USS Rafael Peralta

USS Rafael Peralta on 30 June 2017
History
United States
NameRafael Peralta
NamesakeRafael Peralta
Ordered26 September 2011
BuilderBath Iron Works
Laid down30 October 2014[1]
Launched31 October 2015
Sponsored byRosa Maria Peralta
Christened31 October 2015[2]
Acquired3 February 2017[3]
Commissioned29 July 2017[4]
HomeportYokosuka[5]
Identification
Motto
  • Fortis ad Finem
  • (Courageous to the End)
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeArleigh Burke-class destroyer
Displacement9,217 tons (full load)[6]
Length513 feet (156 m)[6]
Beam66 feet (20 m)[6]
Propulsion4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines 100,000 shp (75,000 kW)[6]
Speed30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Complement380 officers and enlisted
Armament
Aircraft carried2 × MH-60R Seahawk helicopters
Aviation facilitiesDouble hangar and helipad

USS Rafael Peralta (DDG-115) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. The destroyer can operate with a Carrier Strike Group (CSG), Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), as an element of a Surface Action Group (SAG), or independently. The ship can conduct a variety of missions in support of national military strategy. From peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, 115 will be capable of carrying out Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD), Undersea Warfare (USW), Surface Warfare (SW), and Strike Warfare (STW) in multi-threat environments.[7]

The $679.6 million contract to build her was awarded on 26 September 2011 to Bath Iron Works of Bath, Maine.[8][9] On 15 February 2012, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced the ship's named to be Rafael Peralta in honor of Marine Rafael Peralta, who was petitioned for the Medal of Honor for shielding several Marines from a grenade in November 2004 during the Iraq War; however, he was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross instead.[10][11]

  1. ^ "General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Lays Keel of DDG 115, Starts Fabrication on DDG 118" (Press release). Bath Iron Works. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  2. ^ "General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Christens Future USS Rafael Peralta" (PDF) (Press release). Bath Iron Works. 2 November 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  3. ^ "Future USS Rafael Peralta Delivered to the Navy" (Press release). United States Navy. 6 February 2017. NNS170206-19. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  4. ^ "USS Rafael Peralta Commissioned in San Diego" (Press release). United States Navy. 30 July 2017. NNS170730-01. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  5. ^ "USS RAFAEL PERALTA DDG 115". 19 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference FAS.org was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "About DDG 115 – USS Rafael Peralta Commissioning". peraltacommissioning.org. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Rafael Peralta (DDG 115)". Naval Vessel Register. Navy.mil. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  9. ^ "DDG 51 Class Ship Construction Contract Awards Announced" (PDF) (Press release). Naval Sea Systems Command. 26 September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  10. ^ "Navy Names Five New Ships" (Press release). U.S. Navy. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  11. ^ Cavas P., Christopher (15 February 2012). "Five New U.S. Navy Ship Names Announced". Defense News. Gannett Government Media. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.