USS Nitze (DDG-94)
Encyclopedia
USS Nitze (DDG-94), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer
Arleigh Burke class destroyer
The Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers is the United States Navy's first class of destroyer built around the Aegis combat system and the SPY-1D multi-function phased array radar. The class is named for Admiral Arleigh "31-Knot" Burke, the most famous American destroyer officer of...

, is the only ship of the United States Navy
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...

 to be named for Paul Nitze
Paul Nitze
Paul Henry Nitze was a high-ranking United States government official who helped shape Cold War defense policy over the course of numerous presidential administrations.-Early life, education, and family:...

, who served as Secretary of the Navy under President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...

 and as chief arms control adviser in the administration of President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....

.

Overview

The contract to build her was awarded to Bath Iron Works
Bath Iron Works
Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy...

 Corporation in Bath, Maine
Bath, Maine
Bath is a city in Sagadahoc County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 9,266. It is the county seat of Sagadahoc County. Located on the Kennebec River, Bath is a port of entry with a good harbor. The city is popular with tourists, many drawn by its...

 on 6 March 1998 and her keel was laid down on 20 September 2002. She was 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 3 April 2004 sponsored by Elisabeth Porter, Nitze's wife. Nitze, 97 years old, was present at the christening, thus adding the destroyer to the rapidly growing list of military vessels named after living Americans. Nitze was 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 5 March 2005, with CDR Michael A. Hegarty in command.

While in command, Hegarty saw port visits in NYC for Fleet Week, Mobile, AL for Mardi Gras, and several other high visibility ports. The current CO is CDR Chris Nerad. The XO is CDR John Bub. The ship is known as the "Cold Warriors" in reference to Paul Nitze's involvement in shaping US Cold War policy. Nitze, homeported in Norfolk, VA, went on its maiden deployment in January 2007 as part of the Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group, returning home on 3 July 2007.

On September 12, 2008, Nitze departed Norfolk for a seven-month deployment with the Carrier Strike Group, returning on 18 April 2009.

In October 2009, Nitze was open to the public for tours in downtown Norfolk as part of the Navy Fleet Week
Fleet Week
Fleet Week is a United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard tradition in which active military ships recently deployed in overseas operations dock in a variety of major cities for one week. Once the ships dock, the crews can enter the city and visit its tourist...

 celebration. She was moored at the Nauticus Museum and Half Moone Cruise terminal.

From July 1-5, 2011, Nitze was docked in Eastport, Maine
Eastport, Maine
Eastport is a small city in Washington County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,640 at the 2000 census. The principal island is Moose Island, which is connected to the mainland by causeway...

, for the 4th of July Celebration.

External links

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