Editing USS Winston S. Churchill

{{Short description|Arleigh Burke-class destroyer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
| infobox caption = 
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = USS-WINSTON-CHURCHILL-DDG-81.png
| Ship caption = USS ''Winston S. Churchill'' (DDG-81), in 2008
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = United States
| Ship flag = {{USN flag}}
| Ship name = ''Winston S. Churchill''
| Ship namesake = [[Winston Churchill|Winston S. Churchill]]
| Ship ordered = 6 January 1995
| Ship builder = [[Bath Iron Works]]
| Ship laid down = 7 May 1998
| Ship launched = 17 April 1999
| Ship acquired = 
| Ship commissioned = 10 March 2001
| Ship decommissioned = 
| Ship in service = 
| Ship out of service = 
| Ship identification = *{{MMSI Number|338821000}}
*[[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: NWSC
*{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Whiskey}}{{ICS|Sierra}}{{ICS|Charlie}}
*[[Hull classification symbol#Surface combatant type|Hull number]]: DDG-81
| Ship struck = 
| Ship reinstated = 
| Ship homeport = [[Naval Station Mayport|Mayport]]
| Ship motto = ''In war: Resolution; In peace: Good Will''
| Ship fate = 
| Ship status = {{Ship in active service}}
| Ship notes = 
| Ship badge = [[File:USS Winston Churchill DDG-81 Crest.png|150px|alt=DDG-81 USS Winston Churchill Coat of Arms]]
| Ship honours = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = {{sclass|Arleigh Burke|destroyer}}
| Ship displacement = {{Arleigh Burke-class destroyer displacement IIA}}
| Ship length = {{Arleigh Burke-class destroyer length IIA}}
| Ship beam = {{Arleigh Burke-class destroyer beam}}
| Ship draught = 
| Ship draft = {{Arleigh Burke-class destroyer draft}}
| Ship power = {{Arleigh Burke-class destroyer power}}
| Ship propulsion = {{Arleigh Burke-class destroyer propulsion}}
| Ship speed = {{Arleigh Burke-class destroyer speed}}
| Ship range = 
| Ship complement = 32 officers, 348 enlisted
| Ship sensors = 
| Ship EW = AN/SLQ-32(V)3
| Ship armament = {{Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Flight IIA armament (2 x Phalanx)}}
| Ship armour = 
| Ship armor = 
| Ship aircraft = {{Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Flight IIA/III aircraft}}
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}
 
'''USS ''Winston S. Churchill'' (DDG-81)''' is an ''[[Arleigh Burke-class destroyer|Arleigh Burke-class]]'' ([[Arleigh Burke-class destroyer#Characteristics|Flight IIA]]) [[Aegis combat system|Aegis]] [[guided missile destroyer]] of the [[United States Navy]]. She is named after Sir [[Winston Churchill]], former [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]]. She is the 18th ship of the class to be built at [[Bath Iron Works]] in [[Bath, Maine]]. Construction began on 7 May 1998, and the vessel launched and christened on 17 April 1999. On 10 March 2001, she was commissioned during a ceremony at [[Town Point Park]] in [[Norfolk, Virginia]].
 
== Naming ==
[[File:Churchill portrait NYP 45063.jpg|upright|thumb|Sir Winston Churchill]]
On 29 November 1995, on a visit to the United Kingdom, President [[Bill Clinton]] announced to their [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] that the new ship would be named after Sir [[Winston Churchill]], a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She was the first destroyer and only the fourth [[United States Navy ships|U.S. Navy warship]] named after a [[British citizen]], and the first since 1976 named after a non-U.S. citizen (that being {{USS|Comte de Grasse}}), though Churchill was an [[Honorary Citizen of the United States|honorary U.S. citizen]] and [[Lady Randolph Churchill|his mother]] was American.

Other U.S. warships named after Britons were {{USS|Alfred|1774|2}}, an armed merchantman named after [[Alfred the Great|King Alfred the Great]]; {{USS|Raleigh|1776|2}}, a continental frigate, named after [[Walter Raleigh|Sir Walter Raleigh]] (though three [[USS Raleigh|later USS ''Raleigh''s]]—and two [[CSS Raleigh|Confederate warships]]—would be named after the [[Raleigh, North Carolina|North Carolina city]], which did not exist at the time); and {{USS|Effingham|1777|2}}, named after [[Thomas Howard, 3rd Earl of Effingham|The 3rd Earl of Effingham]] who resigned his commission rather than fight the colonists during the [[American Revolutionary War]]. The former frigate {{USS|Harold E. Holt|FF-1074|2}} was also named after a person from a country in the Commonwealth of Nations, [[Harold Holt]], the Australian Prime Minister, who disappeared, (presumed drowned), while still in office just a year before ''Harold E. Holt'' was laid down. ''Winston S. Churchill'' is the first ship to be named after a British citizen or British Prime Minister of the modern era.

''Winston S. Churchill'' is the only U.S. Navy vessel to have a [[Royal Navy]] [[exchange officer]] permanently assigned to the ship's company (usually a Navigation Officer).<ref name="Kennedy 2001">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/issues/2001/Apr/USS_Churchill.htm|title=USS Churchill Shows Off High-Tech Gear|access-date=15 April 2007|last=Kennedy |first=Harold|date=April 2001|work=National Defense|publisher=[[National Defense Industrial Association|NDIA]]|quote=She also is the only U.S. Navy ship to have a British [[Royal Navy]] officer permanently assigned as a member of the ship’s company. Lieutenant Angus Essenhigh, RN, of Portsmouth, England, is serving as ship’s navigator during his two-year tour of duty.
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200801/http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/issues/2001/Apr/USS_Churchill.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 27 September 2007}}</ref> The U.S. Navy had a permanent U.S. Navy Officer on the Royal Navy ship, {{HMS|Marlborough|F233|6}}, until her decommissioning on 8 July 2005. ''Winston S. Churchill'' is also the only U.S. Naval vessel to fly a foreign [[Ensign (flag)|ensign]]. Being named after a Briton, the Royal Navy's [[White Ensign]] is honorarily flown on special occasions from the ship's mast, on the port side, whereas the U.S. flag is flown from the starboard side. However, during normal operations, only the U.S. flag is flown on the center of the main mast.<ref>{{cite news | last =Stilwell | first =Blake | title = The Only US Navy Warship Authorized to Fly a Foreign Flag at Sea| newspaper =[[Military.com]] | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = | date =2023 | url = https://www.military.com/history/only-us-navy-warship-authorized-fly-foreign-flag-sea.html| accessdate =November 13, 2023}}</ref>

==Design==
The ship is the first of the Flight IIA variants fitted with the 62-caliber [[5"/54 caliber Mark 45 gun|Mark 45 Mod 4 naval gun]] system. The guns' longer barrels allow more complete combustion of the propellant, reducing barrel flare and improving projectile velocity and firepower against ship and shore targets; additionally, the Mk 45 mod 4 uses a modified gun-house, designed to reduce its radar signature. ''Winston S. Churchill'' is armed with [[Tomahawk (missile family)|Tomahawk]], [[Standard Missile|Standard]] and [[RUR-5 ASROC|ASROC]] (VLA) missiles.<ref name="National Defense Magazine">{{cite web |work=National Defense Magazine |last=Kennedy |first=Harold |title=USS Churchill Shows Off High-Tech Gear |url=http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2001/April/Pages/USS_Churchill4271.aspx |date=April 2001 |access-date=12 January 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420075613/http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2001/April/Pages/USS_Churchill4271.aspx |archive-date=20 April 2016 }}</ref>

The vessel additionally contains two hangars, not present in earlier destroyers; these can house [[Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System]] (LAMPS) [[Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk|Sikorsky SH-60B or MH-60R Seahawk]] helicopters. These LAMPS can be fitted with air-to-surface missiles for surface ship attacks, and torpedoes for submarine attacks.

The ship is also fitted with the [[AN/SPY-1]]D phased array radar—this represents a significant advancement in the detection capabilities of the Aegis weapon system and provides enhanced resistance to electronic countermeasures. The radar can guide more than one hundred missiles at once to targets as far as {{convert|600|nmi|lk=in}}.

== Service history ==
The contract to build ''Winston S. Churchill'' was awarded to the [[Bath Iron Works]] Corporation on 6 January 1995, and the [[keel]] was laid down on 7 May 1998. ''Winston S. Churchill'' was [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 17 April 1999, delivered 13 October 2000, and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] 10 March 2001. The launch and christening of the ship was co-sponsored by [[Mary Soames, Baroness Soames|Lady Soames]], the daughter of [[Winston Churchill]], and Mrs. Janet Cohen, wife of the [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]]. Her first commanding officer was [[Commander (United States)|Commander]] (and future [[Rear admiral (United States)|Vice Admiral]]) [[Michael T. Franken]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=474 |title=Vice Admiral Michael T. Franken, Deputy Commander for Military Operations U.S. Africa Command |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=2 October 2015 |archive-date=3 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151003125908/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=474 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

During May–June 2001, ''Winston S. Churchill'' underwent shock trials 100 nautical miles off the coast of [[Naval Station Mayport]], Florida. These trials subjected the ship to various close-range underwater detonations, and were performed to collect data concerning ship survivability and damage resistance in a modern threat environment. ''Winston S. Churchill'' sustained minor damage during these three tests.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hart |first=David T. |date=March 2003 |title=Ship Shock Trial Simulation of USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81): Surrounding Fluid Effect |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA414919 |access-date=2 July 2024 |website=Defense Technical Information Center (.mil)}}</ref> The tests costed 20 million dollars.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ship Shock Trial Modeling and Simulation of USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81) |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA419366.pdf |access-date=2 July 2024 |website=Defense Technical Information Center (.mil)}}</ref> 
[[File:LutjensHonors.jpg|thumb|Crew of [[German destroyer Lütjens|German destroyer ''Lütjens'']] pay homage as they bid farewell to the crew ''Winston S. Churchill'']]
On 14 September 2001, (three days after the [[11 September 2001 attacks]]), the [[German Navy]] destroyer {{ship|German destroyer|Lütjens|D185|2}} passed close abeam ''Winston S. Churchill'' and rendered honors by [[manning the rails]], flying the [[Flag of the United States|Stars and Stripes]] at half-mast, and the display of a banner reading "We Stand By You".  An e-mail sent by an [[Ensign (rank)|ensign]] on board ''Winston S. Churchill'' described the occasion.<ref>{{cite web | publisher=United States Navy| year=2001| title= This is an e-mail from an Ensign stationed aboard the ship during the UK deployment|  url=http://www.churchill.navy.mil/lutjens.htm | access-date=15 March 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051229195801/http://www.churchill.navy.mil/lutjens.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 29 December 2005}}</ref>

In January 2003, ''Winston S. Churchill'' deployed with the {{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71|6}} battle group in support of the Iraq War's [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]], firing several [[Tomahawk (missile family)|Tomahawk missiles]]. ''Winston S. Churchill'' returned to [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]] at the end of May 2003.
 
On 22 August 2005, ''Winston S. Churchill'' was involved in a minor collision with the destroyer {{USS|McFaul|DDG-74|6}} off the coast of [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], Florida. Both ships suffered minor damage, and no injuries were reported. Both ships returned to their homeport at [[Naval Station Norfolk]] under their own power.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.damagecontrolmuseums.org/Ship_Cas_history/MCFAUL/MCFAUL_n.html |title= USS McFaul (DDG 74) and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) Collision |website= Damage Control Museum |access-date= 5 March 2016 |archive-date= 13 March 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160313101919/http://www.damagecontrolmuseums.org/Ship_Cas_history/MCFAUL/MCFAUL_n.html |url-status= dead }}</ref>
 
On 22 January 2006 ''Winston S. Churchill'' captured a suspected pirate vessel in the Indian Ocean as part of an ongoing effort to help maintain law and order in the region.<ref name="SUSPECTED-PIRATES-CAPTURED-OFF-SOMALI-COAST">{{cite press release|title = Suspected Pirates Captured Off Somali Coast|publisher = Headquarters, United States Central Command|date = 22 January 2006|url = http://www.centcom.mil/sites/uscentcom1/Lists/Press%20Releases/DispForm.aspx?ID=2597|access-date = 15 December 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927010004/http://www.centcom.mil/sites/uscentcom1/Lists/Press%20Releases/DispForm.aspx?ID=2597|archive-date = 27 September 2007}}</ref>

On 26 September 2010, ''Winston S. Churchill'' came across a disabled [[skiff]] in the [[Gulf of Aden]]. After attempts to repair the skiff's engines failed ''Winston S. Churchill'' took the vessel under tow towards [[Somalia]]. On 27 September the skiff sank when the 85 passengers rushed to one side of the skiff during a food delivery causing the vessel to [[capsize]].<ref>[http://nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=120161&z=5 Mười ba thuyền nhân Phi Châu chết đuối]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{in lang|vi}}</ref> ''Winston S. Churchill'' was able to rescue 61 of the passengers and continued towards Somalia on 28 September.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11425451 |publisher=BBC News | title=Tragic end to US rescue bid off Somali coast | date=28 September 2010}}</ref>

Her homeport was formerly [[Naval Station Norfolk]] became [[Naval Station Mayport]], [[Florida]] on 19 July 2021. She is currently a part of [[Carrier Strike Group 12]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carrier Strike Group 12 Welcomes Spanish Frigate to Naval Station Norfolk |url=https://www.navy.mil/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Print.aspx?PortalId=1&ModuleId=685&Article=2238772 |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=www.navy.mil}}</ref>

On 11–12 February 2021, ''Winston S. Churchill'' seized thousands of weapons from two stateless dhows off the coast of [[Somalia]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Winston S. Churchill Seizes Illicit Weapons from Two Dhows off Somalia |url=https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/NEWS-ARTICLES/News-Article-View/Article/2504027/winston-s-churchill-seizes-illicit-weapons-from-two-dhows-off-somalia/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.centcom.mil%2FMEDIA%2FNEWS-ARTICLES%2FNews-Article-View%2FArticle%2F2504027%2Fwinston-s-churchill-seizes-illicit-weapons-from-two-dhows-off-somalia%2F |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=U.S. Central Command |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Awards==

* [[Arizona Memorial]] Trophy – (2019–2020) <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/2652889/uss-winston-s-churchill-the-navys-most-combat-ready-ship/ | title=USS Winston S. Churchill: The Navy's Most Combat Ready Ship }}</ref>

==Coat of arms==

=== Shield ===
The shield features an inescutcheon of his ancestral coat of arms and the cross of St. George. The traditional Navy colors were chosen for the shield because dark blue and gold represents the sea and excellence respectively. Red signifies sacrifice and valor. The cross of St. George and the fleur-de-lis are from Churchill's augmentation from his ancestor's coat of arms. The red cross on the white field is a reference to the flag of St. George. The gold lion over the field of red is a reference to the heritage of Great Britain. The lion shows strength, courage and determination. The nebuly is representative to the sky and clouds, which recall Britain enduring German airpower in the Battle of Britain. Winston Churchill's reputation of an inspiring war leader, talented statesman, orator and author is referred to by the stylized book.

=== Crest ===
The crest consists of a trident encompassed by a chevron, laurel and oak. The trident is a symbol for sea prowess and represents the ship's vertical launch capabilities. The tridents tines denote air, surface, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. A chevron divides the trident which suggests a [[V sign|"V" to signify victory]] in way and strength of defense in peace. The laurel symbolizes honor and achievement while the oak represents strength and resolve.

=== Motto ===
The motto is written on a double scroll of red that has a white reverse side. The ship's motto, "In war: Resolution. In peace: Good Will", is taken from the epigraph of Churchill's [[The Second World War (book series)|The Second World War]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.surflant.usff.navy.mil/ddg81/ | title=USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) | publisher=U.S. Navy | accessdate=October 12, 2022}}</ref><ref name="ww2">{{cite book | last=Churchill | first=Winston | title=The Gathering Storm | year=1948 | publisher=Houghton Mifflin Company | location=Boston | isbn=0-395-41055-X | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/gatheringstorm00chur_0 }}</ref>

=== Seal ===
The coat of arms in full color as in the blazon, upon a white background enclosed within a dark blue oval border edged on the outside with a gold rope and bearing the inscription "USS Winston S. Churchill" at the top and "DDG 81" in the base all gold.

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
File:USS Churchill mast.jpg
File:USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81) high speed run.jpg
File:Flickr - Official U.S. Navy Imagery - A VBSS team departs USS Winston S. Churchill..jpg
File:010822-N-6967M-503 DDG 81 At Sea.jpg
File:Flickr - Official U.S. Navy Imagery - A Royal navy Lt. check and record readings at the navigation table..jpg|A Royal Navy officer assists on the bridge
File:USS Winston S. Churchill action 150322-N-BD333-002.jpg|Sailors [[manning the rails]] as ''Winston S. Churchill'' pulls into port
</gallery>

==References==
{{Naval Vessel Register}}
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* International Festival of the Sea Official Souvenir Programme ( 24–27 August 2001)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060219235157/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=22026 US Navy Press Release: USS ''Winston S. Churchill'' Intercepts Pirate Ship]

==External links==
{{Commons category|USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81)}}
*{{Official website|http://www.churchill.navy.mil/}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogmVzCqkTAI Youtube: Short video with internal and external footage of the DDG-81 shock trials]

{{Arleigh Burke class destroyer}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Winston S. Churchill (Ddg-81)}}
[[Category:Ships built in Bath, Maine]]
[[Category:Arleigh Burke-class destroyers]]
[[Category:Destroyers of the United States]]
[[Category:1999 ships]]
[[Category:United States Navy ship names]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials to Winston Churchill]]