USS Benfold (DDG-65)

History of USS Benfold (DDG-65)

The Arleigh Burke class was a late Cold War American product that emerged from massive construction in the late 1980s to advance the emergence of the United States Navy (USN) blue water Combat capability (the Soviet Union remains the main enemy of the West). A total of 68 ships were built to standard (construction is in progress) to replace the aging Kidd- and Charles F. Adams-class ships. As a destroyer, the Arleigh Burke class is tasked with multi-mission operations, operating independently or as part of a major surface fleet.

Modern ships are equipped with ballistic, missile and electronic weapons, as well as advanced Aegis combat systems, making them a critical component of any U.S. Navy surface response.

The team was formed in 1988 and has been in service since 1991. A total of 89 ships are still planned for the series, with 3 on order and 7 under construction (as of September 2021).

These include USS Ben Fall (DDG-65), a guided missile destroyer that combines air defense, anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare. She was ordered by the U.S. Navy on January 16, 1991, and built by Ingalls Shipyard (Mississippi) on September 27, 1993. She was launched on November 9, 1994, and officially commissioned on March 30, 1996.

Today (2021), she is based in Yokosuka, Japan, actively deterring Chinese aggression.

Her name was Edward Clyde Benfold, a 21-year-old US Naval Hospital medic (third class) who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill during the Korean War (1950-1953).

When completed, the warship will displace 6900 tons under light load and 9000 tons under full load. Her dimensions include a length of 505 feet, a beam of 59 feet and a draft of 31 feet.

Power comes from 3 Rolls-Royce AG9130F (Allison 501-K34) turbines driving 2 stern shafts, allowing the boat to reach speeds of over 30 knots and a range of 4,400 nautical miles.

There were approximately 280 aircrews on board, including officers and soldiers and an air wing. The ship is equipped with 3D radar, surface search radar, fire control radar, hull sonar array and towed sonar array.

The AN/SQQ-28 LAMPS III is an airborne system serving the wings, while the AN/SLQ-32(V)2 fulfills the electronic warfare (EW) role. The AN/SLQ-25 "Nixie" was the solution to torpedo countermeasures.

Specification

Basic

Year of Service

1996

Origins

United States

Status

In service

supplement

280

staff

SHIPBUILDERS

Ingalls Shipbuilding - USA

Class information

Class

Arleigh Burke class

Class Size

68

ships

Class

Carrier

United States

Characters

Sea Bombing

Maritime bombardment/attack of surface targets/areas primarily through ship-based ballistic weapons.

Land Assault

Littoral attacks against surface targets primarily through ship-based missiles/missile weapons.

Sea Patrol

Active patrolling of critical waterways and sea areas; also serves as a local deterrent against air and maritime threats.

Airspace Denial/Deterrence

Neutralization or deterrence of flying elements by airborne missile weapon ballistics.

Fleet Support

Provide support (fire or materiel) to major surface fleets in blue water environments.

Distinctive Features

Air Defense

Airborne systems warn and protect ships from airborne and low-altitude ballistic and/or missile threats.

On the horizon

The ship is granted over-the-horizon combat capability, usually provided by a launched fixed-wing/rotary-wing aircraft.

Ship to shore

Airborne facilities allow the launch of air and/or land elements for land attack and penetration.

Missile weapons

The ship supports long-range missile launches to air, sea or land-based targets; typical of modern design.

torpedo

Able to fire torpedoes at distant targets.

Anti-submarine missile

Capable of launching missile salvos against submarine threats.

Dimensions and Weight

Length

505. 0 feet

153.92m

Ray

59. 0 feet

17.98m

Draft

31. 0 feet

9.45m

Shift

7,900 t

Power and Performance

Installed Power:

3 x Rolls-Royce AG9130F (Allison 501-K34) turbines power the 2 x axles in the stern.

Surface Velocity

section 30.5

(35.1 km/h)

Area

4,401nm

(5,065 miles | 8,151 kilometers)

Weapon

1 x 5" (127 mm)/54 caliber Mark 45 deck gun with turret. 1 x 61 cell Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) supporting 90 x RIM-156 SM -2. BGM-109 Tomahawk and/or RUM-139 VL-ASROC missiles. 1 x 29 unit VLS. 2 x Mk 141 Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers. 2 x 25mm chain guns. 2 x 20 mm phalanx. In weapon systems (CIWSs). 2 x Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes. 4 x 12.7 mm heavy machine guns (HMG).

Aircraft

1 medium lift naval helicopter launched/received from the tail helipad.