USS Laboon
{{Short description|American guided-missile destroyer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = File:US Navy 100209-N-4774B-016 The guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) pulls alongside the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during a refueling-at-sea.jpg | Ship caption = USS Laboon on 9 February 2010 }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship country = United States | Ship flag = {{USN flag}} | Ship name = Laboon | Ship namesake = John Francis Laboon | Ship ordered = 13 December 1988 | Ship awarded = | Ship builder = Bath Iron Works | Ship original cost = | Ship laid down = 23 March 1992 | Ship launched = 20 February 1993 | Ship sponsor = | Ship christened = | Ship commissioned = 18 March 1995 | Ship recommissioned = | Ship decommissioned = | Ship renamed = | Ship reclassified = | Ship refit = | Ship struck = | Ship reinstated = | Ship homeport = Norfolk | Ship motto = Without Fear | Ship nickname = | Ship honors = | Ship identification = *{{MMSI Number|36690000}}
| Ship fate = | Ship status = {{Ship in active service}} | Ship notes = | Ship badge = 150px }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = {{sclass|Arleigh Burke|destroyer}} | Ship displacement = {{Arleigh Burke class destroyer displacement I}} | Ship length = {{Arleigh Burke class destroyer length I}} | Ship beam = {{Arleigh Burke class destroyer beam}} | Ship height = | Ship draft = {{Arleigh Burke class destroyer draft}} | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = {{Arleigh Burke class destroyer propulsion}} | Ship speed = {{Arleigh Burke class destroyer speed}} | Ship range = {{Arleigh Burke class destroyer range}} | Ship complement = {{Arleigh Burke class destroyer complement}} | Ship crew = | Ship time to activate = | Ship sensors = {{Arleigh Burke class destroyer sensors}} | Ship EW = {{Arleigh Burke class destroyer EW}} | Ship armament = {{Arleigh Burke class destroyer armament I}} | Ship aircraft = {{Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Flight I/II aircraft}} | Ship aircraft facilities = | Ship notes = }} |
USS Laboon (DDG-58) is an {{sclass|Arleigh Burke|destroyer|0}} (Flight I) Aegis guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy.
She is named for Father John Francis Laboon (1921–1988), a captain in the Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy, who was awarded the Silver Star during World War II while serving on the submarine {{USS|Peto|SS-265|6}}.
Laboon{{'s}} keel was laid down in 1992 at the Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine. She was launched in 1993, and commissioned in 1995.
Ship's history
File:US Navy 100415-N-1559J-051 Members of the visit, board, search and seizure team from of the guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) approach a target ship.jpg from the Laboon approach a target ship]]
Laboon{{'s}} keel was laid down on 23 March 1992 at the Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine. She was launched on 20 February 1993. Laboon was commissioned on 18 March 1995.
In late 1996, she fired Tomahawk missiles at targets in Iraq, thus becoming the first Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to engage in combat.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seaforces.org/usnships/ddg/DDG-58-USS-Laboon.htm|title=USS Laboon DDG-58 Arleigh Burke class Destroyer US Navy|website=www.seaforces.org}}
In 1998, Laboon took part in NATO Exercise Dynamic Response 98, together with {{USS|Wasp|LHD-1|6}}'s Amphibious Ready Group.{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/l/laboon-ddg-58/1998.pdf|title="1998 Composition and Organization of USS Laboon (DDG 58)"}}
On 12 September 2012, Laboon was ordered to the coast of Libya in what the Pentagon called a "contingency" in case a strike was ordered. This was in response to the 2012 diplomatic missions attacks.{{cite news | url=http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/12/us-moving-navy-destroyers-off-coast-of-libya | title=US moving Navy destroyers off coast of Libya | date=12 September 2012 | access-date=12 September 2012 | work=CNN | archive-date=8 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008000834/https://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/12/us-moving-navy-destroyers-off-coast-of-libya/ | url-status=dead }}
On 21 June 2015, Laboon entered the Black Sea along with the French ship {{ship|French ship|Dupuy de Lôme|A759|2}} as part of NATO's presence missions following the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation.{{cite web |url=http://news.usni.org/2015/06/22/destroyer-uss-laboon-french-surveillance-ship-enter-black-sea |title=Destroyer USS Laboon, French Surveillance Ship Enter Black Sea |last1=LaGrone |first1=Sam |date=22 June 2015 |publisher=USNI News |access-date=27 October 2015}} While in the Black Sea, Laboon participated in joint maneuvers with a Romanian Navy {{sclass|Rear-Admiral Eustațiu Sebastian|corvette}} for two days beginning on 22 June 2015.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}} On 27 June 2015, Laboon began a two-day visit to the Black Sea port of Batumi, Georgia, to participate in training with the Coast Guard of Georgia and offer tours of the ship.{{cite web |url=http://georgiatoday.ge/news/528/USS-Laboon-Missile-Destroyer-Visits-Georgia |title=USS Laboon Missile Destroyer Visits Georgia |date=2 July 2015 |publisher=Georgia Today |access-date=27 October 2015 |archive-date=17 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217030544/http://georgiatoday.ge/news/528/USS-Laboon-Missile-Destroyer-Visits-Georgia |url-status=dead }}
On 14 April 2018, she fired seven Tomahawk missiles from a position in the Red Sea as part of a bombing campaign in retaliation for the Syrian government's use of chemical weapons against people in Douma.{{Cite news|url=https://www.militarytimes.com/pentagon/2018/04/14/us-launched-105-weapons-against-syria-with-none-intercepted-dod-says/|title=Coalition launched 105 weapons against Syria, with none intercepted, DoD says|last1=Mehta|first1=Aaron|date=14 April 2018|work=Military Times|access-date=14 April 2018|last2=Copp|first2=Tara}}
=2023 Israel-Hamas war=
On 14 October 2023, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin directed {{USS|Dwight D. Eisenhower||2}} and her carrier strike group, which includes the cruiser {{USS|Philippine Sea|CG-58|2}}, along with Laboon, and sister-destroyers {{USS|Mason|DDG-87|2}} and {{USS|Gravely|DDG-107|2}}, to the eastern Mediterranean in response to the Gaza war.{{Cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/exclusive-us-send-2nd-aircraft-carrier-eastern-mediterranean/story?id=103984246 |title=Exclusive: US to send 2nd aircraft carrier to eastern Mediterranean |date=14 October 2023 |last1=Raddatz |first1=Martha |last2=Martinez |first2=Luis |work=ABC News |access-date=14 October 2023}} This was the second carrier strike group to be sent to the region in response to the conflict, following {{USS|Gerald R. Ford|CVN-78|2}} and her group, which was dispatched only six days earlier.{{Cite web |title=Statement From Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III on U.S. Force Posture Changes in the Middle E |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3551716/statement-from-secretary-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-us-force-posture-changes-in-the/|access-date=2023-10-08 |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}}
On 23 December 2023, while patrolling in the southern Red Sea, Laboon shot down four unmanned aerial attack drones that originated from areas controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and were inbound toward Laboon.{{Cite web|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/12/houthis-fire-more-ballistic-missiles-and-drones-in-the-red-sea/|title=Houthis fire more Ballistic Missiles and Drones in the Red Sea|work=Naval News|date=25 December 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/News/video/us-warship-shoots-4-drones-red-sea-centcom-105907655|title=Video US warship shoots down 4 drones in Red Sea: CENTCOM|website=ABC News|date=December 25, 2023}} On 26 December, Laboon shot down three anti-ship ballistic missiles in the Red Sea fired by Houthi rebels with multiple SM-6 missiles. This was the first intercept of a ballistic missile in combat.{{cite web|url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2023/12/26/navy-defends-against-17-houthi-attacks-red-sea-shipping-over-just-10-hour-period.html|title="Massive One-Day Barrage of Houthi Attacks on Shipping Fended Off by Navy Destroyer, Fighter"|first1=Konstantin|last1=Toropin|date=December 26, 2023}}
On 6 January 2024, Laboon shot down a Houthi drone in the Red Sea.{{cite news |last1=Stancy |first1=Diana |title=USS Laboon shoots down Red Sea air drone in 'self-defense' |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-navy/2024/01/08/uss-laboon-shoots-down-red-sea-air-drone-in-self-defense/ |access-date=12 April 2024 |publisher=Military Times |date=9 January 2024}} On 9 January, at approximately 9:15 p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthis launched a complex attack of Iranian designed one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles (OWA UAVs), anti-ship cruise missiles, and an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Southern Red Sea, towards international shipping lanes where dozens of merchant vessels were transiting. Eighteen OWA UAVs, two anti-ship cruise missiles, and one anti-ship ballistic missile were shot down by a combined effort of F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft from Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gravely, Laboon, Mason, and the United Kingdom’s {{HMS|Diamond|D34|6}}. This was the 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea since 19 November 2023. There were no injuries or damage reported.{{cite news |title=US CENTCOM Statement on 26th Houthi attack on commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea|url=https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/STATEMENTS/Statements-View/Article/3639970/us-centcom-statement-on-26th-houthi-attack-on-commercial-shipping-lanes-in-the/}} On 14 January, an anti-ship missile was fired in the direction of Laboon from a Houthi-controlled portion of Yemen, according to CENTCOM.{{cite news |last1=Gambrell |first1=Jon |title=Yemen Houthi rebels fire missile at US warship in Red Sea in first attack after American-led strikes|url=https://apnews.com/article/houthis-us-yemen-israel-palestinians-gaza-fa2aefc86ae002e73081e6ac1b772610 |access-date=14 January 2024 |website=AP News |publisher=Associated Press |date=14 January 2024}}
On 2 February 2024, Laboon and F/A-18 Super Hornets from Dwight D. Eisenhower shot down at least 12 drones launched by Houthis over the Red Sea.{{cite news |last1=Ziezulewicz |first1=Geoff |title=Navy destroyers and jets took out at least 12 Houthi drones Friday |publisher=Navy Times |date=3 February 2023}} On 6 February at 4:30 p.m., while patrolling in the Gulf of Aden, Laboon, operating near the cargo ship MV Star Nasia, intercepted and shot down an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by the Iranian-backed Houthis.{{cite news |title=Iranian-Backed Houthi Terrorists conduct Multiple Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile Attacks in the Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden|url=https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/3668425/iranian-backed-houthi-terrorists-conduct-multiple-anti-ship-ballistic-missile-a/}} On 20 February at 12:30 a.m., while operating in the Gulf of Aden, Laboon detected and shot down one anti-ship cruise missile fired by the Houthis.{{cite news |title=Feb. 19 and early morning Feb. 20 Red Sea Update |url=https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/3681040/feb-19-and-early-morning-feb-20-red-sea-update/ |access-date=12 April 2024 |publisher=U.S. Central Command |date=20 February 2024}}
Awards
- Combat Action Ribbon - (October 2023 - April 2024)
- Navy Unit Commendation - (2021 (IKE CSG), Oct-May 2024)
- Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award - (2012)
References
- {{Naval Vessel Register|{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DDG58}}}}
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons and category|USS Laboon (DDG-58)}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110917043537/http://www.laboon.navy.mil/ USS Laboon (official website)]
- {{navsource|05/01058}}
{{Arleigh Burke class destroyer}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Laboon (DDG-58)}}
Category:Arleigh Burke-class destroyers
Category:Destroyers of the United States