HII christens destroyer USS Jeremiah Denton

HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division has christened the US Navy’s newest Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, USS Jeremiah Denton.

The ship’s name honors former U.S. Sen. Jeremiah Denton Jr., a Vietnam War veteran who was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism as a prisoner of war. Denton spent 34 years as a naval aviator, including eight years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He is known for his act of genius during a televised broadcast in captivity, when Denton spelled out the word “torture” through Morse code using his eyes to blink the code.

Following his Navy career, Denton was elected to the U.S. Senate representing his home state of Alabama in 1980.

“When we christen a ship, we celebrate a joint mission with our Navy industry partners, one that connects the work we do here in Pascagoula to the safety and security of our nation and the free world,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Blanchette said.

Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers represent the next generation of surface combatants and incorporate a number of design modifications that collectively provide significantly enhanced capability. Upgrades include the AN/SPY-6(V)1 air and missile defense radar (AMDR) and the Aegis Baseline 10 combat system required to keep pace with today’s threats.

Ingalls has delivered 35 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the U.S. Navy, including the first Flight III, USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), in June of 2023.

In addition, Ingalls Shipbuilding has five Flight IIIs currently under construction, including Ted Stevens (DDG 128), Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), George M. Neal (DDG 131), Sam Nunn (DDG 133) and Thad Cochran (DDG 135).