U.S. Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108)

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UNITED STATES - 10 JULY 2009

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy officially accepted delivery of the future guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) July 10 from General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works (BIW) during a ceremony in Bath, Maine, July 10.

Wayne E. Meyer is the 56th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and carries the 100th Aegis Combat System.

The ship completed a combined builder's and acceptance super trial June 12 after spending four days at sea off the coast of Maine.

"The ship performed well for the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey," said Capt. Pete Lyle, DDG 51 class program manager in the Navy's Program Executive Office, Ships (PEO Ships).

"Our industry partners continue to deliver the highest quality assets to our warfighters. These ships are a perfect example of the cost and schedule efficiencies realized from steady-state production in shipbuilding."

The ship will be able to conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection. Wayne E. Meyer will be capable of fighting air, surface and sub-surface battles simultaneously and possesses multiple offensive and defensive weapons systems designed to support maritime warfare.

Designated DDG 108, the new destroyer honors retired Navy Rear Adm. Wayne E. Meyer, who led the development of the Aegis combat system for the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers. In 1963, then-Secretary of the Navy Fred Korth chose Meyer to lead a special task force for surface guided missiles. Meyer turned down a destroyer command to continue his work with missile, radar and fire control systems. His experience laid the groundwork for the success of a prototype Aegis radar weapons control system in 1974. Meyer served as the Aegis program manager 1975-1983.

The future Wayne E. Meyer is scheduled to be commissioned this fall in Philadelphia, Pa.

PEO Ships is responsible for the development and acquisition of U.S. Navy surface ships and is currently managing the design and construction of a wide range of ship classes and small boats and craft. These platforms range from major warships such as frontline surface combatants and amphibious assault ships to air-cushioned landing craft, oceanographic research ships and special warfare craft. PEO Ships has delivered 32 major warships and hundreds of small boats and craft from more than 30 shipyards and boat builders across the United States.

Class and type: Arleigh Burke class destroyer (U.S. Navy)

Length: 509 ft 6 in (155.3 m)

Beam: 66 ft (20 m)

Draft: 31 ft (9.4 m)

Propulsion: 4 × General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines, 2 shafts, 100,000 shp (75 MW)

Speed: 30+ knots

Armament: 1 × 32 cell, 1 × 64 cell Mk 41 vertical launch systems, 96 × RIM-66 SM-2, BGM-109 Tomahawk or RUM-139 VL-Asroc missiles
1 × 5/62 in (127/62 mm), 2 × 25 mm, 4 × 12.7 mm guns
2 × Mk 46 triple torpedo tubes

Aircraft carried: 2 × SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters

 

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USS Wayne E. Meyer to Homeport in San Diego
UNITED STATES - 1 DECEMBER 2009

SAN DIEGO -- USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, will arrive in San Diego Dec. 4 where the ship will be homeported after transiting from the Bath Iron Works Shipyard in Bath, Maine.

The new destroyer, under the command of Cmdr. Nick A. Sarap, was commissioned in Philadelphia and placed into active service on the Delaware River Oct. 10. The ship is the 58th destroyer in its class carrying the 100th Aegis combat system; an advanced command and control, and weapon control system that uses powerful computers and radars to track and guide weapons to destroy enemy targets.

Meyer honors retired Navy Rear Adm. Wayne E. Meyer who led the development of the Aegis combat system for the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers.

In 1963, the secretary of the Navy chose Meyer to lead a special Navy Task Force for Surface Missile Systems. Meyer turned down a destroyer command to continue his work with missile, radar and fire control systems, and became the founding chief engineer at the Naval Ship Missile System Engineering Station, Port Hueneme, Calif. In this position, Meyer was promoted to rear admiral in January 1975.

In January 1977, he assumed duties as the founding project manager of the Aegis Shipbuilding Project. This project was ultimately responsible for the construction of all of the Navy's current cruisers and destroyers – with 89 ships built or in construction, and more in planning. This is one of the longest and largest naval shipbuilding programs in history. He retired from active duty in 1985.

Meyer will provide deterrence, promote peace and security, preserve freedom of the sea and humanitarian/disaster response within 3rd Fleet's 50-million square mile area of responsibility in the Eastern Pacific, as well as supporting the nation's Maritime Strategy when forward deployed.

 

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SAN DIEGO (Dec. 4, 2009) The Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) arrives at its new homeport of San Diego after transiting from the Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine.



SAN DIEGO (Dec. 4, 2009) A young family member cheers as the guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) arrives at its new homeport of San Diego after transiting from the Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine.