Dewey Aegis-class destroyer christened

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PASCAGOULA, Miss., Feb. 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy's 55th Aegis guided missile destroyer, Dewey -- DDG 105 -- was christened last week.

The Dewey was built by Northrop Grumman, the company said in a statement Jan. 26. At the launching, Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the ship "must always be prepared to chart a course into the future with the will to fight from the heart."

"No one can predict where Dewey will go, what she will do, or whether her guns will ring in thunder or her missiles fly in fury," Mullen said. "The United States, a maritime nation with international interests, will remain globally engaged. This requires a ready and balanced force. Dewey sailors will be a part of that force and they must be prepared to answer our nation's call."

"Deborah Mullen, Adm. Mullen's wife, served as the ship's sponsor and broke a champagne bottle across the bow," Northrop Grumman said. The company noted that the ship's name "honors Admiral George Dewey -- 1837-1917 -- best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War."

"DDG 105 is the 26th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to be launched and christened of 28 contracted to Northrop Grumman's Ship Systems sector. The company's first 24 Aegis destroyers have been delivered to the Navy," Northrop Grumman said.

"The 509-foot, 9,200-ton Dewey has an overall beam of 66.5 feet and a navigational draft of 31 feet. Four gas turbine propulsion plants will power the ship to speeds above 30 knots," the company said.