USS Fitzgerald

USS Fitzgerald on 13 August 2005
History
United States
NameFitzgerald
NamesakeWilliam Charles Fitzgerald
Ordered22 February 1990
BuilderBath Iron Works
Laid down9 February 1993
Launched29 January 1994
Sponsored byBetty Ann Fitzgerald
Christened29 January 1994
Commissioned14 October 1995
HomeportSan Diego
Identification
MottoProtect Your People
Nickname(s)
  • Fighting Fitz
  • Fightin' Fitz
Honors &
awards
See Awards
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class & typeArleigh Burke-class destroyer
Displacement
  • Light: approx. 6,800 long tons (6,900 t)
  • Full: approx. 8,900 long tons (9,000 t)
Length505 ft (154 m)
Beam59 ft (18 m)
Draft31 ft (9.4 m)
Propulsion2 × shafts
SpeedIn excess of 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range4,400 nmi (8,100 km; 5,100 mi) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement
Sensors &
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried1 × Sikorsky MH-60R

USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62), named for United States Navy officer Lieutenant William Charles Fitzgerald, is an Arleigh Burke-class (Flight I) Aegis guided missile destroyer in the US Navy.

In the early morning hours of 17 June 2017, the ship was involved in a collision with the container ship MV ACX Crystal, seriously damaging the destroyer. Seven of her crew were killed. Several others were injured, including her commanding officer, Commander Bryce Benson.