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US Navy - Guided Missile Destroyer
DDG 61 - USS Ramage
 
ddg-61 uss ramage insignia crest patch badge destroyer us navy 02x  uss ramage ddg-61 arleigh burke class guided missile destroyer us navy ingalls shipbuilding 50x
11/23
Type, class: Guided Missile Destroyer - DDG; Arleigh Burke class, Flight I
Builder: Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA
  
STATUS:
Awarded: February 22, 1990
Laid down: January 4, 1993
Launched: February 11, 1994
Commissioned: July 22, 1995
IN SERVICE
 

Homeport: Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia
 Namesake: Vice Admiral Lawson P. Ramage (1909-1990)
Ships Motto: PAR EXCELLENCE
Technical Data: see: INFO > Arleigh Burke class Guided Missile Destroyer - DDG
 
images

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Mediterranean Sea - October 2023

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Adriatic Sea - September 2023

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Ionian Sea - August 2023

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Durres, Albania - July 20, 2023

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Durres, Albania - July 20, 2023

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Mk.45 Mod.2 gun / forward Mk.41 vertical launching system (VLS) - Adriatic Sea - July 2023

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Adriatic Sea - July 4, 2023

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Atlantic Ocean - May 2023

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Atlantic Ocean - May 2023

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Atlantic Ocean - May 2023

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passing Coleman Bridge on her way to the Atlantic Ocean after ammunition onload at Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Yorktown, Virginia - May 4, 2023

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departing Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia for a scheduled deployment - May 2, 2023

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Atlantic Ocean - March 2023

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Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - November 1, 2022

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Atlantic Ocean - October 2022

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Atlantic Ocean - October 2022

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Atlantic Ocean - September 2022

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returning to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - March 26, 2020

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returning to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - March 26, 2020

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returning to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - March 26, 2020

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Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti - September 2019

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Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti - September 2019

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departing Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - August 2019

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departing Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - August 2019

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Atlantic Ocean - July 2019

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Atlantic Ocean - December 2018

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Mk.38 Mod.2 machine gun system fire - Atlantic Ocean - November 2018

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Mk.38 Mod.2 machine gun system in manual use - Atlantic Ocean - November 2018

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Mk.32 torpedo tubes test shot - Atlantic Ocean - November 2018

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Atlantic Ocean - November 2018

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Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - July 2016

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returning to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - July 2016

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Limmasol, Cyprus - July 2016

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Arabian Gulf - April 2016

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Arabian Gulf - January 2016

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USS Ramage fires a RIM-66 Standard Missile SM-2MR - Atlantic Ocean - June 2015

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Sailors aboard USS Ramage perform an initial test of the Mk.59 decoy launch system off the ship's port side - Atlantic Ocean - June 2014

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Sailors aboard USS Ramage perform an initial test of the Mk.59 decoy launch system - Atlantic Ocean - June 2014

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Sailors aboard USS Ramage perform an initial test of the Mk.59 decoy launch system - Atlantic Ocean - June 2014

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Sailors aboard USS Ramage recover an inflated decoy from the forecastle during an initial test of the Mk.59 decoy launch system - June 2014

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Sailors aboard USS Ramage recover an inflated decoy from the forecastle during an initial test of the Mk.59 decoy launch system - June 2014

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Atlantic Ocean - June 2014

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returning to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - May 2014

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returning to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - May 2014

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a recoverable exercise torpedo (REXTORP) was fired from the Mk-32 torpedo tubes - Mediterranean Sea - April 2014

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a recoverable exercise torpedo (REXTORP) was fired from the Mk.32 torpedo tubes - Mediterranean Sea - April 2014

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Mediterranean Sea - April 2014

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Mediterranean Sea - April 2014

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Mediterranean Sea - April 2014

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Mediterranean Sea - April 2014

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Mediterranean Sea - April 2014

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Mediterranean Sea - April 2014

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Mediterranean Sea - March 2014

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Mediterranean Sea - March 2014

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Mediterranean Sea - March 2014

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Mk-45 Mod.2 (5-inches/54-caliber) gun live fire exercise - Mediterranean Sea - March 2014

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Mk.45 Mod.2 (5-inches/54-caliber) gun live fire exercise - Mediterranean Sea - March 2014

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Mk.45 Mod.2 (5-inches/54-caliber) gun live fire exercise - Mediterranean Sea - March 2014

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Mk.38 Mod.2 machine gun system in manual use - Mediterranean Sea - March 2014

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central control station / machinery - February 2014

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Mediterranean Sea - January 2014

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Mediterranean Sea - January 2014

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Mediterranean Sea - January 2014

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Mk.32 torpedo tubes - December 2013

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awaiting replenishment - Mediterranean Sea - December 2013

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Souda Bay, Crete, Greece - December 2013

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Souda Bay, Crete, Greece - November 2013

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propulsion control console - November 2013

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Souda Bay, Crete, Greece - October 2013

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Mediterranean Sea - October 2013

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Combat Information Center (CIC) - Mediterranean Sea - September 2013

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Mediterranean Sea - September 2013

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Mediterranean Sea - September 2013

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Mediterranean Sea - September 2013

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sonar control room - September 2013

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sonar control room - September 2013

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sonar control room - September 2013

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departing Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - August 2013

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departing Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - August 2013

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returning to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - January 2012

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departing Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - May 2011

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departing Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - May 2011

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returning to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - April 2009

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Suez Canal, Egypt - September 2008

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Mediterranean Sea - September 2008

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Haifa, Israel - September 2008

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Atlantic Ocean - September 2008

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Atlantic Ocean - September 2008

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Atlantic Ocean - September 2008

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Atlantic Ocean - September 2008

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Atlantic Ocean - September 2008

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Atlantic Ocean - July 2008

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Atlantic Ocean - May 2008

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Mk-15 Phalanx CIWS live fire exercise - Atlantic Ocean - May 2008

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Mk.45 Mod.2 gun fire exercise - Atlantic Ocean - May 2008

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Port Everglades, Florida - May 2008

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Atlantic Ocean - October 2007

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Arabian Gulf - February 2007

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Arabian Sea - November 2006

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Arabian Sea - November 2006

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New York - May 2006

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New York - May 2006

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Atlantic Ocean - May 2006

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Atlantic Ocean - December 2005

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Atlantic Ocean - December 2005

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departing Norfolk, Virginia - June 2005

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Souda Bay, Crete, Greece - June 2004

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returning to Norfolk, Virginia - November 1996

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returning to Norfolk, Virginia - November 1996

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USS Ramage is being depermed inside the deperming station near Norfolk.
This is a process to neutralize the magnetic field put out by a metal warship to eliminate the danger of magnetic influence mines. October 1995

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Norfolk, Virginia - August 1995

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sea trials - January 1995

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sea trials - January 1995

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fitting out at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi - December 1994

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launching at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi - February 11, 1994

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launching at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi - February 11, 1994
 
 
USS Ramage (DDG 61):
 
Ramage was laid down 4 January 1993 at the Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, launched 11 February 1994, sponsored by Barbara Ramage (wife of the admiral), and commissioned 22 July 1995.

Ramage's launching was as unique as her construction. The ship was moved over land via Ingalls' wheel-on-rail transfer system and onto the shipyard's launch and recovery drydock. The drydock was ballasted down, and DDG 61 floated free on 11 February 1994. She was then moved to her outfitting dock in preparation for the traditional christening ceremony and completion of outfitting and testing.


On 25 November 1996, Ramage embarked on her maiden deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. Ramage visited six countries and made 16 port calls. Ramage was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon, the Sea Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Service Medal during this deployment.

In March 1997 Ramage provided logistic and communications support for Marines in Albania during Operation Silver Wake. On 21 July 1997, Ramage was an escort of the museum ship USS Constitution when she set sail in Massachusetts Bay.

On 24 May 1999, as a member of the Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group, Ramage departed on her second deployment to the Mediterranean and Arabian Seas, MED/MEF 2–99. While deployed overseas, Ramage visited eight countries and made 15 port visits. Ramage also participated in Operation Allied Force off the coast of Montenegro.

Following the 11 September 2001 attacks, Ramage sortied to the waters off the East Coast of the United States where she provided extended radar coverage of the New York City and the surrounding area in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

Ramage deployed with the George Washington Surface Strike Group to the Arabian Sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During this deployment Ramage participated in multi-national exercises Neo Tapon 04 and Iron Siren 04.

Ramage again deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of the Global War on Terrorism in October 2006. While on station Ramage participated in Operations Argos Asterion and Argos Declion. Ramage was also the first ship to respond to the Horn of Africa during the Ethiopian and Somalian hostilities of late December 2006 providing extended coordination for P-3 coverage of the events. Ramage visited eight different countries and conducted ten port calls.

In August 2008 Ramage departed for a seven-month deployment in the Persian Gulf with the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group. Ramage participated in multi-national Operation Red Reef and Focused Operation Trident Knight. Ramage returned to home port in April 2009 after visiting four countries and making six port calls.

Ramage departed for the North Sea and Baltic Sea to participate in Exercise Joint Warrior 09 in September 2009. Ramage operated with HMS Illustrious and many other multi-national naval units. After making five ports of call in four countries, Ramage returned in November 2009. On 28 October 2009 while pierside at Gdynia, Poland after participating in a Joint Warrior exercise, a sailor on the ship conducting maintenance accidentally discharged one of the ship's M240 machine guns into the port city. Two rounds from the gun's three-round burst hit a warehouse, causing no injuries, the third round was not recovered. Local police allowed the ship to depart as originally scheduled later that day after questioning the ship's crew.

Ramage departed on deployment to the Mediterranean Sea on 5 January 2010. In late January 2010, Ramage was dispatched to the Mediterranean Sea to assist with the search-and-rescue effort in the wake of the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409. Ramage also provided Ballistic Missile Defense to the Eastern Mediterranean during this deployment. Ramage's port visits included: Naples, Italy; Haifa, Israel; Kusadasi, Bodrum, and Aksaz, Turkey; Limassol, Cyprus; Rhodes, Greece; Augusta Bay, Sicily; and Ponta Delgada, Azores. Ramage returned to home port on 6 August 2010.

On 8 August 2013, Ramage departed for an eight-month deployment into the US Navy 6th Fleet area of responsibility to assist with ballistic missile defense. The ship's last deployment was from May 2012 to January 2013.

Ramage entered the eastern Mediterranean Sea as a response to the Syrian Civil War. The destroyer was specifically deployed after allegations that President Bashar al-Assad's regime had used chemical weapons on its own people in suburbs of Damascus. Ramage arrived in the region, according to a defense official, on 23 August 2013. The destroyer was intended to replace USS Mahan, but Mahan remained in area temporarily along with USS Gravely and USS Barry. All four were equipped with cruise missiles.

On 28 October 2013, the destroyers Gravely and Ramage answered a distress call from a vessel carrying immigrants located 160 nautical miles (300 km; 180 mi) off the coast of Kalamata, Greece.

In February 2014, Ramage was one of two U.S. Navy ships operating in the Black Sea during the Sochi Olympics.

As of August 2014, Ramage is undergoing testing and evaluation at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY).

In November of 2015, Ramage deployed to the US Navy 6th Fleet area of responsibility to assist with ballistic missile defense, and to escort the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group. She completed 28 Strait of Hormuz transits throughout the deployment, and returned to her home port of Norfolk, Virginia on 25 July, 2016.

Following her 2015-2016 deployment, Ramage conducted her mid-cycle upgrade. As a result of the US Navy's new coast-wide shipyard bidding process, she was selected for an unusual "out of home port" yard period , and spent a nine-month period in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Ramage left the yards on time, and returned to Norfolk, Virginia in August of 2017 to begin workups for the next deployment.

In October of 2018, Ramage received short-notice Presidential tasking, and deployed to the US Navy 4th fleet area of responsibility to provide radar surveillance support for the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She departed Norfolk, Virginia on 25 August 2018, and returned soon.

In the fall of 2019, Ramage deployed to the US Navy 5th fleet area of responsibility as an independent ballistic missile defense operator. During this time, she was assigned as the flagship for Commander, Task Force 55, in a defensive response to the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. She took command of all US Naval surface forces in the 5th fleet area, positioning each ship in a strategic defensive manner.

On 9 August 2023, The Navy announced plans to extend the ship's service life beyond the initial 35 years, intending to keep Ramage in service until at least 2035.

On 8 October 2023, the day after the Hamas attack on Israel, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, directed the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean in response. Along with the carrier, the group also includes the cruiser Normandy, and the destroyers Ramage, Carney, Roosevelt and Thomas Hudner.

sources: US Navy + wikipedia

- - - - -

Installation of the Mk 59 decoy launching system
Release Date: December 17, 2013
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jackie Hart, USS Ramage Public Affairs

USS RAMAGE, At Sea (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61) departed Souda Bay following a scheduled mid-deployment maintenance and installation period, Dec. 5.

During the port visit, Sailors worked alongside workers from Naval Ship Support Activity Detachment Naples, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Bath Iron Works and the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division to perform the first installation of a Mk 59 decoy launching system on a U.S. Navy ship, as part of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Speed-to-Fleet initiative.

"The Mk 59 system, being first installed on USS Ramage overseas in a condensed timeline proved that we can accomplish anything through teamwork, effort and creative thinking," said Lt. Anthony Griffin, systems test officer and installation coordinator. "Although this install was challenging, the Mk 59 brings added capability to the Navy and the benefits are well worth the endeavor."

The system itself consists of a deck-mounted launch tube similar to the SLQ-49 "Rubber Duck" system phased out in the 1990s. Upon firing, the decoy automatically inflates on the surface beside the ship and floats freely past the stern to effectively counteract inbound threats. The advanced system offers increased defense capability against modern anti-ship missile threats, providing additional protection for the U.S. and its allies.

Ramage is the first ship to receive the Mk 59 installation, with additional surface combatants scheduled for the next five years.

"This installation proves one of the reasons why the U.S. Navy is still the most capable Navy in the world," said Cmdr. Dave Stoner, commanding officer aboard Ramage. "No other Navy can assemble a combined team of program office, public and private shipyard, technical experts and local workers along with a ship's crew and in just weeks accomplish a first ever installation on a forward-deployed ship. Our maintenance and logistics teams are strong and capable."

 
Vice Admiral Lawson Paterson Ramage (January 19, 1909 - April 15, 1990):

The ship honors the distinguished naval career of Vice Admiral Lawson Patterson Ramage, born January 19, 1909 in Monroe Bridge, Massachusetts. After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1931, he saw his first sea duty aboard destroyers and heavy cruisers.

After graduation from Submarine School in December 1935, VADM Ramage entered submarine service, serving in submarine S-29 and USS SANDS. He was assigned on the staff of Commander, Submarine Force Pacific, based in Pearl Harbor, during the attack on December 7, 1941. He made his first war patrol aboard USS GRENADIER in the spring of 1942, participating in the sinking of 24,000 tons of enemy shipping.

His first command was USS TROUT, which engaged in successful war patrols in the areas of Midway, Truk, the Solomons and the South China Sea. On August 28, 1942, Ramage intercepted a Japanese task group consisting of the light carrier TAIYO, plus cruisers and destroyers. Ramage closed TROUT to short range and fired five torpedoes at the carrier, scoring the first-ever hits on a Japanese carrier.

He assumed command of USS PARCHE (SS 384) in July 1943 and led her through four war patrols in the Southern Pacific Theater. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions during a pre-dawn attack by the PARCHE on a Japanese convoy on July 31, 1944.

Following the war, he commanded Submarine Division FIVE TWO. His duties from 1947 until 1956 included several positions including Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations.

After serving as Commander, Cruiser Division TWO and a variety of positions in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, he was designated Assistant Chief of Naval Operations in October 1960.

From August 1962 until July 1963, he was Deputy Commander of the Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet, after which he served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Fleet Readiness and Operations). In July 1964 he assumed command of First Fleet, during which time he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious service. In August 1966, he reported as Deputy Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet and Chief of Staff and Aide to the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet. In March 1967 he became the Commander in Chief of the Military Sea Transportation Service in Washington, D.C.

On April 1, 1970, VADM Ramage retired from Naval service. He died on April 15, 1990 at his home in Bethesda, Maryland.


Medal of Honor citation:
While conducting operations with USS STEELHEAD (SS 280) and USS HAMMERHEAD (SS 364) off the coast of Luzon, the group made contact with a large Japanese convoy. HAMMERHEAD attacked first but was unable to score any hits. Before dawn the next day (July 31, 1944), STEELHEAD and PARCHE made contact with the convoy and STEELHEAD scored several kills before having to disengage to reload torpedoes. Red Ramage saw his opportunity and took PARCHE into the middle of the convoy, engaging in a 46-minute running surface battle with the merchantmen and their escorts. Showing incredible poise and determination, Ramage cleared the bridge and took his boat among the ships, conducting high-speed evasions while firing salvo after salvo at the high value targets. He directed his crew to reload the torpedo tubes, something that was never previously done in combat. At one point, he passed within 50 feet of an enemy merchant, maneuvering violently to avoid collision while simultaneously firing three “down the throat” shots at the target. When he withdrew from the battle, PARCHE had fired nineteen torpedoes and scored hits on 5 ships. Postwar reconstruction credits him with sinking two and sharing credit for a third kill with STEELHEAD. For his heroic actions, CDR Ramage was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in January 1945.
 
lawson paterson ramage vice admiral us navy 02  lawson paterson ramage vice admiral us navy 03

lawson p. ramage vice admiral us navy 04  lawson paterson ramage vice admiral us navy 05 vadm
 
 
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ddg-61 uss ramage patch insignia crest destroyer us navy 02  ddg-61 uss ramage patch insignia crest destroyer us navy 03
  
 
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