"Destroyermen's Ball"

[sfc_darrel]

SURFLANT Celebrates 100 Years of
Destroyers

By Journalist 1st Class Paul Taylor, SURFLANT Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- On Nov. 24, 1902, the U.S. Navy commissioned USS Bainbridge (DD 1), the first U.S. destroyer.
In the centennial year of that commissioning, the U.S. Atlantic
Fleet's Naval Surface Force (SURFLANT) celebrates the legacy of warfighting excellence of the more than 900 American destroyers that followed Bainbridge.

The premier event in the celebration of the destroyer centennial was the "Destroyermen's Ball" at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott May 31.

Hosted by the Commander of the Atlantic Fleet's Naval Surface Force, Rear Adm. Jay Foley, the Norfolk Destroyermen's Ball was the largest such event of the six planned around the world.
The ball was attended by more than 550 people.

"Tonight we honor the men and women who have served in
destroyers," said Foley. "In decades past, or on watch now and
serving our nation at the tip of the spear to defend our right and our ability to gather at functions like this every night across this great country."

The guest speaker for the evening was the commander of the U.S. Navy's 2nd Fleet, Vice Adm. J. Cutler Dawson.

"There's a real kinship here tonight, all of us sharing a love and affinity for destroyers," said Dawson. "We are all shipmates in the truest sense of the word. And, of course, tonight that word is destroyerman. A powerful term that includes so many generations, so many experiences -- peacetime and war, both men and women."

In his speech Dawson recounted a few tales from the history of the destroyer. Although each incident cited an historic event, what he captured in each of his examples was the spirit of destroyermen.

He recounted the events surrounding the participation of destroyers in President Theodore Roosevelt's Great White Fleet world cruise. Initially, Roosevelt decided not to include
destroyers in the fleet, based on the advice of admiral's of the time who feared the 250-foot ships were not seaworthy enough to face the rigors of a world cruise.

Not long afterward the president hosted a dinner on the Presidential Yacht attended by two Navy lieutenants, who also happened to be destroyer captains. By the end of the meal, the president changed his mind and 30 minutes later issued an
executive order for the destroyers to join the fleet. Destroyers not only participated in that historic cruise, they met every requirement along the way.

"I felt that the destroyer's feat reflected even more credit upon the Navy than did the circumnavigation of the big ships," Roosevelt later said. "And I wrote the flotilla commander a letter which said so."

"You can almost imagine him," said Dawson, "tongue firmly in cheek, wanting to add this line to that letter: 'I should have consulted the lieutenants in the first place and ignored the admirals altogether.'" In addition to the usual happenings at a
military celebration, there was a display of destroyer models
representing various destroyer designs used by the U.S. through
the years.

A message announcing the ball to the fleet invited "all who sailed in, flew on or over, or sailed under navy destroyers." The invitation went on to invite distinguished citizens, members of the Hampton Roads Navy League, and the Hampton Roads community. The capacity crowd included people from all warfare communities and friends from up and down the east
coast, but it was an inclusive evening.

"Tonight is like St. Patrick's Day where everyone is Irish for a day," said Foley. "Except tonight everyone in this room is a destroyerman!" "For a hundred years, Destroyermen have made
significant contributions to the defense of our nation," said Navy spokesman CDR Terry Sutherland.

"From Bainbridge's patrols with the Asiatic Fleet's, 1st Torpedo Flotilla; to the World War II exploits of the most famous destroyerman, Arleigh Burke; to the crews of USS Nicholson and USS McFaul who launched Tomahawk cruise missiles into Afghanistan in the opening days of Operation Enduring Freedom -- Destroyermen have a long and proud history of service," he
said.

McFaul and Nicholson were not the only Atlantic Fleet destroyers involved in the war on terrorism. The destroyers USS Hayler (DD 997), USS Ross (DDG 71), USS Ramage (DDG 61), and USS Peterson (DD 969) were among the first ships to deploy after the Sept. 11 attacks on America.

Currently, four Atlantic Fleet destroyers, USS Carney (DDG 63), USS Spruance (DD 963), USS The Sullivans (DDG 68), and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) are on deployment defending freedom with the USS John F. Kennedy Battle Group.

Twenty nine of the Navy's 53 active destroyers serve in the Atlantic Fleet. Spruance-class destroyers and Arleigh
Burke-class guided missile destroyers operate in support of carrier battle groups, surface action groups, amphibious groups and replenishment groups.

Destroyers primarily perform anti-submarine warfare duty while
guided missile destroyers are multi-mission surface combatants
performing anti-submarine, anti-air, and anti-surface warfare.
The addition of the Mk-41 vertical launch system to many Spruance-class destroyers has greatly expanded the role of the destroyer in strike warfare.

The newest destroyer in the Navy is the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Bulkely (DDG 84) commissioned Dec. 8, 2001 in New York City.

Compared to Bainbridge, Bulkeley is 260 feet longer, 33 feet wider, and 8,780 tons heavier. Bulkeley's crew outnumbers the crew of Bainbridge 330 to 73. But one thing these ships have in common is speed: Bainbridge's top speed was 28.5 knots while
Bulkeley's top speed is listed by the Navy as "in excess of 30 knots."

For more information on the destroyer centennial, go to www.surfacewarfare.navy.mil/destroyercentennial.

[bubbabink70]

Having spent a number of years in the "Tin Can" navy, it is hard for me to really think of the big ships like aircraft carriers as real ships. Because until you have had the dubious pleasure of walking on the bulkheads or being tossed out of your bunk then how can you really appreciate the sea? For me the ultimate was while on board the USS Bainbridge CGN-25. It was in the middle of the night. We were patrolling in the North Sea when a sudden squal hit us. The thing that I remember is waking up to the sound of the guy in the bunk next to mine yelling as he fell the six feet to the deck. After that we all started sleeping with our boots under our matresses. Oh the good old days.

[sfc_darrel]

Our son is serving on a Destroyer.

We got a tour of the USS Ross when they returned from Kosovo. Funny for me to duck when going through a doorway. I'm 5'3 1/4" tall.

Joy-Petty Officer's Mom

[sfc_darrel]

Our son is serving on a new Destroyer.

We got a tour of the USS Ross when they returned from Kosovo. Strange for me to duck through a doorway. I'm only 5'3 1/4" tall

Joy-Navy Petty Officer's Mom

[Boats]

bubasink70,

I agree with your summation regarding carriers. Unfortunately I was on several in my 12 years. During rough seas or during unreps I used to watch you guys working topside and wonder how and hell did they ever get used to it!!

Tin Can Sailors are unique and a special group. I salute you all as I do all soldiers. I'm still amazed how those little ships stay afloat in rough weather. Yes Sir I recall our escorts with pride as they really stuck it out during those tough times.

Fly The Flag

[Wazza]

The first time I went on board a destroyer I got the full tour. Bridge, ops. room the lot. What was most threatening for me was that little bubble which indicated the point of no return. Couldn't ever consider working in an area that was considered an occupational health hazzard before you even get into action.

My son is joining the Navy at the end of the year. I think I already told you that Boats!