USS O'Kane

USS O’Kane (DDG-77) USS O’Kane (DDG-77)
History
United States
Name:	USS O'Kane
Namesake:	Richard O'Kane
Ordered:	20 July 1994
Builder:	Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
Laid down:	8 May 1997
Launched:	28 March 1998
Acquired:	19 May 1999
Commissioned:	23 October 1999
Homeport:	Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Motto:	A Tradition of Honor
Status:	in active service, as of 2024
Badge:	100px
General characteristics
Class & type:	Arleigh Burke class destroyer
Displacement:	Light: approx. 6,800 long tons (6,900 t) Full: approx. 8,900 long tons (9,000 t)
Length:	505 ft (154 m)
Beam:	66 ft (20 m)
Draft:	31 ft (9.4 m)
Propulsion:	4 General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines, two shafts, 100,000 total shaft horsepower (75 MW)
Speed:	>30 knots (56 km/h)
Range:	4,400 nautical miles at 20 knots (8,100 km at 37 km/h)
Complement:	33 commissioned officers 38 chief petty officers 210 enlisted personnel
Sensors and processing systems:	AN/SPY-1D 3D Radar AN/SPS-67(V)2 Surface Search Radar AN/SPS-73(V)12 Surface Search Radar AN/SPG-62 Fire Control Radar AN/SQS-53C Sonar Array AN/SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array Sonar AN/SQQ-28 LAMPS III Shipboard System
Electronic warfare & decoys:	AN/SLQ-32(V)2 Electronic Warfare System AN/SLQ-25 Nixie Torpedo Countermeasures MK 36 MOD 12 Decoy Launching System AN/SLQ-39 CHAFF Buoys
Armament:	1 × 29 cell, 1 × 61 cell Mk 41 vertical launching systems with 90 × RIM-156 SM-2, BGM-109 Tomahawk or RUM-139 VL-ASROC missiles 2 x Mk 141 Harpoon Missile Launcher SSM 1 × Mark 45 5/54 in (127/54 mm) 2 × 25 mm chain gun 4 × .50 caliber (12.7 mm) guns 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS 2 × Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried:	1 Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk helicopter can be embarked

USS O'Kane (DDG-77) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. The ship was built by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, starting on 8 May 1997. The ship was commissioned on 23 October 1999. It is named for Medal of Honor recipient Rear Admiral Richard O'Kane.

History

The USS O’KANE (DDG 77), a Baseline 5.3 Flight II Arleigh Burke Guided Missile Destroyer, is the 27th destroyer of the class and the sixteenth built by Bath Iron Works. The USS O’KANE (DDG 77) is the second ship to be commissioned in her home port of Pearl Harbor, HI. She was laid down on May 8, 1997 at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, launched on March 28, 1998, christened on April 17, 1998 and commissioned October 23, 1999z under the command of CDR David Hulse in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. USS O'Kane participated in RIMPAC 2000. USS O'Kane participated in Fleet Week San Diego in October 2000. In November 2000 CDR Taylor Skardon assumed command. USS O'Kane deployed on her maiden deployment on 1 August 2001. While on deployment USS O'Kane conducted Maritime Interdiction Operations in the Northern Persian Gulf during the opening stages of Operation Enduring Freedom. USS O'Kane returned home to Pearl Harbor in late January 2002. USS O'Kane received the Battle "E" award for Destroyer Squadron 31 for 2001. USS O'Kane also received the Navy Unit Commendation, her first Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, her first Sea Service Ribbon, and National Defense Service Medals while on her Maiden Deployment.

In September 2002, CDR Michael Viland assumed command. Under his leadership O'Kane completed an accelerated innovative training cycle eight months ahead of schedule with the Carl Vinson Battle Group to be ready for contingency operations. O'Kane was further accelerated and deployed independently, leaving homeport 17 January 2003. Initially O'Kane provided escort of high value shipping and conducted Operation ENDURING FREEDOM boardings of suspect terrorist vessels, then she rapidly transitioned to combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. O'Kane successfully projected combat power ashore with several salvos of TOMAHAWK cruise missiles and provided early warning of ballistic missile launches to command centers, PATRIOT missile batteries, and civil defense forces, supporting a protective umbrella for coalition ground and naval forces. O'Kane then transitioned to providing post hostility maritime security of Iraqi waters. O'Kane returned home to Pearl Harbor late July 2003. O'Kane was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation and Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal for her second deployment. Following post deployment maintenance, O'Kane commenced the basic phase of training for her next deployment.

In February 2004, CDR William Nault assumed command. In February 2005, O'Kane deployed with USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). In July, O'Kane returned to her Pearl Harbor homeport after the scheduled deployment which also included Maritime Security Operations (MSO) off the Horn of Africa and Indian Ocean.

In July 2006, the guided-missile destroyer departed Pearl Harbor to participate in exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2006. In September, O'Kane participated in Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), as part of the John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Carrier Strike Group Three.

In January 2007, O'Kane departed Pearl Harbor for a scheduled deployment with the John C. Stennis group. In February, DDG 77 entered the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations (AoO) to conduct Maritime Security Operations (MSO). In August the guided-missile destroyer participated in exercise Valiant Shield 2007. In August, O'Kane returned home after a seven-month deployment.

In April 2008, O'Kane went on a surge deployment with the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Carrier Strike Group in the western Pacific. In June USS O'Kane returned to homeport after a seven-week underway period. In July the guided-missile destroyer participated in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2008.

In February 2009, O'Kane returned to Pearl Harbor homeport after a four-and-a-half month underway period which included ANNUALEX 20G and the defense of Iraqi oil platforms in the Persian Gulf. In September USS O'Kane departed homeport for a western Pacific deployment. In November the guided-missile destroyer participated in Annual Exercise (ANNUALEX) 21G. In December USS O'Kane returned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor after her deployment.

In July 2010, O'Kane departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a Middle East deployment as part of Commander, Task Force-Iraqi Maritime, supporting maritime security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AoR).

In February 2011, O'Kane returned home after her seven-month deployment. April 14, USS O'Kane, fired and guided an SM-3 Block IA missile that intercepted the intermediate-range ballistic missile, the 21st successful intercept, in 25 attempts, for the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD). In November the participated in integrated training exercise "Koa Kai 12-1", off the coast of Hawaii.

March 23, 2012, O'Kane departed Pearl Harbor for a scheduled Middle East deployment with a primary focus on Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) operations. In November, O'Kane returned to her homeport in Pearl Harbor after seven-and-a-half month deployment. As of Nov 2014, her commanding officer was CDR Gina McCaine.

References

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Navy document "USS Kane Crest".

External links

• USS O'Kane official website
• Naval Vessel Register – DDG-77