USS Porter (DDG-78), on 26 April 2010
History
United States
NamePorter
Namesake
Ordered20 July 1994
BuilderIngalls Shipbuilding
Laid down2 December 1996
Launched12 November 1997
Acquired11 January 1999
Commissioned20 March 1999
HomeportNorfolk
Identification
MottoFreedom's Champion
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeArleigh Burke-class destroyer
Displacement8,637 long tons (8,776 t) (Full load)
Length505 ft (154 m)
Beam59 ft (18 m)
Draft31 ft (9.4 m)
Installed power
Propulsion2 × shafts
SpeedIn excess of 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range4,400 nmi (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

USS Porter (DDG-78) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. Porter is the fifth US Navy ship to be named after US Navy officers Commodore David Porter, and his son, Admiral David Dixon Porter. This ship is the 28th destroyer of her class. Porter was the 12th ship of this class to be built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She was laid down on 2 December 1996, launched and christened on 12 November 1997, and commissioned 20 March 1999, in Port Canaveral, Florida.

Service history

OEF/OIF

From January to July 2003, Porter engaged in combat and support operations of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Joint Task Force (JTF) Cobra. Porter launched Tomahawk missiles during the Dora Farms and Shock and Awe stages of the Iraq War.[4] Porter also worked with the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) off the coast of Israel while some Porter Sailors worked with the IDF from the Nevatim base in the Negev desert of Southern Israel.[5]

Piracy

On 28 October 2007, Porter attacked and sank two pirate skiffs off Somalia after receiving a distress call from the tanker MV Golden Nori which was under attack from pirates.[6]

2009 upgrade

On 12 November 2009, the Missile Defense Agency announced that Porter would be upgraded during fiscal year 2013 to RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) capability in order to function as part of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.[7] In 2016 the aft CIWS mount was replaced by a SeaRAM missile system.[8]

Operation Nanook 2010

In August 2010, Porter and the United States Coast Guard buoy tender USCGC Alder participated in Operation Nanook 2010 in Baffin Bay and the Davis Straits.[9] This was the fourth annual Operation Nanook organized by the Canadian Government, but it was the first to host foreign vessels.

2012 collision

USS Porter after colliding with another ship in August 2012.

On 12 August 2012, Porter collided with MV Otowasan, an oil tanker, near the Strait of Hormuz.[10] The collision ripped a 3-by-3-meter (10 ft × 10 ft) hole in the starboard side of the destroyer, forcing her to Jebel Ali, Dubai for repairs. No one on either ship was injured.[11][12] Initially Naval Forces Central Command did not provide details about the collision, saying that it was under investigation.[13][14] Porter's captain, Commander Martin Arriola, was subsequently removed from command of the ship and replaced by Commander Dave Richardson.[15][16] On 12 October 2012, Porter rejoined Carrier Strike Group 12 for its transit through the Suez Canal following temporary repairs to the ship costing $700,000.[17][18] Later repairs were budgeted at a cost of nearly $50 million.[19]

On 30 April 2015, Porter arrived at Naval Station Rota, Spain. Naval Station Rota is Porter's new permanent homeport. Porter joins three other US destroyers at Rota. These four ships are assigned to the United States Sixth Fleet, and will conduct ballistic missile defense patrols in the Mediterranean Sea in support of Commander, US Sixth Fleet's mission.[20]

2016 upgrade

In 2016, four destroyers patrolling with the U.S. 6th Fleet based in Naval Station Rota, Spain, including Porter received self-protection upgrades, replacing the aft Phalanx CIWS 20mm Vulcan cannon with the SeaRAM 11-cell RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launcher. 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.[21][22]

Attack on Shayrat Airfield

On 7 April 2017, a total of 59 Tomahawk missiles were fired by Porter and Ross at military targets at Shayrat Airbase in Homs, Syria, from their positions in the eastern Mediterranean. The missile strike was in response to the Khan Shaykhun chemical attack on 4 April 2017, which the U.S. government said was launched by the Syrian regime from Shayrat.[23][24][25][26]

Defender Europe 2021

On 21 February 2021, Porter conducted an exercise with the Greek Navy's HS Adrias with four F-16s off southern Crete.[27]

2022 Baltic exercise

In June 2022, Porter took part in the naval exercise BALTOPS 2022 in the Baltic Sea, where together with British destroyer HMS Defender (D36) and German frigate Sachsen (F219), she provided an air defense screen for the task group centered around USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) and USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44).[28]

Homeport Shift to Norfolk

On 28 September 2022, Porter departed Naval Station Rota for the last time as part of a homeport shift of the Rota-based destroyers. In October 2022, the Navy announced that Porter arrived at Norfolk after 7 years serving as a Forward-Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) destroyer.[29] USS Bulkeley replaced Porter at Rota.

Awards

Coat of arms

Shield

The shield has a quartered background of gold and a blue with a star in each upper quadrant. In the center of the shield is a red array enclosing a torch.

The traditional Navy colors were chosen for the shield because dark blue and gold represents the sea and excellence respectively. Red is emblematic of courage and sacrifice. The shield's quartered division recalling previous Porter's while underlining the US Navy's worldwide mission and the four cardinal compass points. The stars represent each battle star earned by the fourth Porter during World War II and the Korean War. The AEGIS array is red to reflect courage and action and symbolizes her modern warfare capabilities. The Statue of Liberty torch represents the ship's motto and signifies freedom, the principle of which our country was founded.

Crest

The crest consists of crossed swords behind an arm held trident, all surrounded by laurels.

Two Naval Officers' crossed swords honor David Porter, his son, and the ships mission to "Train, Fight and Win." The laurel, arm and trident are adaptations of the US Naval Academy's coat of arms highlighting David Porter's tenure as the Academy Superintendent. The trident is the symbol of sea power which denotes the AEGIS vertical launch system. The three prongs of the trident represent the three wars the Porter served in; the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Civil War.

Motto

The motto is written on a scroll of gold that has a blue reverse side.

The ships motto is "Freedom's Champion". The motto is a reference to the principles upon which the United States of America was founded and the honorable feats of Admiral Porter.

Seal

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 PORTER" at the top and "DDG 78" in the base all gold.

References

  1. ↑ "Mk46 MOD 1 Optical Sight System". Kollmorgen. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  2. ↑ Rockwell, David (12 July 2017). "The Kollmorgen/L-3 KEO Legacy". Teal Group. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  3. ↑ Hart, Jackie (17 December 2023). "Decoy Launch System Installed Aboard USS Ramage". navy.mil. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  4. ↑ "Destroyer Photo Index DDG-78 USS PORTER". navsource.org. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Patriot missiles in Israel packed up - UPI.com".
  6. ↑ Starr, Barbara (29 October 2007). "U.S. destroyer pursuing hijacked ship in Somali waters, military says". CNN. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
  7. ↑ Ewing, Philip (12 November 2009). "MDA announces next 6 BMD ships". Navy Times. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Navy Successfully Completes First Live Fire Test Of SeaRAM From Destroyer - USNI News". 8 March 2016.
  9. ↑ "Canada Command – OP Nanook". Canadian Forces. August 2010. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  10. ↑ "U.S. destroyer, oil tanker collide". CNN. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  11. ↑ "U.S. Navy ship collides with tanker off Hormuz". The Japan Times. Associated Press. 14 August 2012. p. 2.
  12. ↑ "Collision in the Strait of Hormuz". Information Dissemination. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  13. ↑ "Update: No Injuries in Strait of Hormuz Collision" (Press release). U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  14. ↑ Starr, Barbara (12 August 2012). "Navy: U.S. destroyer collides with oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz". CNN. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "Skipper of US Navy ship removed from job". The Washington Post. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  16. ↑ Fellman, Sam (30 August 2012). "Destroyer CO fired in wake of tanker collision". Navy Times. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  17. ↑ Forster, Alex R. (14 October 2012). "USS Porter Rejoins Enterprise Carrier Strike Group" (Press release). United States Navy. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  18. ↑ Hixenbaugh, Mike (24 October 2012). "After $700,000 in Temporary Repairs, Navy Ship Is Back in Action". Norfolk Virginian-Pilot.
  19. ↑ "Multi-million dollar contract approved for USS Porter repairs". May 2013.
  20. ↑ Beardsley, Steven (30 April 2015). "USS Porter takes up residence in Rota, Spain". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  21. ↑ Eckstein, Megan (15 September 2015). "Navy Integrating SeaRAM on Rota-Based DDGs; First Installation Complete In November". usni.org. U.S. Naval Institute. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  22. ↑ Eckstein, Megan (8 March 2016). "Navy Successfully Completes First Live Fire Test of SeaRAM From Destroyer". usni.org. USNI News. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  23. ↑ Hennigan, W.J. & Wilkinson, Tracy (6 April 2017). "U.S. Launches Dozens of Missiles in Response to Chemical Weapons Attack". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  24. ↑ 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. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  25. ↑ Phipps, Claire (6 April 2017). "Syria: US Launches 60 Missiles in Strike on Airbase near Homs". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  26. ↑ Sopel, Jon & BBC Staff (6 April 2017). "Syria War: US Launches Missile Strikes in Response to Chemical 'Attack'". BBC News. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  27. ↑ "Greece And US Conduct Joint Military Exercises South Of Crete". Greek City Times. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  28. ↑ "U.S. Warships Now in the Baltic Ahead of BALTOPS as Sweden, Finland Move Through NATO Membership Process". usni.org. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  29. ↑ "Welcome Home, USS Porter". 9 October 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  30. ↑ "2020 CAPTAIN EDWARD F. NEY MEMORIAL FOOD SERVICE AWARD RESULTS/". navy.mil. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2023.

This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.

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