and crew, representing authority, professionalism and unity in the accomplishment of their mission.[14]
Motto: The motto, “TENACIOUS IN THE FIGHT,” expresses the steadfast and determined motivation of the command and crew to triumph over adversity.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Keel Laid for Future USS Carl M. Levin" (Press release). United States Navy. 2 February 2019. NNS190202-03. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
- ^ "Bath Iron Works Launched Future USS Carl M Levin (DDG 120)". Naval News. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
- ^ "General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Christens Future USS Carl M. Levin" (Press release). Bath Iron Works. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Carl Levin" (Press release). United States Navy. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
- ^ a b "USS Carl M. Levin Commissions in Baltimore" (Press release). SurfPac. 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class". Federation of American Scientists. FAS.org. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- ^ "Destroyers (DDG 51)".
- ^ a b "Secretary Mabus Names Next Destroyer Carl M. Levin" (Press release). United States Navy. 11 April 2016. NNS160411-12. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ "DDG 120 contract awarded to GD/BIW" (Press release). General Dynamics. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ GDC (6 October 2021). "U.S. Navy Christened 70th Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer". Global Defense Corp. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ Mongilio, Heather (12 December 2022). "Destroyer Carl M. Levin Completes Acceptance Trials". USNI News. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ^ Ziezulewicz, Geoff (11 August 2023). "Navy's newest destroyer, Carl M. Levin, arrives at its first homeport". Navy Times. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ Keller, Jared (10 January 2024). "A New Navy Destroyer Is Already Flying a 'Badass' Pirate-Inspired Battle Flag". Military.com. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Coat of Arms". tioh.army.mil. Institute of Heraldry, US Army. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- 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.
External links
[edit]