USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee
USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee on 8 May 2023 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| Name | Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee |
| Namesake | Lenah Higbee |
| Awarded | 3 June 2013 |
| Builder | Ingalls Shipbuilding |
| Laid down | 14 November 2017 |
| Launched | 27 January 2020 |
| Sponsored by |
|
| Christened | 24 April 2021 |
| Acquired | 30 November 2022 |
| Commissioned | 13 May 2023 |
| Homeport | San Diego |
| Identification | Hull number: DDG-123 |
| Motto | Bellatrix illa, "She Is a Warrior"[1] |
| Status | in active service |
| Badge | |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Class & type | Arleigh Burke-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 9,217 tons (full load) |
| Length | 513 ft (156 m) |
| Beam | 66 ft (20 m) |
| Propulsion | 4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines 100,000 shp (75,000 kW) |
| Speed | 31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph) |
| Complement | 380 officers and enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 2 × MH-60R Seahawk helicopters |
| Aviation facilities | Double hangar and helipad |
USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123) is an Arleigh Burke-class (Flight IIA) Aegis guided missile destroyer. She is named for Chief Nurse Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (1874–1941). Sutcliffe Higbee was a pioneering Navy nurse who served as Superintendent of the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps during World War I and the first woman to be awarded the Navy Cross.[3]
Construction
Ingalls Shipbuilding was awarded the contract for Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee in June 2013, and began fabrication of the vessel in January 2017.[4] The ship's keel was laid in a ceremony at the Ingalls shipyards on 14 November 2017, and sponsored by Louisa Dixon, Virginia Munford, and Rolanda Pickett Wilson.[5][6] She was launched on 27 January 2020, and christened on 24 April 2021 in Pascagoula, Mississippi.[7] On 30 November 2022, Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee was delivered to the Navy,[8][9] and commissioned in Key West, Florida, on 13 May 2023.[10][11]
Service history
Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee unveiled a new battle flag in 2025, the flag pays tribute to the first female naval nurses. The flag shows the number 20 surrounded by 20 gold stars.[12]
References
Bibliography
- "Huntington Ingalls Industries Authenticates Keel of Guided Missile Destroyer Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123)" (Press release). Huntington Ingalls Industries. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
- "Keel Laid for Future USS Lenah H Sutcliffe Higbee" (Press release). United States Navy. 15 November 2017. NNS171115-01. Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- "Huntington Ingalls Industries Christens Destroyer Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123)" (Press release). Huntington Ingalls Industries. 25 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
- "Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee" (Press release). United States Navy. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- "USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee Commissions in Conch Republic Honoring Navy Nurses" (Press release). COMNAVSURFPAC. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
- "USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123)". The Institute of Heraldry. U.S. Army. 6 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- "DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class". Federation of American Scientists. FAS.org. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- Kreisher, Otto (14 June 2016). "Mabus Names Arleigh Burke Destroyer After Higbee, First Woman Awarded Navy Cross". United States Naval Institute. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- "Ingalls starts fabrication of DDG 123". Marine Log. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- "HII Delivers Destroyer Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123) to U S. Navy" (Press release). Huntington Ingalls Industries. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- "Navy commissions Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Lenah Sutcliff Higbee". WJXT. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- Guldin, Joanna (28 March 2025). "This Navy Destroyer's New Battle Flag Pays Tribute to the Service's First Female Nurses". military.com. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
- This article incorporates public domain material from Lenah H Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123) at the Naval Vessel Register.
External links