USS Gonzalez (DDG-66) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. She is named for Sergeant Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez, a Medal of Honor recipient in the Vietnam War.
_arrives_in_Souda_harbor.jpg) USS Gonzalez on 6 June 2008 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Gonzalez |
| Namesake | Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez |
| Ordered | 16 January 1991 |
| Builder | Bath Iron Works |
| Laid down | 3 February 1994 |
| Launched | 18 February 1995 |
| Acquired | 14 June 1996 |
| Commissioned | 12 October 1996 |
| Homeport | Norfolk |
| Identification |
|
| Motto | Beyond the Call |
| Status | in active service |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Arleigh Burke-class destroyer |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 505 ft (154 m) |
| Beam | 59 ft (18 m) |
| Draft | 31 ft (9.4 m) |
| Propulsion | 2 × shafts |
| Speed | In excess of 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
| Range | 4,400 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 carried | 1 × Sikorsky MH-60R |
Service history
The ship took part in Operation Allied Force, firing Tomahawk cruise missiles at Serbian targets in 1999. Gonzalez also assisted a cruise ship, Seabourn Spirit, after an abortive attack by pirates off the coast of Somalia in 2005.
On 1 March 2006, the ship rescued the crew of an Iranian ship, whose engine and rudder were broken down since 18 February. The Iranian crew were returned to Iran. She was involved in the action of 18 March 2006 with suspected pirates, along with the cruiser USS Cape St. George. The two ships exchanged fire with the suspected pirates about 25 nautical miles (46 km) off the coast of Somalia. Initial reports indicated that one suspected pirate was killed and five others wounded.
On 17 July 2006, CNN reported that Gonzalez would be deployed to help in evacuation efforts of American citizens from Lebanon in the midst of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict.
In May 2022, Gonzalez was homeported out of Naval Station Norfolk and a part of Destroyer Squadron 28, along with Carrier Strike Group 8 led by the USS Harry S. Truman.
Gallery
- USS Gonzalez executing a high speed turn during builder's sea trials on 03 May 1996
- USS Gonzalez fires a Tomahawk cruise missile during Operation Allied Force on 31 March 1999
- Italian frigate Alpino underway with USS Gonzalez in the Atlantic Ocean on 17 May 2018
- USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) departs Naval Station Norfolk on 10 September 2018
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_underway_with_USS_Gonzalez_(DDG-66)_in_the_Atlantic_Ocean_on_17_May_2018_(180517-N-N0701-0001).JPG){kind=link}
_departs_Naval_Station_Norfolk._(43897137524).jpg){kind=link}
Awards
- James F. Chezek Memorial Gunnery Award (1998)
References
- This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
External links
- Official site Archived 9 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- Official blog by Cmdr. Brian Fort, ship's captain