Wikipedia

USSRoss(DDG-71)

For other ships with the same name, seeUSS Ross.

USSRoss(DDG-71)is anArleigh Burke-classguided-missile destroyerin theUnited States Navy.She is the second Navy ship to be namedRoss,the first Navy ship named forMedal of HonorrecipientDonald K. Rossand the 21st destroyer of her class. The firstRoss,DD-563,was named forDavid Ross,acaptainin theContinental Navy.

USSRosson 29 May 2005
History
United States
NameRoss
NamesakeDonald K. Ross
Ordered8 April 1992
BuilderIngalls Shipbuilding
Laid down10 April 1995
Launched22 March 1996
Commissioned28 June 1997
HomeportNorfolk
Identification
MottoFortune Favors Valor
Nickname(s)Quad Cruiser
Honours and
awards		SeeAwards
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeArleigh Burke-classdestroyer
Displacement
  • Light: approx. 6,800long tons(6,900t)
  • Full: approx. 8,900 long tons (9,000 t)
Length505 ft (154 m)
Beam59 ft (18 m)
Draft31 ft (9.4 m)
Propulsion2 ×shafts
SpeedIn excess of 30kn(56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range4,400nmi(8,100 km; 5,100 mi) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried1 ×Sikorsky MH-60R

Construction

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Rosswas the 10th ship of her class to be built atIngalls ShipbuildinginPascagoula, Mississippi.She was laid down on 10 April 1995; launched on 22 March 1996; sponsored by Mrs. Helen L. Ross, widow of the late Captain Ross; and commissioned on 28 June 1997, atGalveston,Texas,CommanderJeffrey R. Ginnow in command.[4]

Service history

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After commissioning,Rossset sail for a Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trial, which lasted six weeks, and then sailed back to Pascagoula for three months for her Post Shakedown Availability (PSA). She was then returned to her homeport ofPortsmouth, Virginia,and completed the Basic Training Phase: Engineering Certification, CART II, TSTA I, and III, Cruise Missile Tactical Qualification, Final Evaluation Period (FEP), and Logistics Management Assessment.[citation needed]

Rosscompleted her Intermediate Training Phase and set sail early in 1999 as part ofCarrier Group 8,led byTheodore Roosevelt.The group sortied for a Joint Task Force Exercise to prepare for an upcoming six-month deployment set to commence on 26 March 1999. During this deployment to theMediterranean SeaandAdriatic SeaRossparticipated inOperation Allied Force.On 22 September, she returned toNaval Station Norfolk.[citation needed]

On 15 May 2000, she set sail for Northern Europe in order to participate in theBaltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2000.She served as theflagshipfor the Commander of Carrier Group Eight, and together with the destroyerPetersonoperated with more than 50 ships from the numerous European countries.[5]During these exercisesRossvisitedStockholm, Sweden,andKiel,Germany, before returning to the United States in late June.[citation needed]

On 16 October 2001,Rosswas deployed to the Mediterranean Sea andPersian Gulfin support ofOperation Enduring Freedom,[5]and conducting operations in support of the U.N. resolutions against Iraq. During this deployment,Rosswas again part of theTheodore RooseveltBattle Group.[5]

On 11 September 2001,Rosswas underway on a three-hour notice in response to theSeptember 11 attacks,acting temporarily as a Regional Air Defense Commander in support of Commander,North American Air Defense Command.Rosswas also recognized that year with the Arizona Memorial Trophy for being the most combat ready ship in the US Navy.[5]

On 6 June 2005, a.50 caliber machine gunon her deck fired while leaving a shipyard. The single.50 caliber bullet struck a nearby barge and two washing machines within the barge. The gun was discharged while performing a check on its firing operation.[6]

Later in 2005,Rossparticipated in UNITAS 47-06 in place of thecruiserThomas S. Gatesdue to the damage to Pascagoula created byHurricane Katrina.Rossenjoyed liberty inCuraçao,St. Maarten,andRio de Janeiro,while participating in the multi-ship exercise with naval forces from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Spain, and Uruguay. During the return home,Rossencountered heavy seas at high speeds resulting in a tear in her hull. The crew isolated her flooding and performed de-watering during the remainder of the journey up the Atlantic coast eventually arriving in Norfolk in time forThanksgiving.

In 2006,Rossreturned from a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea as part ofStanding NATO Maritime Group 1.She conducted over 850 vessel queries, commanded over 17 ships from various nations, performed over 40 helicopter landings and takeoffs and 41 port visits to six countries and 14 ports. From 1 May 2006 to 7 November 2006,Rosstraveled over 64,000nautical miles(119,000 km; 74,000 mi). InAlicante,Spain, in August 2006,Rossbecame the groupflagship,embarking the American commander of the standing maritime group. Her mission was to perform as part ofOperation Active Endeavour;deterring terrorism,smugglingandhuman traffickingin the Mediterranean.

In September 2014, responding to turmoil inUkraine,the US Navy announced that a guided missile destroyer had entered theBlack Seain order to participate with Ukrainian ships in the naval exercise "Sea Breeze".Ross"serves to demonstrate the United States' commitment to strengthening the collective security of NATO allies and partners in the region," the Navy said in a press release.[7]

In November 2014, three sailors fromRosswere attacked while ashore in the port ofIstanbul,apparently by members of theTurkey Youth Union.[8]

In May 2015,Rosswas buzzed by a pair of RussianSu-24 Fencersat a distance of 500 m (1,600 ft) while the ship was on-station in the Black Sea.[9]Russian Federation State mediaRIA Novostiquoted a military source, which claimed thatRosshad acted aggressively and was scared away by the bombers. The US Navy published a statement, denying the Russian claims and pointing out that the ship was in international waters and did not deviate from its operations.[10]

On 21 October 2015,Rossintercepted aTerrier missileas part of ASD-15 anti-ballistic missile testing in the North Sea.[11]Rossspent the summer of 2017 conductinganti-submarinepatrols around theNorwegian Seaand theArctic Ocean.[12]

On 7 April 2017,RossandPorter,from their positions in the Eastern Mediterranean,fired a total of 59Tomahawk missilesat specific military targets at theShayratairfield inSyria.The missile barrage was in response to the death of at least 80 civilians in the immediate aftermath of 4 April 2017,Khan Shaykhun chemical attackinIdlib province,an attack that the US government concluded was launched by the Syrian regime, from Shayrat.[13][14][15][16]

United States Ambassador to Israel,David M. Friedman's remarks on USS Ross during its visit to the IsraeliPort of Ashdod,10 October 2018

On 16 February 2018,RossjoinedUSSCarney(DDG-64)in theBlack Seafor an "unspecified regional proactive presence mission". The move follows increased tensions between Russia and the U.S. after American federal prosecutors announced indictments against 13 Russian citizens for their alleged interference in the2016 U.S. Presidential campaign.[17]

In December 2019,Rossarrived inOdesa,Ukraine, onChristmas Eve,part of its mission in the Black Sea.Rossis the first U.S. vessel to stop in Odesa since the USS Porter made a port call there in October.[18][19]

On 6 September 2022,RossdepartedRotaand began her journey toNorfolkfor a scheduled port shift. She was relieved byUSSPaul Ignatius(DDG-117).[20]

Upgrades

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On 12 November 2009, theMissile Defense Agencyannounced thatRosswould be upgraded during Fiscal Year 2012 toRIM-161 Standard Missile 3(SM-3) capability in order to function as part of theAegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.[21]

In 2016, four destroyers patrolling with theU.S. 6th Fleetbased inNaval Station Rota, Spain,includingRossreceived self-protection upgrades, replacing the aftPhalanx CIWS20mmVulcan cannonwith theSeaRAM11-cellRIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missilelauncher. The SeaRam uses the same sensor dome as the Phalanx. This was the first time the close-range ship defense system was paired with an Aegis ship. All four ships to receive the upgrade were either Flight I or II, meaning they originally had two Phalanx CIWS systems when launched.[22][23]

Awards

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Coat of arms

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Shield

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The shield is in the shape of a octagon with a gold background and blue trim. The center of the shield consists of an inverted silver star, anchor and crossing red lightning bolts.

The traditional Navy colors were chosen for the shield because dark blue and gold represents the sea and excellence respectively. The anchor represents the anchorage atPearl Harbor,which brought the United States into World War II after being attacked 7 December 1941. The propeller represents Warrant Officer Ross and a Navy Machinist badge signifies the post he held at the time of action. The inverted silver star stands for his heroism during the attack and the Medal of Honor he won for valor on board the battleship USS Nevada. The shield's shape refers to the AEGIS combat system of DDG-71. The color gold represents excellence, while red denotes courage and sacrifice.

Crest

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The crest consists of agriffinholding a trident with a red and gold framing below.

The griffin, denoting vigilance, intelligence, and valor, reflects USSRoss's versatile operational capabilities. The griffin holds a trident to represent the ship's offensive equipment with exceptional firepower. The color gold represents excellence.

Motto

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The ship's motto, written on a scroll of blue that has a red reverse side, is "Fortune Favors Valor."It refers to the honorable feats of Captain Ross and the Medal of Honor he received.[25]

Seal

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The coat of arms in full color as in the blazon, upon a white background enclosed within a dark blue oval border edged on the outside with a gold rope and bearing the inscription "USS ROSS" at the top and "DDG 71" in the base all gold.

References

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  1. ^"Mk46 MOD 1 Optical Sight System".Kollmorgen.Archivedfrom the original on 30 November 2022.Retrieved26 January2023.
  2. ^Rockwell, David (12 July 2017)."The Kollmorgen/L-3 KEO Legacy".Teal Group.Archivedfrom the original on 29 May 2023.Retrieved29 May2023.
  3. ^Hart, Jackie (17 December 2023)."Decoy Launch System Installed Aboard USS Ramage".navy.mil.Archived fromthe originalon 28 April 2016.Retrieved26 January2023.
  4. ^Evans 2015.
  5. ^abcd"History - USS Ross (DDG-71)".US Navy.Retrieved17 May2024.
  6. ^"Navy destroyer opens fire leaving port Chicago Sun-Times - Find Articles".Archived fromthe originalon 5 October 2007.Retrieved13 May2007.
  7. ^"USS Ross to Enter Black Sea Story Number: NNS140903-10".Navy News Service.3 September 2014.
  8. ^"US Sailors Victims of Videotaped Attack in Istanbul".ABC News.12 November 2014.
  9. ^Shinkman, Paul D. (1 June 2015)."More 'Top Gun': Russian Jets Buzz U.S. Navy Destroyer in Black Sea".U.S. News & World Report.Archived fromthe originalon 2 June 2015.Retrieved1 June2015.
  10. ^Withnall, Adam (2 June 2015)."US Navy releases video showing dramatic close pass by Russian warplane in Black Sea".The Independent.Retrieved2 June2015.
  11. ^"USS Ross intercepts ballistic missile during coalition test".Spacewar.Retrieved7 April2017.
  12. ^Ziezulewicz, Geoff (7 July 2017)."Ross sailors cross into Arctic Circle, join 'Order of the Blue Nose'".The Navy Times.Retrieved10 July2017.The Ross has been conducting anti-submarine patrols in the high north Atlantic Ocean, Norwegian Sea and Arctic Ocean with fellow destroyers Laboon and James E. Williams, as well as with the cruiser Leyte Gulf during the summer.
  13. ^Hennigan, W.J. & Wilkinson, Tracy (6 April 2017)."U.S. Launches Dozens of Missiles in Response to Chemical Weapons Attack".Los Angeles Times.Retrieved7 April2017.{{cite journal}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^Gordon, Michael R., Cooper, Helene & Shear, Michael D. (6 April 2017)."Dozens of U.S. Missiles Hit Air Base in Syria".The New York Times.Retrieved7 April2017.{{cite journal}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^Phipps, Claire (6 April 2017)."Syria: US Launches 60 Missiles in Strike on Airbase near Homs".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved7 April2017.
  16. ^Sopel, Jon & BBC Staff (6 April 2017)."Syria War: US Launches Missile Strikes in Response to Chemical 'Attack'".BBC News.Retrieved7 April2017.
  17. ^"Two U.S. guided missile destroyers now operating in the Black Sea".usni.org. 18 February 2018.Retrieved20 February2018.
  18. ^(in Vietnamese)Chiến hạm Mỹ trên đường tới Ukraine bị chiến đấu cơ Nga dọa tấn công "US vessel on its way to Ukraine simulated Russian attack".Nguoi Viet Daily News.Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  19. ^USS Ross arrives in Ukraine after simulated Russian attack at sea.UPI.Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  20. ^Correll, Diana Stancy (8 September 2022)."USS Ross departs Rota for home port shift to Norfolk".Navy Times.Retrieved23 September2022.
  21. ^"MDA announces next 6 BMD ships",Navy Times,12 November 2009.
  22. ^Eckstein, Megan (15 September 2015)."Navy Integrating SeaRAM on Rota-Based DDGs; First Installation Complete In November".usni.org.U.S. Naval Institute.Archivedfrom the original on 8 October 2016.Retrieved20 November2016.
  23. ^Eckstein, Megan (8 March 2016)."Navy Successfully Completes First Live Fire Test of SeaRAM From Destroyer".usni.org.USNI News.Retrieved8 March2016.
  24. ^"trump-orders-missile-attack-in-retaliation-for-syrian-chemical-strikes".defense.gov.
  25. ^"USS Ross DDG-71".surflant.usff.navy.mil.Retrieved24 February2022.

This article includes information collected from theNaval Vessel Register,which, as a U.S. government publication, is in thepublic domain.The entry can be foundhere. Evans, Mark L. (31 August 2015)."Ross II (DDG-71)".Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.Navy Department,Naval History and Heritage Command.Retrieved8 April2017.

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