USS Halyburton (FFG-40)
Encyclopedia
USS Halyburton (FFG-40), an , is a ship of the United States Navy
named for Pharmacist's Mate Second Class William D. Halyburton, Jr.
(1924–1945). Halyburton was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor
for his heroism while serving with the 5th Marines, during the Battle of Okinawa
.
Co., Seattle Division, Seattle, Wash.
; launched
on 13 October 1981; and commissioned
on 7 January 1984.
As of 2008, Halyburton is homeported at NS Mayport
, Florida
, and is part of Destroyer Squadron 14.
s brought the standoff to an end by shooting and killing three of the four pirates
. The fourth was on board the USS Bainbridge
at the time of the shooting, negotiating the hostage's release, and was taken into custody.
, mooring in South Dock, West India Quay
for three nights. On Saturday 18th, she became the first non-British
ship to take part in the Tower of London
's Constable's Dues ritual. Dating back to the 14th century, it involved the crew being challenged for entry into the British
capital, mirroring an ancient custom in which a ship had to unload some of its cargo for the sovereign to enter the city. Commander Michael P Huck and Ship's Officer LCDR Tony Mortimer led the crew to the Tower's West Gate, where after being challenged for entry by the Yeoman Gaoler armed with his axe
, they were marched to Tower Green
accompanied by Beefeaters, where they delivered a keg of Castillo Silver Rum, representing the dues, to the Tower's Constable, Sir Roger Wheeler.
Commander Huck said: "Halyburton and her crew are honoured to be invited to take part in a tradition with such rich history. It is an excellent opportunity for my crew to not only enjoy London culture, but to be an active part of it."
He admitted neither the cask nor the rum was actually cargo from the ship.
"The wine cask has been provided to us by the Tower authorities," he said. "It will actually be filled with Castillo Silver Rum. Unfortunately, since we do not typically carry alcohol on-board, that was also provided to us."
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
named for Pharmacist's Mate Second Class William D. Halyburton, Jr.
William D. Halyburton, Jr.
-External links:...
(1924–1945). Halyburton was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his heroism while serving with the 5th Marines, during the Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
.
Construction
Halyburton was laid down on 26 September 1980 by the Todd Pacific ShipyardsTodd Pacific Shipyards
Vigor Shipyards was founded in 1916 as the William H. Todd Corporation through the merger of Robins Dry Dock & Repair Company of Erie Basin, Brooklyn, New York, the Tietjen & Long Dry Dock Company of Hoboken, New Jersey, and the Seattle Construction and Dry Dock Company...
Co., Seattle Division, Seattle, Wash.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
; launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 13 October 1981; and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 7 January 1984.
Operations
Over its commissioned service, Halyburton earned numerous Battle 'E' awards for combat readiness. Halyburton was also one of the escorts for the on July 21, 1997 as "Old Ironsides" celebrated her 200th birthday and her first unassisted sail in 116 years.As of 2008, Halyburton is homeported at NS Mayport
Naval Station Mayport
Naval Station Mayport is a major United States Navy base in Jacksonville, Florida. It contains a military airfield with one asphalt paved runway measuring 8,001 x 200 ft. ....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, and is part of Destroyer Squadron 14.
Maersk Alabama Incident
In April, 2009 the Halyburton was part of a U.S. Navy rescue mission off the Horn of Africa where the captain of the U.S.-flagged merchant vessel Maersk Alabama was held captive by pirates in a lifeboat. U.S. Navy SEALUnited States Navy SEALs
The United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
s brought the standoff to an end by shooting and killing three of the four pirates
Maersk Alabama hijacking
The Maersk Alabama hijacking was a series of events involving piracy that began with four Somali pirates seizing the cargo ship southeast of the Somali port city of Eyl. This event ended with the action of 12 April 2009. It was the first successful pirate seizure of a ship registered under the...
. The fourth was on board the USS Bainbridge
USS Bainbridge (DDG-96)
USS Bainbridge is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. She is the fifth ship to carry that name, and the 46th destroyer of a planned 62-ship class...
at the time of the shooting, negotiating the hostage's release, and was taken into custody.
Constable's Dues ritual
On July 16, 2009, Halyburton visited the Port of LondonPort of London
The Port of London lies along the banks of the River Thames from London, England to the North Sea. Once the largest port in the world, it is currently the United Kingdom's second largest port, after Grimsby & Immingham...
, mooring in South Dock, West India Quay
West India Quay
West India Quay is an area on the Isle of Dogs in Docklands, London, England. It is immediately to the north of the West India Docks and Canary Wharf...
for three nights. On Saturday 18th, she became the first non-British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
ship to take part in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
's Constable's Dues ritual. Dating back to the 14th century, it involved the crew being challenged for entry into the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
capital, mirroring an ancient custom in which a ship had to unload some of its cargo for the sovereign to enter the city. Commander Michael P Huck and Ship's Officer LCDR Tony Mortimer led the crew to the Tower's West Gate, where after being challenged for entry by the Yeoman Gaoler armed with his axe
Axe
The axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood; to harvest timber; as a weapon; and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol...
, they were marched to Tower Green
Tower Green
Tower Green is a space within the Tower of London where two English Queens consort and five other British nobles were executed by beheading. The Tower Green is located on a space south of the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula...
accompanied by Beefeaters, where they delivered a keg of Castillo Silver Rum, representing the dues, to the Tower's Constable, Sir Roger Wheeler.
Commander Huck said: "Halyburton and her crew are honoured to be invited to take part in a tradition with such rich history. It is an excellent opportunity for my crew to not only enjoy London culture, but to be an active part of it."
He admitted neither the cask nor the rum was actually cargo from the ship.
"The wine cask has been provided to us by the Tower authorities," he said. "It will actually be filled with Castillo Silver Rum. Unfortunately, since we do not typically carry alcohol on-board, that was also provided to us."
External links
- USS Halyburton official website
- navsource.org: USS Halyburton
- navysite.de: USS Halyburton
- MaritimeQuest USS Halyburton FFG-40 pages
- USS Halyburton command histories at the Naval History & Heritage Command