USS Gonzalez
_arrives_in_Souda_harbor.jpg) USS Gonzalez on 6 June 2008
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Gonzalez |
| Namesake | Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez |
| Ordered | 16 January 1991 |
| Builder | Bath Iron Works |
| Laid down | 3 February 1994 |
| Launched | 18 February 1995 |
| Acquired | 14 June 1996 |
| Commissioned | 12 October 1996 |
| Homeport | Norfolk |
| Identification |
|
| Motto | Beyond the Call |
| Status | in active service |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Arleigh Burke-class destroyer |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 505 ft (154 m) |
| Beam | 59 ft (18 m) |
| Draft | 31 ft (9.4 m) |
| Propulsion | 2 × Shafts |
| Speed | >30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
| Range |
|
| Complement | |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 2 Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters can be embarked |
USS Gonzalez (DDG-66) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. She is named for Sergeant Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez, a Medal of Honor recipient in the Vietnam War.
Service history
The warship took part in Operation Allied Force, firing Tomahawk cruise missiles at Serbian targets in 1999. She also assisted a cruise ship, Seabourn Spirit, after an abortive attack by pirates off the coast of Somalia in 2005.[1]
On 1 March 2006, she rescued the crew of an Iranian ship, whose engine and rudder were broken down since 18 February. The Iranian crew were returned to Iran. She was involved in the action of 18 March 2006 with suspected pirates, along with the cruiser USS Cape St. George. The two US warships exchanged fire with the suspected pirates about 25 nautical miles (46 km) off the coast of Somalia. Initial reports indicated that one suspected pirate was killed and five others wounded.
On 17 July 2006, CNN reported that Gonzalez would be deployed to help in evacuation efforts of American citizens from Lebanon in the midst of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict. On 26 July 2006, Frank James of The Chicago Tribune reported on the evacuation efforts of Gonzalez.[2]
In May 2022, Gonzalez was homeported out of Naval Station Norfolk and a part of Destroyer Squadron 28, along with Carrier Strike Group 8 led by the USS Harry S. Truman.[3]
References
- ^ "EODMU 8 Removes Inert RPG Remnant from Cruise Liner". U.S. Navy. 7 November 2005. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- ^ James, Frank (26 July 2006). "The Swamp: Patriotism at sea". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- ^ "USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: May 23, 2022". usni.org. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
- 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.
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
External links
BoilerPlate was here