BATH, Maine — Bath Iron Works on Thursday showcased its latest destroyer for the Navy ahead of officially handing over the keys.
The USS John Basilone (DDG 122) completed "acceptance trials" with a BIW crew, demonstrating how the ship works to Navy officials on the Kennebec River.
“John Basilone is a remarkable ship that embodies the skill and dedication of the thousands of shipbuilders who created it,” General Dynamics Bath Iron Works President Charles Krugh said in a statement. “We take great pride in delivering a ship that will contribute to our nation’s defense and continue to demonstrate that Bath Built is Best Built.”
The BIW crew demonstrated the more than $2 billion ship's hull, mechanical, and electrical systems, which the shipyard said performed without problems.
The ship, the 12th under construction at the shipyard, is named after Medal of Honor recipient Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone, a hero in the defense of Henderson Field in Guadalcanal in World War II and who received the Navy Cross for bravery at Iwo Jima.
