A US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer at sea. Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Lorenzo Fekieta-Martinez.

The US Navy has christened the 72nd Arleigh Burke-class Flight IIA guided missile destroyer, the future USS John Basilone (DDG 122).

A ceremony was held at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) shipyard in Bath, Maine, US on 18 June.

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It was attended by various officials including US Marine Corps (USMC) sergeant major Troy Black, BIW president Charles Krugh and deputy chief of naval operations for warfighting requirements and capabilities vice admiral Scott Conn.

Construction of the future USS John Basilone began in January 2020, marked by a keel laying ceremony.

The vessel is named to honour USMC gunnery sergeant John Basilone, a recipient of Medal of Honour for bravery in the Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II.

DDG 122 is the second US Navy ship to bear this name.

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The first vessel was a Gearing-class destroyer USS Basilone (DD 824). It was in service between 1945 and 1977.

The DDG 122 is co-sponsored by president and vice-president of Travis Manion Foundation, Ryan Manion and Amy Looney Heffernan.

US Navy Secretary (SCENAV) Carlos Del Toro said: “The future USS John Basilone will serve as a constant reminder of the immense impact that actions taken by any one Sailor or Marine can truly have.

“Gunnery sergeant Basilone is a national hero, and this ship and crew will honour his legacy for decades to come.”

The US Navy’s multi-mission Arleigh Burke-class destroyers can conduct several operations including peacetime presence and national security.

The vessels also provide a variety of warfighting capabilities in different domain areas such ass multi-threat air, surface and subsurface.

The surface combatants can operate both independently, as well as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, and expeditionary strike groups.