HII completes the shipbuilder trials of Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121)

The Ingalls Shipbuilding division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced on 27 August that the guided-missile destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. had successfully completed the builder’s trials.

The guided-missile destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. is a product of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) (DDG 121). It took three days for the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to conduct combat system tests in the Gulf of Mexico that included firing a missile.

“Ingalls, Navy AEGIS Test Team, the Navy ship’s force, the program office, numerous combat systems participating acquisition managers, and Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair worked together to ensure a successful builder’s trial,” said John Fillmore, Ingalls’ DDG 51 program manager. “A successful builder’s trial sets us up for a final trial prior to delivery. We are proud of the work our shipbuilders have accomplished so far and look forward to finishing strong.”

DDG 121 is named after Frank E. Petersen Jr., who was the first African-American aviator and general officer in the history of the United States Marine Corps. Petersen would go on to fly more than 350 combat missions during the Korean and Vietnam wars after enrolling in the Naval Aviation Cadet Program in 1950.

As of this writing, Ingalls has delivered 32 destroyers to the Navy, with four more currently under construction, including the Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), Ted Stevens (DDG 128), and Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129).

Check out Naval Library App to find out the specifications of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.