Construction begins on U.S. Navy's USS Thomas Hudner

BATH, Maine, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Construction on the U.S. Navy's 66th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, USS Thomas Hudner, formally began as the vessel's keel was laid at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.

The Navy expects the warship to be commissioned in Boston in 2018. The ship's namesake, naval aviator Navy Captain Thomas J. Hudner Jr., received the Medal of Honor for displaying uncommon valor during the Korean War's Battle of Chosin Reservoir, where the pilot intentionally crashed his own aircraft in an attempt to save wingman Ens. Jesse L. Brown when he was shot down. Brown was the first African American aviator to fly in combat. Hudner was unable to free Brown from the wreckage.

"I couldn't bear the thought that he was down there and there was no way to get him out," Hudner said of the incident. He added the ship's name provides him with "a great sense of responsibility and recognition."

Cmdr. Nathan Scherry, who is selected to serve as the USS Thomas Hudner's first commanding officer, says the new vessel will be one of the country's most technologically advanced warships upon completion as the first "technology insertion" destroyer in the U.S. Navy's fleet. The advancements, known collectively as "Flight III", include improved power-generation systems, next-generation weapons and sensor technologies, and increased automation.

"I am extremely humbled and grateful for the opportunity to command a new construction ship, and I'm especially proud of being selected to take command of a ship named after one of our nation's heroes," Scherry said.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are multi-mission warships designed for both offensive and defensive missions. They can be deployed independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, amphibious ready groups, and underway replenishment groups.