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USS Ramage (DDG-61)
Encyclopedia
USS Ramage (DDG-61) is an Arleigh Burke-class
guided missile destroyer
of the United States Navy
. The ship is named for Vice Admiral
Lawson P. Ramage
, a notable submarine
commander and Medal of Honor
recipient in World War II
.
Ramage was laid down 4 January 1993 at the Ingalls Shipbuilding
in Pascagoula, Mississippi
, launched 11 February 1994, sponsored by Barbara Ramage (wife of the admiral), and commissioned 22 July 1995.
These innovative techniques allow a large ship, such as Ramage, to be built in three separate hull and superstructure modules and later joined to form the complete ship. Heavy machinery, such as propulsion equipment, as well as piping, duct work, and electrical cabling were installed in hundreds of sub-assemblies, which were joined to form dozens of assemblies. These assemblies were then joined to form the three hull modules. The ship's superstructure, or "deck house", was lifted atop the mid-body module early in the assembly process.
Ramage's launching was as unique as her construction. The ship was moved over land via Ingalls' wheel-on-rail transfer system and onto the shipyard's launch and recovery drydock. The drydock was ballasted down, and DDG 61 floated free on 11 February 1994. She was then moved to her outfitting dock in preparation for the traditional christening ceremony and completion of outfitting and testing.
to the Mediterranean Sea
. RAMGE visited 6 countries and made 16 port calls. RAMAGE was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation
ribbon, the Sea Service Ribbon
and the Armed Forces Service Medal
while on deployment.
In March 1997 RAMAGE provided logistic and communications support for Marines in Albania
during Operation SILVER WAKE.
On 21 July 1997, RAMAGE was an escort of the USS CONSTITUTION
when she set sail in Massachusetts Bay
.
On May 24, 1999, as a member of the THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Battle Group, RAMAGE departed on her second deployment to the Mediterranean and Arabian Seas, MED/MEF 2-99. While deployed overseas, RAMAGE visited 8 countries and made 15 port visits. RAMAGE also participated in Operation ALLIED FORCE off the coast of Montenegro
.
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks RAMAGE sortied to the waters off the East Coast of the United States where she provided extended radar coverage the New York City
and the surrounding area in the wake of the terrorist attacks.
RAMAGE deployed with the GEORGE WASHINGTON
Surface Strike Group to the Arabian Sea
in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. During this deployment RAMAGE participated in multi-national exercises NEO-TAPON 04 and IRON SIREN 04.
RAMAGE again deployed to the Persian Gulf
in support of the Global War on Terrorism in October of 2006. While on station RAMAGE participated in Operations ARGOS ASTERION and ARGOS DECALION. RAMAGE was also the first ship to respond to the Horn of Africa
during the Ethiopian and Somalian hostilities of late December, 2006 providing extended coordination for P-3
coverage of the events. RAMAGE visited 8 different countries and conducted 10 port calls.
In August 2008 RAMAGE departed for a 7-month deployment in the Persian Gulf
with the IWO JIMA
Expeditionary Strike Group. RAMAGE participated in multi-national Operation RED REEF and Focused Operation TRIDENT KNIGHT. RAMAGE returned to home port in April 2009 after visiting 4 countries and making 6 port calls.
RAMAGE departed for the North Sea
and Baltic Sea
to participate in JOINT WARRIOR 09 in September 2009. RAMAGE operated with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
and many other multi-national naval units. After making 5 ports of call in 4 countries, RAMAGE returned in November 2009. On October 28, 2009 while pierside at Gdynia
, Poland
after participating in a Joint Warrior exercise
, a sailor on the ship conducting maintenance accidentally discharged one of the ship's M240 machine guns into the port city. Two rounds from the gun's three-round burst hit a warehouse, causing no injuries, the third round was not recovered. Local police allowed the ship to depart as originally scheduled later that day after questioning the ship's crew.
RAMAGE departed on deployment to the Mediterranean Sea on January 5, 2010. In late January 2010, the Ramage was dispatched to the Mediterranean Sea
to assist with the search-and-rescue effort in the wake of the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409
. RAMAGE also provided Ballistic Missile Defense to the Eastern Mediterranean during this deployment. RAMAGE's port visits included: Naples
, Italy
; Haifa
, Israel
, Kusadasi
, Bodrum
, and Aksaz, Turkey
; Limassol
, Cyprus
; Rhodes
, Greece
; Augusta Bay, Sicily
; and Ponta Delgada
, Azores
. RAMAGE returned to home port
on August 6, 2010.
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...
guided missile destroyer
Guided missile destroyer
A guided missile destroyer is a destroyer designed to launch guided missiles. Many are also equipped to carry out anti-submarine, anti-air, and anti-surface operations. In the U.S...
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...
. The ship is named for Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
Lawson P. Ramage
Lawson P. Ramage
Lawson Paterson "Red" Ramage was a vice admiral in the United States Navy and a noted submarine commander. During his career, Ramage was decorated with the Medal of Honor, two Navy Crosses, two Distinguished Service Medals, the Silver Star and the Bronze Star.-Early life and career:Taking his...
, a notable submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
commander and 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...
recipient in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Ramage was laid down 4 January 1993 at the Ingalls Shipbuilding
Ingalls Shipbuilding
Ingalls Shipbuilding is a shipyard located in Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA, originally established in 1938, and is now part of Huntington Ingalls Industries...
in Pascagoula, Mississippi
Pascagoula, Mississippi
Pascagoula is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States. It is the principal city of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, as a part of the Gulfport–Biloxi–Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. The population was 26,200 at the 2000 census...
, launched 11 February 1994, sponsored by Barbara Ramage (wife of the admiral), and commissioned 22 July 1995.
Construction
Ramage was constructed utilizing efficient modular shipbuilding techniques pioneered by Ingalls in the 1970s and enhanced in recent years through the development of Product-Oriented Shipbuilding Technology (POST).These innovative techniques allow a large ship, such as Ramage, to be built in three separate hull and superstructure modules and later joined to form the complete ship. Heavy machinery, such as propulsion equipment, as well as piping, duct work, and electrical cabling were installed in hundreds of sub-assemblies, which were joined to form dozens of assemblies. These assemblies were then joined to form the three hull modules. The ship's superstructure, or "deck house", was lifted atop the mid-body module early in the assembly process.
Ramage's launching was as unique as her construction. The ship was moved over land via Ingalls' wheel-on-rail transfer system and onto the shipyard's launch and recovery drydock. The drydock was ballasted down, and DDG 61 floated free on 11 February 1994. She was then moved to her outfitting dock in preparation for the traditional christening ceremony and completion of outfitting and testing.
History
On November 25, 1996 RAMAGE embarked on her maiden deploymentMaiden voyage
The maiden voyage of a ship, aircraft or other craft is the first journey made by the craft after shakedown. A number of traditions and superstitions are associated with it....
to the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. RAMGE visited 6 countries and made 16 port calls. RAMAGE was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation
Meritorious Unit Commendation
The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
ribbon, the Sea Service Ribbon
Sea Service Ribbon
A Sea Service Ribbon is an award of the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard and the United States Army which recognizes those service members who have performed military duty while stationed on a vessel at sea....
and the Armed Forces Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
The Armed Forces Service Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created on January 11, 1996 by President Bill Clinton under...
while on deployment.
In March 1997 RAMAGE provided logistic and communications support for Marines in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
during Operation SILVER WAKE.
On 21 July 1997, RAMAGE was an escort of the USS CONSTITUTION
USS Constitution
USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. Named by President George Washington after the Constitution of the United States of America, she is the world's oldest floating commissioned naval vessel...
when she set sail in Massachusetts Bay
Massachusetts Bay
The Massachusetts Bay, also called Mass Bay, is one of the largest bays of the Atlantic Ocean which forms the distinctive shape of the coastline of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Its waters extend 65 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Massachusetts Bay includes the Boston Harbor, Dorchester Bay,...
.
On May 24, 1999, as a member of the THEODORE ROOSEVELT
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
USS Theodore Roosevelt is the fourth Nimitz-class supercarrier. Her radio call sign is Rough Rider, the name of President Theodore Roosevelt's volunteer cavalry unit during the Spanish-American War...
Battle Group, RAMAGE departed on her second deployment to the Mediterranean and Arabian Seas, MED/MEF 2-99. While deployed overseas, RAMAGE visited 8 countries and made 15 port visits. RAMAGE also participated in Operation ALLIED FORCE off the coast of Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
.
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks RAMAGE sortied to the waters off the East Coast of the United States where she provided extended radar coverage the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and the surrounding area in the wake of the terrorist attacks.
RAMAGE deployed with the GEORGE WASHINGTON
USS George Washington (CVN-73)
USS George Washington is an American nuclear-powered supercarrier, the sixth ship in the Nimitz class and the fourth United States Navy ship to be named after George Washington, the first President of the United States...
Surface Strike Group to the Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. During this deployment RAMAGE participated in multi-national exercises NEO-TAPON 04 and IRON SIREN 04.
RAMAGE again deployed to the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
in support of the Global War on Terrorism in October of 2006. While on station RAMAGE participated in Operations ARGOS ASTERION and ARGOS DECALION. RAMAGE was also the first ship to respond to the Horn of Africa
Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in East Africa that juts hundreds of kilometers into the Arabian Sea and lies along the southern side of the Gulf of Aden. It is the easternmost projection of the African continent...
during the Ethiopian and Somalian hostilities of late December, 2006 providing extended coordination for P-3
P-3 Orion
The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner. The aircraft is easily recognizable by its distinctive tail stinger or...
coverage of the events. RAMAGE visited 8 different countries and conducted 10 port calls.
In August 2008 RAMAGE departed for a 7-month deployment in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
with the IWO JIMA
USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7)
USS Iwo Jima is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship.Fabrication work for Iwo Jima began at Ingalls shipyard on 3 September 1996, and the ship's keel was laid on 12 December 1997. She was launched on 4 February 2000. USS Iwo Jima was christened by her sponsor, Mrs. Zandra Krulak, wife of General...
Expeditionary Strike Group. RAMAGE participated in multi-national Operation RED REEF and Focused Operation TRIDENT KNIGHT. RAMAGE returned to home port in April 2009 after visiting 4 countries and making 6 port calls.
RAMAGE departed for the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
and Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
to participate in JOINT WARRIOR 09 in September 2009. RAMAGE operated with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
HMS Illustrious (R06)
HMS Illustrious is the second of three Invincible-class light aircraft carriers built for the Royal Navy in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She is the fifth warship and second aircraft carrier to bear the name Illustrious, and is affectionately known as "Lusty" to her crew...
and many other multi-national naval units. After making 5 ports of call in 4 countries, RAMAGE returned in November 2009. On October 28, 2009 while pierside at Gdynia
Gdynia
Gdynia is a city in the Pomeranian Voivodeship of Poland and an important seaport of Gdańsk Bay on the south coast of the Baltic Sea.Located in Kashubia in Eastern Pomerania, Gdynia is part of a conurbation with the spa town of Sopot, the city of Gdańsk and suburban communities, which together...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
after participating in a Joint Warrior exercise
Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration
The Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration began in 1994 as the Joint Warrior Interoperability Demonstration . Since 1994, the program has evolved into a coalition program and the name was changed in 2004 to reflect this new trend. U.S...
, a sailor on the ship conducting maintenance accidentally discharged one of the ship's M240 machine guns into the port city. Two rounds from the gun's three-round burst hit a warehouse, causing no injuries, the third round was not recovered. Local police allowed the ship to depart as originally scheduled later that day after questioning the ship's crew.
RAMAGE departed on deployment to the Mediterranean Sea on January 5, 2010. In late January 2010, the Ramage was dispatched to the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
to assist with the search-and-rescue effort in the wake of the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 was an international scheduled Beirut–Addis Ababa passenger service that plunged into the Mediterranean Sea shortly after take-off from Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport on , killing all 90 people on board.-Aircraft:...
. RAMAGE also provided Ballistic Missile Defense to the Eastern Mediterranean during this deployment. RAMAGE's port visits included: Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
; Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Kusadasi
Kusadasi
Kuşadası is a resort town on Turkey's Aegean coast and the center of the seaside district of the same name in Aydın Province. Kuşadası lies at a distance of to the south from the region's largest metropolitan center of İzmir, and from the provincial seat of Aydın situated inland. Its primary...
, Bodrum
Bodrum
Bodrum is a port city in Muğla Province, in the southwestern Aegean Region of Turkey. It is located on the southern coast of Bodrum Peninsula, at a point that checks the entry into the Gulf of Gökova. The site was called Halicarnassus of Caria in ancient times and was famous for housing the...
, and Aksaz, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
; Limassol
Limassol
Limassol is the second-largest city in Cyprus, with a population of 228,000 . It is the largest city in geographical size, and the biggest municipality on the island. The city is located on Akrotiri Bay, on the island's southern coast and it is the capital of Limassol District.Limassol is the...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
; Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
; Augusta Bay, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
; and Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada is a city and municipality on the island of São Miguel in the archipelago of the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal. It includes 44,403 residents in the urban area, and approximately 20,113 inhabitants in the three central parishes that comprise the historical city: São Pedro,...
, Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
. RAMAGE returned to home port
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
on August 6, 2010.