The Jack H. Lucas, the latest, most superior Burke-class destroyer, grew to become a part of the Navy Tuesday and can function out of San Diego, the place it’ll assist exchange growing older Chilly Conflict-era cruisers.
Mississippi-based shipbuilder Ingalls delivered Lucas to the Navy following every week of sea trials within the Gulf of Mexico. The $2.4 billion ship is anticipated to reach at Naval Base San Diego later this yr.
Lucas is the primary variant III model of the Burke-destroyer, a ship that is referred to as the spine of the Navy due to its energy and flexibility. It might probably strike targets 1,000 miles away with Tomahawk cruise missiles.
The Navy says the Lucas is supplied with a classy new air and missile protection radar system that may assist the 509-foot ship defend plane provider and amphibious assault teams. Three of the Navy’s 11 carriers function out of San Diego. The town is also at present residence to 16 Burke destroyers.
The Lucas is known as after Jacklyn Harold ‘Jack’ Lucas, who served each as a U.S. Marine and an Army Airborne officer. President Harry S. Truman awarded him the Medal of Honor in 1945 for his heroics in the course of the battle of Iwo Jima in World Conflict II.
The Marines say Lucas threw himself on one grenade and positioned one other below his physique to protect fellow Marines throughout fight. One of many grenades exploded, almost killing him. Lucas died of leukemia in 2008. He was 80.
This story initially appeared in San Diego Union-Tribune.
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