USS Patrick Gallagher explained

USS Patrick Gallagher (DDG-127) is a planned United States Navy Flight IIA guided missile destroyer, the 77th overall for the class.^{[1] [2]} She will be named for Lance Corporal Patrick Gallagher (1944–1967), an Irish-born Marine who earned the Navy Cross during the Vietnam War.^{[3] [4]}

Unlike the previous two Arleigh Burke-class ships USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125) and USS Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG-126) which were inserted into the previous multi-year contract and are planned to be built in the Flight III configuration, Patrick Gallagher was separately added to Navy shipbuilding plans by Congress and will be built in the Flight IIA configuration.^{[5] [6]} Bath Iron Works was awarded the contract for Patrick Gallagher on 28 September 2017^[7] and construction started on 9 November 2018.^[8] On 30 March 2022, her keel was laid down at Bath Iron Works.

The ship was christened at Bath Iron Works shipyard on 27 July 2024. US Senator Susan Collins of Maine was in attendance.^[9] Outside the north gate, a group of around 75 protesters of the Israel-Hamas war were blocking roads, criminal trespass and dumping red liquid on the area in front of BIW's main building. Several were arrested.^[10]

Notes and References

1. Web site: [{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DDG127}} Gallagher (DDG 127) ]. . 13 March 2018.
2. SECNAV Names Newest Destroyer in Honor of U.S. Marine . U.S. Navy . NNS180312-11 . 12 March 2018 . 12 March 2018.
3. News: Navy Names Destroyer After Irish Marine Patrick Gallagher . LaGrone . Sam. 12 March 2018 . USNI News . . 13 March 2018.
4. Web site: US War Memorials - Gallagher, Patrick 'Bob'.
5. News: DDG-51 Program Preparing RFP For Next Multi-year Buy . Eckstein . Megan . 20 December 2017 . USNI News . . 13 March 2018.
6. Contracts . 28 September 2017 . CR-189-17 . U.S. Department of Defense . 13 March 2018 . "…and award of one fiscal 2016 ship (DDG 127) in the Flight IIA configuration.".
7. News: Bath Iron Works Awarded Second Flight III Destroyer In Two Ship Contract Modification . LaGrone . Sam . 28 September 2017 . USNI News . . 13 March 2018.
8. Construction Begins on Future USS Patrick Gallagher . United States Navy . NNS181113-08 . 13 November 2019 . 13 November 2018.
9. U.S. Navy to Christen Guided-Missile Destroyer Future USS Patrick Gallagher. United States Navy. 26 July 2024. 30 July 2024.
10. Web site: 2024-07-27 . Several protesters arrested during Bath Iron Works ship christening event . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240729091720/https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/crime/several-protesters-arrested-at-bath-iron-works-ship-christening-event-pro-palestine-protest/97-dc15f022-b99b-4316-9dec-26acb2468447 . 2024-07-29 . 2024-07-29 . newscentermaine.com . en-US.