USS Frank E. Petersen Jr.
USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG-121) is a planned United States Navy Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA guided missile destroyer, the 71st overall for the class. The ship was named for United States Marine Corps Lieutenant General Frank E. Petersen Jr. (2 March 1932 – 25 August 2015),[6] the first African-American Marine Corps aviator[7] and the first African-American Marine Corps general.[8] The contract for the ship, along with the name, was first announced in a press release from Huntington Ingalls Industries on 30 March 2016.[9]
![]() USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. in August 2021  | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Frank E. Petersen Jr. | 
| Namesake | Frank E. Petersen | 
| Awarded | 3 June 2013 | 
| Builder | Ingalls Shipbuilding | 
| Laid down | 21 February 2017[1] | 
| Launched | 13 July 2018[2] | 
| Sponsored by | Alicia J. Petersen, D’Arcy Neller | 
| Christened | 6 October 2018[3] | 
| Acquired | 30 November 2021[4] | 
| Identification | Hull number: DDG-121 | 
| Motto | Into the Tiger's Jaw | 
| Status | Undergoing sea trials | 
| Badge | ![]()  | 
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Arleigh Burke-class destroyer | 
| Displacement | 9,217 tons (full load)[5] | 
| Length | 513 ft (156 m)[5] | 
| Beam | 66 ft (20 m)[5] | 
| Propulsion | 4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines 100,000 shp (75,000 kW)[5] | 
| Speed | 31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph)[5] | 
| Complement | 380 officers and enlisted | 
| Armament | |
| Aircraft carried | 2 × SH-60 Seahawk helicopters | 
| Aviation facilities | Double hangar and helipad | 
The first "cutting of steel" took place in April 2016,[10] her keel was laid on 21 February 2017,[11] and launched on 13 July 2018.[12] She was christened on 6 October 2018.[3] CDR Daniel Hancock assumed command of PCU Frank E. Petersen Jr. on 27 September 2019.[13]
References
    
- "Huntington Ingalls Industries Authenticates Keel For Destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121)" (Press release). Huntington Ingalls Industries. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
 - "Huntington Ingalls Industries Launches Guided Missile Destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121)" (Press release). Huntington Ingalls Industries. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
 - "Huntington Ingalls Industries Christens Destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121)" (Press release). Huntington Ingalls Industries. 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
 - "Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Frank E. Petersen Jr" (Press release). NAVSEA. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
 - "DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class". Federation of American Scientists. FAS.org. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
 - Bernstein, Adam (26 August 2015). "Frank Petersen Jr., first black Marine Corps pilot and general, dies at 83". Washington Post. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
 - "MSNBC, LtGen Frank E. Petersen, First Black Aviator". Retrieved 5 April 2016.
 - "Encyclopedia.com, Frank E. Petersen 1932– bio". Retrieved 5 April 2016.
 - "HII.com, DDG-121 Contract Awarded To Ingalls Shipbuilding". Retrieved 31 March 2016.
 -  "Future USS Frank E Petersen Jr Begins Fabrication". US Navy. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 
The milestone, which signifies the first 100 tons of steel being cut, was marked with a ceremony held in the shipyard's fabrication shop, April 27.
 - "Keel Laid for Future USS Frank E. Petersen Jr" (Press release). United States Navy. 21 February 2017. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
 - "US Navy Launches Future USS Frank E. Petersen Jr" (Press release). United States Navy. 16 July 2018. NNS180716-21. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
 - Sircy, Glenn. "Future USS Frank E Petersen Jr DDG 121 Welcomes First Commanding Officer". U.S. Navy. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
 
- 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.
 
External links
    
- USMC History Division, Frank E. Petersen Jr.
 - Marines.mil, Lt. Gen. Frank Petersen remembered, honored
 - Military Times, Frank E. Petersen – Awards and Citations
 
 
_sailed_in_the_Gulf_of_Mexico_during_builder_sea_trials_in_August_2021.jpg.webp)
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