USS John Basilone DDG-122

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DDG 122

 

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SECNAV Announces New USS John Basilone DDG-122

USS John Basilone DDG-122

 

 

Scroll Down for USS John Basilone DDG-122 Updates

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Commissioning Ceremony

Below is a link to complete a form to indicate if you plan to attend the Commissioning Ceremony for the USS John Basilone, DDG-122.  When the date and place is known, those crewmen who completed the form will be emailed that information and their contact information will be sent to the Navy for the Navy to send invitations for the ceremony.

 Note 1: at this time we do not know where or when the Commissioning of the USS John Basilone DDG-122 will be.

 Note 2: the Association has nothing to do with the planning of the commissioning ceremony; we are just gathering information on who would like to attend the ceremony and passing it on to the Navy.

USS John Basilone, DDG-122, Planned Attendance at Commissioning Ceremony

 

Construction Photographs

Below is a link to construction photos of the USS John Basilone DDG-122.

USS John Basilone DDG-122, Construction – USS Basilone DDE/DD 824

 

Keel Laying Ceremony Photographs

On January 10, 2020, the keel for the USS John Basilone DDG-122 was laid down.  Below is a link to photos of the Keel Laying Ceremony

USS John Basilone DDG-122, Keel Laying Ceremony – USS Basilone DDE/DD 824

 

Launching Video

On June 10, 2022, the USS John Basilone DDG-122 was launched.  Below is the link to a video of the launching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STexh_cjRWY

 

Mast Stepping Ceremony Photographs

On June 17, 2022, the USS John Basilone DDG-122 conducted it's Mast Stepping Ceremony.  Below is the link to photographs of the Mast Stepping ceremony.

USS John Basilone DDG-122, Mast Stepping Ceremony – USS Basilone DDE/DD 824

 

Mast Stepping Ceremony Meet and Greet Photographs

On June 17, 2022, after the USS John Basilone DDG-122 conducted it's Mast Stepping Ceremony, there was a meet and greet at the PCU (pre commissioning unit) office Below is the link to photographs of the meet and greet.

USS John Basilone DDG-122, Post Mast Stepping Meet and Greet – USS Basilone DDE/DD 824

 

Christening Ceremony Video

On June 18, 2022, the USS John Basilone DDG-122 was christened.  Below is the link to a video of the christening ceremony.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WYN06qWZqA

 

Christening Ceremony Photographs

On June 18, 2022, the USS John Basilone DDG-122 was christened.  Below is a link to photos of the christening including crew members of the 824 who attended the ceremony.

USS John Basilone DDG-122, Christening Ceremony – USS Basilone DDE/DD 824

 

Video Message from CDR Carne Livingston, CO of USS John Basilone DDG-122

September 21, 2022 Click on the link below to watch the Savannah Reunion video message from CDR Carne Livingston, Commanding Officer of the USS John Basilone DDG-122

USS John Basilone DDG-122, CO’s Video Message September 14, 2022 – USS Basilone DDE/DD 824

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USS John Basilone DDG-122 Updates

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January 21, 2024  Geoffrey Bender FTG2, 70-74

I received the below update from CDR Carne Livingston, CO of the USS John Basilone DDG-122

I hope all is well.  We were able to send several of our crew members to Raritan, NJ this year for the John Basilone parade.  Unfortunately, a big storm came through and the parade committee cancelled the parade; so we reduced the number of people who traveled, but still took the opportunity to connect with the Basilone Memorial Foundation, the Basilone Parade committee, our USMC counterparts, as well as the community of Raritan.

We are expecting the ship to be ready to commence sea trials next month!  This fall/winter was been busy as BIW completed generator and main engine testing.  The BIW team has been conducting dock trials this week!  I am excited to finally see the ship ready to go to sea for underway testing!

As long as these final tests go well, we will be ready to take custody and move aboard the ship in early July.  Our plan is to sail away in early October 2024 and to commission shortly thereafter.  As of now, our top choice for commissioning remains New York City’s Pier 88 (cruise ship terminal in Mid-town Manhattan).  We should be forming the commissioning committee very soon so they can raise money for the commissioning.

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September 13, 2023  Geoffrey Bender FTG2, 70-74

I received the below update from CDR Carne Livingston, CO of the USS John Basilone DDG-122

Things are going well here in Maine, we have a few more crew members on deck now than when you saw us last summer.  Construction is progressing, but we have had several delays.  It looks like the ship will be ready to proceed to sea trials in the early winter and continuing into the new year.  This means, we are not likely to be ready to sailaway from Bath until late summer.  Back in May, XO, CMC and myself had the pleasure of traveling to New York to attend the commissioning of USS COOPERSTOWN (LCS 23) in Manhattan.  There is a lot of interest in sending JOHN BASILONE to New York to commission in Manhattan.  Most likely commissioning will follow shortly after our sailaway.  We will be able to nail down a date once we are ready to commence trials, as the test and trials plan drive when we will be able to move aboard and prepare for sailaway.

 Next month (Sep) we will be sending approximately 40 of our crewmembers to attend the John Basilone parade in Raritan, NJ; we were able to attend last year and the event was a great opportunity to connect with the hometown of our namesake.

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March 11, 2023  Geoffrey Bender FTG2, Jan 1970 - Jun 1974

I received an email from CDR Carne Livingston, CO of the USS John Basilone, DDG-122 with an update of the ship’s progress.

I was assigned a new XO, and CDR Matt Brooks has been onboard since just after Christmas.

The ship is still progressing through the construction and testing process.  In November the test team was able to declare “Milestone met” and we officially met Aegis Light Off (ALO) and started the testing process that will run up through the end of the summer 2023.  Right now, we have approximately 35 sailors in Bath, ME, and approximately 170 at our detachment in Norfolk, VA.  The crew continues to focus on training through completion of schools as well as opportunities to spend time onboard ships in the waterfront where they can work on qualifications and increase both their proficiency and confidence.

We are expecting to be ready to head to sea 3 sets of sea trials in the fall of 2023 and as long as the schedule remains, we will begin the process of crew certification after sea trials in preparation to sail away in March 2024.  We do not yet have a confirmed commissioning site or date, but we are tentatively looking at April 2024 and our top locations are in the New York and New Jersey area.  More to follow.

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September 21, 2022

Click on the link below to watch the video message from CDR Carne Livingston, Commanding Officer of the USS John Basilone DDG-122

USS John Basilone DDG-122, CO’s Video Message September 14, 2022 – USS Basilone DDE/DD 824

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November 9, 2021

Two new pictures of the DDG-122

(Photo from General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Facebook Page)

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December 22, 2020,

From: Tom Berry, OS3 74-77

Shipmates:

I just got an update on the ship from NAVSEA (my employer) with new key dates.

1. The home port has shifted from Norfolk to Mayport (YEAH!!!)
2. The Launching is now 27 NOV 2021 (was 06 AUG 2021)
3.Delivery (crew moves onboard) now 20 JAN 2023 (was 29 JUL 2022).
4. Sail away from BIW MAY 2023 (was NOV 2022)

Not sure when/where commissioning is but I bet it’s sometime in MAY 2023.

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September 26, 2020

Recently crews completed a complex integration of the final stern unit for the future USS John Basilone (DDG 122).  (Photo from General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Facebook Page)

 

DDG-122 Stern

 

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June 15, 2020

From James Cossey, RADM, USS Basilone DDE-824 1959 – 1962

James received the following message from Naval Sea Systems Command

"Good morning!  It is so good to hear from you.  We are happy to share that the current schedule for BASILONE (DDG 122) christening in Bath, Maine, is tentatively to take place during the Summer of 2021.  We do not currently know if this schedule will hold due to COVID-19 impacts.  Please give our best to the members of the BASILONE Association.

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May 30, 2020

From James Cossey, RADM, USS Basilone DDE-824 1959 - 1962

I have received from Bath Iron Works information about the construction schedule of the Arleigh Burke destroyer, USS John Basilone DDG-122.  1. Construction is underway -- about 40% complete.  2. Keel-laying, laying/welding the keel took place Friday, January 10, 2020.  3. Christening is open to the public and currently is scheduled for March 2021.  Application for an invitation to witness the christening will be listed on the Bath Iron Works website (www.gdbiw.com) about 30 days in advance of the christening date.  4. Delivery is expected in January 2022.

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January 10, 2020

Today at Bath Iron Works, the keel was laid for the USS John Basilone DDG-122.  During the ceremony, sponsors of the ship Ryan Manion and Amy Looney welded their names on the keel plate.  "We hereby declare that the keel of the future USS John Basilone has been truley and fairly laid!"

 

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November 21, 2017

George (Chris) Christenson received the following email from his contact at Bath Iron Works about USS John Basilone, DDG-122.

Hi Chris,

We held a start fabrication ceremony on May 22.  The next milestone will be the official keel laying, which is scheduled for some time in the fall of 2019.  We're very prod to be building a ship named for such an incredible hero!

Best of luck,

David

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August 16, 2016

Camp Pendleton, California -- In a ceremony at the Marine Corps Base Pendleton, California, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced Arleigh Burke - class destroyer, DDG-122, will be named for John Basilone in honor of the Marine Corps gunnery sergeant and Medal of Honor recipient.  He was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Battle of Guadalcanal, and was the only enlisted Marine to receive both the Medal of Honor and Navy Cross in World War II.

This is the second ship to be named for John Basilone.  The first USS Basilone DDE/DD-824 was a Gearing class destroyer, decommissioned in 1977.

"It is a great honor to name this ship in recognition of John Basilone," said Mabus.  "I have no doubt that all who serve aboard her will carry on the legacy of service and commitment exemplified by this Marine Corps hero."

The ship will be constructed at Bath Iron Works, a division of General Dynamics in Maine and is expected to enter the Navy fleet in 2022.  The ship will be 509 feet long, have a beam length of 59 feet and be capable of operating at speeds in excess of 30 knots.

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