Definition
USS Porter (DDG‑78) is a United States Navy guided‑missile destroyer of the Arleigh Burke class. She is a surface combatant equipped with the Aegis combat system and has been in active service since 1999.
Overview
USS Porter was built by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. The keel was laid on 27 September 1997, the ship was launched on 22 March 1998, and she was commissioned on 10 May 1999. Assigned to the Pacific Fleet, Porter has operated primarily out of Naval Base San Diego and, more recently, Naval Base Pearl Harbor. Throughout her career she has taken part in a variety of missions, including:
- Supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf.
- Anti‑piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia.
- Providing missile strike capability in the Indo‑Pacific region, including participation in joint exercises with allied navies.
Porter is equipped with the latest upgrades to the Aegis system and regularly conducts readiness and interoperability training.
Etymology/Origin
The vessel is named in honor of two distinguished United States Navy officers:
- Commodore David Porter (1793–1843), a celebrated early‑19th‑century naval commander noted for his service during the War of 1812 and the Mexican‑American War.
- Admiral David Dixon Porter (1813–1891), son of the above, a senior Union naval officer of the American Civil War who later served as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy.
The dual naming reflects the U.S. Navy’s tradition of commemorating notable historic figures who have contributed significantly to naval heritage.
Characteristics
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Class & Type | Arleigh Burke‑class guided‑missile destroyer |
| Displacement | Approximately 9,200 tons (full load) |
| Length | 155.3 m (509 ft) |
| Beam | 20.4 m (66 ft 8 in) |
| Propulsion | 4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, 2 shafts, ~100,000 shp |
| Speed | >30 knots |
| Range | ~4,400 nm at 20 knots |
| Crew Complement | ~300 personnel (officers and enlisted) |
| Sensors & Processing | AN/SPY‑1D(V) multi‑function radar (Aegis), AN/SQQ‑89 sonar suite |
| Armament | • 96‑cell Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (SM‑2, SM‑6, Tomahawk, ASROC) • 1 × 5‑inch/54 caliber Mk 45 naval gun • 2 × Phalanx CIWS • 2 × Mk 49 Mod 5 torpedo launchers • 2 × 25 mm Mk 38 machine guns • 2 × .50 caliber machine guns |
| Aviation Facilities | Flight deck and hangar for one MH‑60R/S Seahawk helicopter |
Porter incorporates the “Flight IIA” configuration, which includes hangar space for embarked helicopters and upgraded combat system hardware.
Related Topics
- Arleigh Burke‑class destroyer – The class of multi‑mission surface combatants to which Porter belongs.
- Aegis Combat System – Integrated naval weapons system used for air and missile defense.
- U.S. Navy Surface Warfare – The broader operational context for destroyers like Porter.
- David Porter (commodore) and David Dixon Porter – Historical figures commemorated by the ship’s name.
- Naval Base San Diego and Naval Base Pearl Harbor – Primary home ports for Pacific‑fleet destroyers.
All information presented reflects publicly available, verifiable sources up to the knowledge cutoff of September 2021. Subsequent modifications or deployments of USS Porter after that date may not be reflected herein.