U.S. Navy Destroyer
For other ships with the same name, see
USS Preble
.
USS
Preble
(DDG-88)
is an
Arleigh Burke
-class
destroyer
in the
United States Navy
. She is the sixth U.S. Navy ship named in honor of Commodore
Edward Preble
, who served in the
American Revolutionary War
and was one of the early leaders of the Navy.
USS
Preble
is the 38th destroyer of her class. She was the 17th ship of this class to be built at
Ingalls Shipbuilding
in
Pascagoula, Mississippi
, and construction began on 22 June 2000. She was launched on 1 June 2001 and was christened on 9 June 2001. On 9 November 2002, she was commissioned during a ceremony at the Commonwealth Pier/World Trade Center in
Boston, Massachusetts
. At her commissioning ceremony USS
Preble
was docked
bow
to bow with
USS
Constitution
, the command of her namesake. The ceremony included a symbolic welcoming aboard of the spirit of Commodore Preble signaled by the ringing of chimes. Among the speakers at the commissioning were U.S. Senator
Edward Kennedy
, U.S. Representative
Stephen Lynch
, then
Chief of Naval Operations
Admiral
Vernon E. Clark
USN (Ret.) and journalist and sailor
Walter Cronkite
.
Service history
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2000s
[
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]
Preble
departed
San Diego
in June 2004 for her maiden deployment with the
USS
Belleau Wood
Expeditionary Strike Group.
Preble
returned home after six months on 17 December 2004. On 20 January 2007,
Preble
departed for a routine deployment with the
USS
John C. Stennis
carrier strike group
.
Preble
supported
Operation Enduring Freedom
and
Iraqi Freedom
, Expeditionary Strike Force training and exercise Valiant Shield 2007 during the deployment. She returned to her homeport after seven months on 29 August 2007. In 2008,
Preble
successfully completed an accelerated training cycle and passed a rigorous Inspection Board and Survey (INSURV) in May. That fall,
Preble
executed the integrated training phase with the
Stennis
Strike Group in preparation for a deployment in 2009.
2010s
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]
Preble
deployed on 17 January 2009 for a routine deployment with the
Stennis
Carrier Strike Group where she spent five months in the
Seventh Fleet
area of responsibility
, participated in Exercise
Foal Eagle
and culminated the deployment with a diplomatic port visit in
Tahiti
,
French Polynesia
.
Preble
returned to home port on 15 June 2009. In 2010
Preble
shifted to align with the
USS
Ronald Reagan
Strike Group and hosted sailors from the
Royal New Zealand Navy
. The
Anzac
-class
frigate
HMNZS
Te Kaha
and replenishment tanker
HMNZS
Endeavour
conducted exercises with
Preble
during a 3-day underway period. Additionally,
Preble
was called to act as the lead ship for a Destroyer Squadron Seven multi-group sail that showcased the ship's anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
In September 2010,
Preble
conducted an Operational Test Launch of two Block 3C
Tomahawk missiles
and one Block 4E Tomahawk missile off the coast of
San Nicholas Island
. The launch was successful and aided in the further development of the weapon system.
Preble
participated in an Integrated Anti-Submarine Warfare Course at sea as well as three weeks of exercises with
Ronald Reagan
and sister ships in Destroyer Squadron Seven during the Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) in October to November 2010. In November 2010,
Preble
successfully conducted a
Mark 54 torpedo
technical evaluation in support of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center's development of the torpedo.
Preble
accurately fired six MK 54 torpedoes during the evaluation.
In all,
Preble
had a successful 2010 and was awarded the Destroyer Squadron Seven Battle Efficiency Award which recognizes sustained superior performance, operational effectiveness, and continuous readiness. In addition, the ship earned the Black E (Maritime Warfare Excellence), Blue E (Logistics Management and Supply Excellence), Yellow E (Ship Safety) and Red E (Engineering/Survivability Excellence).
In February 2011,
Preble
deployed with
Carrier Strike Group Seven
.
Preble
was a first responder to the
2011 T?hoku earthquake and tsunami
. The ship conducted humanitarian and disaster relief efforts off the coast of
northeastern Japan
.
[4]
[5]
After spending nearly a month off the coast of Japan,
Preble
began to conduct a series of fisheries patrols. From 28 February to 6 March 2011, she conducted these patrols in the
Exclusive Economic Zones
of various Pacific island nations as part of the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative.
[6]
With modern technology, fishing vessels have increased their capability and capacity to catch more fish, and consequently, it is imperative that the rights of small island nations to their EEZ be preserved to prevent
illegal fishing
and exploitation of their ecosystems.
[6]
EEZ patrols are part of an ongoing partnership between the U.S. Navy and
U.S. Coast Guard
to reduce and eliminate illegal, unregulated, unreported (IUU) fishing and effectively enforce fishing regulations across the Western Pacific.
[6]
Preble
'
s mission supported the United States' long-standing partnership with the maritime nations of
Micronesia
, Oceania, and the
Marshall Islands
, with the focus on IUU fishing in the EEZs of these island nations and on the high seas itself. During the course of this operation,
Preble
encountered multiple vessels conducting fishing operations in EEZ. All the data was reported to USCG District 14 for evaluation and follow-on action via the embarked Coast Guard liaison team. Also,
Preble
'
s embarked detachment of
Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk
helicopters from squadron HSL-43 was used to conduct routine aerial patrols, enabling the surveillance team to search multiple areas of interest.
[6]
She then continued west to operate as part of the Seventh and Fifth Fleets.
Preble
came under the command of the
Fifth Fleet
in May 2011 and conducted counter-piracy operations as part of Combined Task Force 151.
Preble
returned home in late 2011.
On 25 August 2011,
BAE Systems Ship Repair
was awarded a $14.5 million contract, in addition to a previous contract, to upgrade and repair
Preble
.
[7]
In 2019 it was announced that Preble would receive the HELIOS close in weapons system in 2021. USS Preble will be the first destroyer to be equipped with a high-energy laser to counter surface craft and unmanned aerial systems. The destroyer will also receive a
BAE Systems Ship Repair
upgrade, bringing the ship up to date in terms of capability and complexity.
Awards
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Coat of arms
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Shield
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The shield consists of embattlement and scarlet rayonny splitting the shield. Above is a ships sail while below is a lion’s head with a crossed sword and cutlass.
The traditional Navy colors were chosen for the shield because dark blue and gold represents the sea and excellence respectively. The attack and bombardment at Tripoli's Harbor in 1803 against Barbary pirates, led by Commodore Preble, is shown by the embattlement and scarlet rayonny and represents the fire and destruction brought to the port. Scarlet is symbolic for courage, the fiery resolve and Preble's determination to end attacks in the region on American trading vessels. The ships sail is another reference to the successful Tripoli attack and blockade as well as Preble's other commands, particularly USS
Constitution
and the frigate
Essex
. The lions head comes from the Preble family coat of arms which signifies courage and strength. The crossed cutlass and sword characterize the combat readiness to defend the countries interests.
Crest
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The crest consists of a compass rose with a cinquefoil escutcheon center, surrounded by a laurel wreath.
The laurel wreath signifies honor and the compass rose points recall the eight battle stars earned by USS
Preble
(DD-345) for her World War II service. The compass rose denotes the modern capabilities and worldwide service of
Preble
and its predecessors. The blue escutcheon, is shaped as an AEGIS radar panel, represents the advanced technologies and modern warfare systems of the new
Preble
. A cinquefoil is centered in the escutcheon to remember the five previous ships to hold the
Preble
name.
Motto
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The motto is written on a scroll of blue that has a gold reverse side.
The ships motto is "Intrepid Patriot". The motto is a reference to honor the United States Navy.
Seal
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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 Preble" at the top and "DDG 88" in the base all gold.
In popular culture
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References
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External links
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