USS *The Sullivans* (DDG-68)

USS *The Sullivans* (DDG-68) is an ''Arleigh Burke''-class guided-missile destroyer in service with the United States Navy. The ship is the second vessel to honor the five Sullivan brothers, who were killed in action during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II. Commissioned in 1997, the destroyer has been a forward-deployed asset, participating in numerous NATO exercises, Operation Enduring Freedom, and maritime security operations globally.

Naming and namesake

The ship is named in honor of the five Sullivan brothers—George, Francis, Joseph, Madison, and Albert—who served together aboard the light cruiser USS *Juneau* (CL-52). All five perished when *Juneau* was sunk by the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-26 during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942. Their tragic loss prompted the War Department to adopt the Sole Survivor Policy and inspired the 1944 film *The Fighting Sullivans*. The name was previously carried by a ''Fletcher''-class destroyer, USS *The Sullivans* (DD-537), which is now a National Historic Landmark museum ship in Buffalo, New York.

Construction and career

USS *The Sullivans* (DDG-68) was constructed by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. Her keel was laid on 27 July 1994, and she was launched on 12 August 1995. The ship was sponsored by Kelly Ann Sullivan Loughren, granddaughter of Albert Leo Sullivan. Following sea trials, the destroyer was commissioned on 19 April 1997 at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey, with the ceremony attended by members of the United States Congress and the Chief of Naval Operations. After commissioning, she was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet and homeported at Naval Station Mayport in Florida.

Design and armament

As a Flight I variant of the ''Arleigh Burke''-class, the ship integrates the Aegis Combat System with the AN/SPY-1D phased array radar. Her primary armament includes the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System, capable of firing a mix of Standard Missile 2 surface-to-air missiles, Vertical Launch ASROC anti-submarine rockets, and Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles. For close-in defense, she is equipped with a 5-inch/54 caliber Mark 45 gun, Close-In Weapon System mounts, and Mk 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes. The ship's propulsion is provided by four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines driving two shafts, enabling speeds in excess of 30 knots.

Service history

Following shakedown cruises, *The Sullivans* deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1998 in support of Operation Southern Watch. In 2003, she participated in the initial stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom, launching Tomahawk missiles against targets in Iraq. Subsequent deployments have included counter-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa as part of Combined Task Force 151, and ballistic missile defense patrols in the Mediterranean Sea with the Sixth Fleet. The destroyer has also regularly operated with Naval Forces Europe and taken part in major exercises like BALTOPS and Joint Warrior. In 2021, she transited the Strait of Hormuz alongside the aircraft carrier USS *Dwight D. Eisenhower* (CVN-69).

Awards and legacy

Throughout her career, USS *The Sullivans* has received numerous unit awards, including the Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, and multiple Battle Efficiency "E" awards. The ship continues to honor the legacy of the Sullivan brothers by maintaining a close relationship with their hometown of Waterloo, Iowa, and participating in annual memorial events. Her ship's bell and other artifacts are displayed at the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum. The destroyer remains an active component of Destroyer Squadron 14, embodying the Navy's commitment to global presence and the motto "We Stick Together."

Category:Arleigh Burke-class destroyers Category:Ships built in Maine Category:1997 ships