Keel laid for US Navy destroyer Quentin Walsh

The keel for the future USS Quentin Walsh, a US Navy Arleigh Burke-class flight III guided-missile destroyer, was laid during a ceremony at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works on Tuesday, May 20.

The destroyer honours the late US Coast Guard Captain Quentin Walsh, who was awarded the Navy Cross, the United States' second highest decoration for valour, for actions that helped ensure the success of the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944.

Madison Ann Zolper, Captain Walsh's great-granddaughter, served as ship's sponsor during Tuesday's keel-laying ceremony.

As an Arleigh Burke-class flight III destroyer, the future Quentin Walsh will feature the AN/SPY-6(V)1 air and missile defence radar and incorporate upgrades to the electrical power and cooling capacity plus additional associated changes to provide enhanced warfighting capability to the fleet.

The 513-foot (156-metre) destroyer will be powered by four GE LM2500 gas turbines that deliver a speed of 31 knots.

Armament will include a 127mm naval gun, 25mm autocannons, a 20mm close-in weapon system, torpedoes, surface-to-air missiles, and land attack cruise missiles.