Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (NYSE:HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division authenticated the keel of the destroyer Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) on June 1, 2016.
DDG 119 is the third ship in the FY2013-FY2017 multi-year procurement contract to start fabrication. The future USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) has already begun fabrication at HII. Daniel Inouye (DDG 118) is currently in production at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.
Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), named in honor of the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, will be the 32nd Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Ingalls has built for the U.S. Navy.
“This ship’s name carries a special meaning,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias said at this morning’s keel-laying ceremony. “Destroyers are traditionally named after great men and women in the history of our Navy, and the namesake of DDG 119 is no exception. DDG 119 will be strong and capable.”
To date, Ingalls has delivered 28 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the Navy. There are five more currently under construction at Ingalls, including Delbert D. Black.