The US Navy has commissioned its newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, the USS John Basilone (DDG 122) in New York City, New York.

This development follows the announcement of the commissioning date in September. DDG 122 is the 72nd Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer.

The warship is the second vessel named in honour of Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, a Marine who received both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross during World War II.

The first ship to carry the Basilone name was a Gearing-class destroyer, USS Basilone (DD 824), which served from 1945 to 1977.

US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said: “Service is not an obligation, it is a privilege, a chance to be part of something greater than ourselves and uphold the values that define us as a nation.”

Construction of the USS John Basilone commenced in January 2020.  

In June 2022, the pre-commissioning unit (PCU) John Basilone was launched for the first time from a floating dry dock and subsequently moored at Pier 2 in the Bath Iron Works shipyard. The PCU was christened during the same month.

The latest commissioning ceremony saw the participation of the ship’s sponsors, Travis Manion Foundation president Ryan Manion, and vice president of the foundation Amy Looney Heffernen. 

The US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers are designed to perform a wide array of operations, ranging from peacetime presence missions to national security tasks.  

They offer warfighting capabilities across multi-threat environments, including air, surface, and subsurface operations. 

Flight IIA destroyers such as the USS John Basilone are equipped with dual helicopter hangars, enhancing their anti-submarine, anti-surface, and anti-air warfare capabilities through integrated operations with helicopter squadrons.