USS Farragut to Make Maiden Port Visit in Philadelphia for July Fourth

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (NNS) -- The crew of USS Farragut (DDG 99) will celebrate the Fourth of July in Philadelphia during its maiden port visit.

After being commissioned in Mayport, Fla., the Navy’s newest, most modern Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer will be in port for a four-day visit July 1–4.

“Pulling into Philadelphia over the July Fourth weekend for our first port visit is very exciting,” said Commanding Officer Cmdr. Deidre L. McLay. “It is inspiring to me, and I believe it will be to my Sailors, to celebrate the anniversary of our independence in the heart of Philadelphia.”

During the port visit, Sailors will participate in Philadelphia's weeklong celebration of Fourth of July festivities, including parades, concerts, historic activities and the "Let Freedom Ring" (LFR) celebration.

Commissioned June 10, Farragut is the 49th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and is named in honor of Adm. David Glasgow Farragut (1801-1870). Farragut is famous for rallying his men to victory during one of the most celebrated victories in American naval history, the Battle of Mobile Bay, as he shouted, “Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!” and successfully led 17 of his 18 ships safely through the channel to win the Battle of Mobile Bay.

Farragut was built by Bath Ironworks in Bath, Maine, and christened July 23, 2005. The ship is 509.5 feet long, with a beam of 66 feet, and displaces 9,200 tons. It has a top speed in excess of 30 knots.

The highly capable multimission ship can conduct a variety of operations in support of the national military strategy, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection. Farragut was designed to fight air, surface, and subsurface battles simultaneously. The ship contains numerous offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century.

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