Northrop Grumman-built Aegis destroyer
Congressman says newest destroyer promotes peace, democracy

June 9, 2001 — U.S. Representative Edward L. Schrock of Virginia said Saturday that technologically advanced U.S. Navy ships like its newest Aegis guided missile destroyer, PREBLE (DDG 88), "will permit America to keep its commitments to defend our shores, protect our interests, shield our allies, and promote peace, trade and democracy throughout the world."

Congressman Schrock, a retired Navy captain who served in Vietnam, was principal speaker in Pascagoula for the patriotic christening of PREBLE, named for a Revolutionary War hero, at Ingalls Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC).

"Peace is not merely the absence of war," Cong. Schrock said. "Our country is not at war, but there are rumblings throughout the world that compel us to be prepared to meet any of the numerous challenges that could confront us in the future.

"PREBLE will be able to strike at targets hundreds of miles away, while maintaining her status as the least vulnerable military platform other than a submarine," said Cong. Schrock, who represents Virginia’s Second Congressional District. "She can strike her adversaries wherever they exist, whether ashore, in the sky, on the seas or under the seas; and in the future, PREBLE will be a critical part of the sea-based missile defense system shielding America and her allies from weapons of mass destruction."

Cong. Schrock noted that "this great ship can only be as effective as the craftsmanship that goes into her construction...the men and women who will serve aboard PREBLE should feel confident in the workmanship put into this vessel by the men and women of Ingalls Shipbuilding." The congressman said when commissioned in 2002, PREBLE will join a Fleet of approximately 316 ships, down from 600 ships just over a decade ago. "At the current rate of construction, in the next eight years, our Fleet will be reduced to approximately 180 ships. At any given time," he said, "approximately a third of our fleet is deployed, a third is en route to and from deployment and a third is at home undergoing maintenance. That means that with a 180-ship Navy, our Fleet could have only 60 ships deployed around the world. This is not sufficient for a superpower that must be prepared to fight wars on two fronts while maintaining security at home," said Congressman Schrock, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. "We must increase the number of ships being built each year by seven to eight ships. This is a commitment that must be made today," he said.

In naming DDG 88 "PREBLE," the Navy for the sixth time honors Commodore Edward Preble, (1761-1807), a pioneer in U.S. naval and merchant marine service. Mrs. Connie Rae Clark, wife of Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Vern Clark, USN, splashed the traditional bottle of champagne across the new ship’s bow at the pinnacle of the patriotic ceremony, proclaiming: "I christen thee ‘PREBLE’." Mrs. Clark, of Washington, D.C., was joined by three Matrons of Honor: her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Christine Clark, of Phoenix, Arizona; her sister-in-law, Mrs. Elaine Johnson, of Toledo, Ohio; and Admiral Clark’s cousin, Mrs. Judy Gowan, of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The 509.5-foot, 9,300-ton PREBLE has an overall beam of 66.5 feet, and a navigational draft of 31.9 feet. For gas turbine propulsion plants will power the ship to speeds above 31 knots. The ship will be operated by a crew of approximately 383 officers and crewmembers. When completed in 2002, DDG 88 will be homeported in San Diego, as an element of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Commander Timothy Batzler, USN, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and a 1983 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, will take command of the ship upon commissioning next year.

DDG 88 is the 38th ship in the ARLEIGH BURKE (DDG 51) Class of Aegis guided missile destroyers – the U.S. Navy's most powerful destroyer fleet. These highly-capable, multimission ships can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, in support of the National Military Strategy. PREBLE is the 17th Aegis destroyer to be launched and christened of 25 ships under contract or option to Ingalls, part of Northrop Grumman’s Ship Systems Sector. Fourteen Ingalls-built Aegis destroyers are already in the Fleet.

"This area is truly one of the shipbuilding centers of the United States of America and therefore of tremendous importance to me and to the United States Navy," said Admiral Clark, the nation’s 27th Chief of Naval Operations. "This shipyard is one of the cornerstones of American seapower. Anybody who knows anything about what our economy is built on and the prosperity we are enjoying today," Admiral Clark added, "knows that seapower is fundamental to our nation. It is fundamental to the security and prosperity of the United States of America."

"I am proud to be one small part of a team of many thousands of people and hundreds of companies, especially the great workers here at Ingalls Shipbuilding on the Mississippi Gulf Coast," said Rear Admiral William W. Cobb Jr., USN, Program Executive Officer, Theater Surface Combatants. "It is only through their efforts that these magnificent warships are able to join the Fleet and make a difference."

"Warships like PREBLE are sovereign U.S. territory and bring hope to those who know only despair and security for those who know only fear," said Rear Admiral David M. Stone, USN, Commander, Cruise Destroyer Group Five. "Such is the power of these great ships like PREBLE who by their robust combat capability help ensure U.S. access in areas important to our national interest around the globe."

"The link between the city of Pascagoula and our sailors and their families is a tight bond of partnership and I appreciate everything that is done for them," said Rear Admiral Jan C. Gaudio, USN, Commander, Navy Region Southeast. "I feel confident that this community will embrace the pre-commissioning crew of PREBLE as they have with every sailor who enters this community. Ingalls designs and builds these ships and with the oversight of the Supervisor of Shipbuilding and the assistance of Naval Station Pascagoula, these partnerships will play a strong role in preparing this ship for entry into the U.S. Pacific Fleet."

"While we are acutely aware of our many responsibilities in the Supervisor of Shipbuilding command, none are more important than to those who will bring PREBLE to life – her crew," said Captain Phil Johnson, USN, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Pascagoula. "They are America’s finest young men and women."

Jerry St. Pé, Chief Operating Officer of Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Sector, spoke of three essential ingredients that are needed, "if this country is committed to a strong Navy Fleet and an shipbuilding industrial base that can respond in a timely fashion to the building of Navy ships in the most affordable way. First, we have to have prepared to respond to the Navy requirements and we are backing that up with a long-term shipbuilding program that has a shelf-life beyond two or three years. Next, we have to have adequate number of ships for our Navy to carry out its mission and finally, those of us in the shipbuilding industry need to back up our commitment through investment, technologies and training so that not only do we have the capability, capacity and commitment to build ships, but we can do it in the most efficient fashion.

"We at Northrop Grumman," St. Pé said, "are committed in every respect to be prepared to respond to the Navy requirements, and we are backing that up with tremendous investments in our facilities."

"It is an honor for us to be building this fine destroyer and wherever she may sail, this ship will represent the leadership and courage displayed by Commodore Preble and the history of the five ships named PREBLE that have served with distinction in the U.S. Navy Fleet," said Northrop Grumman Ingalls President Dave Wright. "We pledge to continue the partnerships which have made us so successful in the Aegis destroyer program and we will continue to build freedom, one great ship at a time."

Northrop Grumman’s Ship Systems Sector (NGSS), headquartered in Pascagoula, Mississippi, includes Ingalls and the Ship Systems Full Service Center, also located in Pascagoula, as well as Avondale Industries, located in New Orleans and Tallulah, Louisiana, and Gulfport, Mississippi. NGSS, which currently employs more than 17,000 shipbuilding professionals, primarily in Mississippi and Louisiana, is one of the nation's leading full service systems companies for the design, engineering, construction, and life cycle support of major surface ships for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and international navies, and for commercial vessels of all types. NGSS has a firm business backlog exceeding $5.2 billion, in a variety of naval and commercial shipbuilding programs. Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $15 billion, global aerospace and defense company with its worldwide headquarters in Los Angeles. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in defense and commercial electronics, systems integration, information technology and non-nuclear shipbuilding and systems. With 80,000 employees and operations in 44 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.