Эсминец «Салливанс» – история корабля и его экипажа.

Arleigh Burke class destroyer

USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) is an (Flight I) Aegis guided missile destroyer. She is the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the five Sullivan brothers–George, Francis, Joseph, Madison, and Albert Sullivan, aged 20 to 27–who died when their ship, Juneau, was sunk by a Japanese submarine in November 1942 in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. This was the greatest military loss by any one American family during World War II. The first ship named for the brothers was the The Sullivans, now a museum ship in Buffalo, New York.

The contract to build The Sullivans was awarded to Bath Iron Works Corporation in Bath, Maine on 8 April 1992 and her keel was laid down on 27 July 1994. She was launched on 12 August 1995 and sponsored by Kelly Ann Sullivan Loughren, granddaughter of Albert Sullivan. The ship was
commissioned on 19 April 1997, with Commander Gerard D. Roncolato in command. Upon her commissioning, the ship was given the motto that is thought to have been spoken by the brothers when asked to separate during World War II, "We Stick Together."

On 26 April 1997, The Sullivans departed New York City for Norfolk, Virginia, where, after arriving on 27 April, the crew completed underway replenishment qualifications with Platte. The warship then sailed for NS Mayport, Florida, on 29 April and arrived in her new homeport on 2 May.

While underway and sailing for Composite Unit Training Exercise 01 2 The Sullivans received word of the September 11 attacks. The Sullivans, as part of the John F. Kennedy Battle Group, took part in Operation Noble Eagle. The destroyer provided air space security along the mid Atlantic seaboard. In February 2002 The Sullivans deployed with the John F. Kennedy Carrier battle group to the Arabian Sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. On 17 August 2011, The Sullivans mistakenly fired on a fishing boat rather than a towed gunnery target during a gunnery exercise off North Carolina. As a result, Commander Mark Olson was relieved of his command. None of the inert shells hit the boat and there were no injuries as a result of the incident. On 7 May 2012, Commander Derick Armstrong was relieved of command after several female crew members alleged that he sexually harassed women aboard ship. On 18 August 2013, The Sullivans provided medical assistance to an ill mariner on board the merchant vessel MV Abir Alqaray No. 4, a Saudi Arabian flagged dhow, off the coast of Saudi Arabia. On 18 July 2015, a RIM 66 Standard missile test fired from The Sullivans exploded just after launch. No injuries were reported but a small fire occurred on deck. Malfunctions of solid fuel missiles in the U. S. Navy are extremely rare. In early November 2017, The Sullivans pulled into port in New York City, and its crew was given shore leave to celebrate Veterans' Day in the city.

On 14 September 2020, it was announced that The Sullivans would be part of 's Task Group for the GROUPEX and Joint Warrior exercises. On 19 January 2021, a declaration confirmed that The Sullivans would form part of the escort for HMS Queen Elizabeth during her first active deployment as part of the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group 21 in 2021.

The dark blue and gold, on the shield of the coat of arms, represent the sea and excellence. They are also the US Navy's traditional colors. Red is emblematic of courage and sacrifice. The five interlaced swords honor the five Sullivan brothers killed in action during World War II and commemorate their spirit of teamwork and patriotism. The upright points of the swords allude to the present ship's combat readiness and her missile system. The border reflects unity and the eleven stars represent the battle stars earned by the first The Sullivans; nine for World War II and two for the Korean War. The trident on the crest, a symbol of sea prowess, symbolizes DDG 68's modern warfare capabilities; the AEGIS and vertical launch system. The fireball underscores the Guadalcanal campaign where the five brothers were killed in action while serving on Juneau, and highlights the firepower of both past and present USS The Sullivans. The inverted wreath, a traditional symbol of the ultimate sacrifice, is also in memory of the Sullivan brothers. The shamrock recalls the Irish heritage. The arms, on the seal, are blazoned in full color upon a white oval enclosed by a dark blue collar edged on the outside with a gold rope and bearing the name "USS THE SULLIVANS" at the top and "DDG 68" in the base in gold.