The christening of the Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001), the second ship in the Zumwaltclass guided-missile destroyers, is scheduled for June 18, according to Bath Iron Works spokesman Matt Wickenheiser.
Construction on the Monsoor began at the shipyard in 2010, according to a Times Record article.
The ship is named after Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, a U.S. Navy SEAL who was killed in Ramadi, Iraq in 2006. Monsoor was 25 years old when he threw himself over a grenade thrown by an insurgent during combat, shielding three other SEALs and eight Iraqi Army soldiers, according to the Navy SEAL website.
In 2008, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor from President George W. Bush for his heroism, and was also awarded the Bronze Star and the Silver Star for his service in Iraq.
Monsoor’s parents, Sally and George, authenticated the ship’s keel at BIW in May 2013. His mother is also the ship’s sponsor.
The DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers are the U.S. Navy’s new generation of advanced multi-mission surface combat ships. The vessels feature a low radar profile, an integrated power system and a total ship computing environment infrastructure, and will provide offensive, distributed and precision fires in support of forces ashore, said the newsletter.
The future USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000), the lead ship of the Zumwalt-class program, was christened in April 2014, and will be going out for builder’s trials later this month before delivery this spring. Construction of the Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002), the third destroyer in the program, continues at the Bath shipyard.
“We’re all extremely proud to be building the ship that bears Michael Monsoor’s name,” Wickenheiser said on Tuesday. “The story of his heroism is truly remarkable and inspiring, and we’re very much looking forward to the christening.”
dkim@timesrecord.com
Other two
• THE FUTURE USS Zumwalt (DDG- 1000), the lead ship of the Zumwalt-class program, was christened in April 2014, and will be going out for builder’s trials later this month before delivery this spring. The Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002), the third destroyer in the program, still continues to be built at BIW.
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