On September 4, the US Navy’s new destroyer Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) departed from Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division, sailing to its homeport in Mayport, Florida.

Photo: HII

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer was delivered to the navy in late April 2020 after conducting a series of at-sea and pier-side trials.

There are currently four more destroyers under construction at Ingalls — Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121), Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) and Ted Stevens (DDG 128).

 In June this year, Ingalls was awarded a $936 million contract for the construction of an additional Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are highly capable, multi-mission ships and can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, all in support of the United States military strategy. Guided missile destroyers are capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles. The ship contains myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century.