USS Mason (DDG-87)

USS Mason (DDG-87)
Ship name	USS Mason (DDG-87)
Ship class	Arleigh Burke-class destroyer
Ship displacement	9,200 tons (full load)
Ship length	505 ft (154 m)
Ship beam	66 ft (20 m)
Ship propulsion	Combined gas and gas (COGAG); 4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines
Ship speed	30+ knots
Ship range	4,400 nmi at 20 kn
Ship complement	~330 officers and enlisted
Ship builder	Ingalls Shipbuilding
Ship laid down	12 January 1998
Ship launched	26 January 2000
Ship commissioned	16 June 2003
Ship homeport	Norfolk, Virginia

USS Mason (DDG-87) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer of the United States Navy commissioned in 2003. The ship is named for Ensign Newton Henry Mason, a United States Navy Reserve aviator, and is noted for multi-mission capabilities including Aegis Combat System operations, ballistic missile defense, and escort duties. Mason has participated in operations involving the U.S. Sixth Fleet, U.S. Fifth Fleet, and multinational task forces.

Construction and commissioning

Mason was laid down at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi on 12 January 1998, launched on 26 January 2000, and commissioned on 16 June 2003 at Naval Station Mayport. The ship was constructed under a contract awarded to Litton Industries and later delivered amid shipbuilding schedules influenced by programs overseen by the Naval Sea Systems Command and procurement offices in Washington, D.C.. Key milestones included keel authentication ceremonies attended by representatives of the Department of the Navy and veteran organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Design and specifications

Mason is a Flight I Arleigh Burke-class destroyer equipped with the Aegis Combat System, the AN/SPY-1D phased-array radar, and the MK 41 Vertical Launching System capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM-2 and SM-3 surface-to-air missiles, and ASROC anti-submarine rockets. Propulsion is provided by four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines driving two shafts in a COGAG arrangement. The ship's sensors and weapons suite includes the AN/SQQ-89 anti-submarine warfare suite, the Mk 45 5-inch/54 caliber gun, and close-in weapon systems integrated with Phalanx CIWS and electronic warfare systems supplied by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. Mason's hull and superstructure incorporate stealth shaping developed during the Cold War modernization of surface combatants and sustainment practices coordinated with the Military Sealift Command and Naval Sea Logistics Center.

Operational history

Mason has been deployed to support operations with the United States Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea and the United States Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. The destroyer has been assigned to carrier strike group operations with USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), USS Enterprise (CVN-65), and USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), conducting air defense, escort, and ballistic missile defense missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and maritime security operations in coordination with NATO partners such as Royal Navy, Italian Navy, and Hellenic Navy units. Mason has also participated in multinational exercises including BALTOPS, Exercise Joint Warrior, and NATO Operation Active Endeavour.

Awards and honors

Over its service life, Mason and her crew have received unit awards and commendations from the Secretary of the Navy and fleet commanders, including Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation and Navy E Ribbon recognitions for readiness and excellence. The ship's personnel have earned campaign ribbons associated with deployments to support Operation Enduring Freedom and theater security cooperation efforts endorsed by the U.S. European Command and U.S. Central Command.

Notable incidents and deployments

In October 2016, Mason was involved in a high-profile defensive action in the Bab-el-Mandeb region when the ship was targeted by missiles and engaged in an incident that drew international attention, prompting statements from the Department of Defense and diplomatic reactions involving Yemen-related factions and regional actors. During deployments, Mason has encountered asymmetric threats such as small boat harassment and anti-ship missile warnings while operating near chokepoints like the Suez Canal and Strait of Hormuz, leading to coordinated responses with allied navies including detachments from the French Navy and Royal Australian Navy. Mason has also been tasked with ballistic missile defense duties, successfully integrating Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense sensors and interceptors with joint commands during exercises involving the Missile Defense Agency.

Crew and command

Mason’s complement typically numbers around 330 officers and enlisted sailors, with command rotated among United States Naval Academy graduates, Naval Reserve officers, and officers commissioned via Officer Candidate School. Leadership aboard Mason reports through the destroyer squadron chain of command to the United States Fleet Forces Command or operational commanders within the U.S. Sixth Fleet or U.S. Fifth Fleet depending on deployment. The crew sustains proficiency through coordinated training at Surface Warfare Officer School and live-fire events conducted with units from Carrier Strike Group Two and Destroyer Squadron 28.

Cultural significance and namesake

The ship is named for Ensign Newton Henry Mason, a naval aviator awarded for his service during World War II; the namesake connects Mason to naval aviation heritage and commemorative practices maintained by the Naval Historical Center and United Service Organizations. Mason has fostered ties with civic organizations in Norfolk, Virginia and Jacksonville, Florida, supporting community outreach with groups like the American Red Cross and Fleet Week events. The vessel and crew have been featured in media briefings by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and covered by international outlets during incidents in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, reflecting the ship's role in contemporary maritime security narratives.

Category:Arleigh Burke-class destroyers Category:Ships built in Pascagoula, Mississippi Category:2000 ships