Name USS Mitscher Laid down 12 February 1992 Homeport Norfolk, Virginia Construction started 12 February 1992 Draft 9.45 m | Ordered 13 December 1988 Commissioned 10 December 1994 Length 154 m Launched 7 May 1993 Builder Ingalls Shipbuilding | |
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Namesake Admiral Marc A. Mitscher | ||
USS Mitscher (DDG-57) became the second United States Navy warship named to honor Admiral Marc A. Mitscher (1887–1947), famed naval aviator and World War II aircraft carrier task force commander. In 1988 the U.S. Navy contracted with Ingalls Shipbuilding, in Pascagoula, Mississippi to build the seventh ship of the Arleigh Burke class.
USS Mitscher was commissioned on 10 December 1994, and was sponsored by Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson. Mitscher transferred to her homeport in Norfolk, Virginia later in December 1994, and has since made three Mediterranean deployments and participated in many Caribbean exercises.
In 2001, Mitscher deployed with Carrier Group 2 centered on the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman. During this deployment, Mitscher visited Algiers, Algeria and conducted joint training exercises with the Algerian Navy. In October 2006, Mitscher participated in Neptune Warrior, a joint war exercise with navies from all over the world.
On 16 February 2007, Mitscher was awarded the 2006 Battle "E" award.
Beginning 23 July 2011, during its 2011 deployment, the strike group's anti-piracy capabilities was augmented by the addition of a U.S. Coast Guard 12-person Advanced Interdiction Team (AIT) embarked aboard Mitscher. These deployable Coast Guard boarding teams consisted of highly trained maritime law enforcement specialists capable of Level III non-compliant boardings. As the only organization in the U.S. government with the combined authority of a law enforcement agency, an intelligence agency, and a military service, they brought additional capabilities and expertise to Mitscher's embarked visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team. Mitscher's VBSS team and the AIT trained together between operations to enhance their joint boarding tactics, boat operation skills, and internal movements.
On 13 August 2011, as part of Combined Task Force 150 operating in the Gulf of Aden, Mitscher provided assistance to the Sri Lankan-flagged cargo vessel Al Habib which was experiencing engineering problems and running low on water. Mitscher's VBSS-AIT boarding party transported supplies to Al Habib via rigid-hulled inflatable boat, including two 3-gallon (11.36 liters) containers of water and four cases of bottled water (pictured).
On 24 February 2012 Commander Monika W. Stoker became the first African-American female to become the Commanding Officer of a United States warship. Commander Stoker relieved Commander Brian K. Sorrenson after serving as his Executive Officer for 20 months prior.
On 2 June 2015, Mitscher welcomed the French frigate Hermione in US waters on behalf of the US Navy.