WASHINGTON, DC (January 17, 2020) -- The United States Navy formally announced the name of it’s next Ford-class nuclear-powered supercarrier to be funded and built: USS Doris Miller (CVN 81).
The ship will honor Messman Third Class Doris Miller, USN....who received the Navy Cross for his heroism during the December 7, 1941 Imperial Japanese Navy attack on Pearl Harbor.
Petty Officer Miller effectively manned anti-aircraft guns -- for which he had had no training -- and tended to the many wounded. For his actions, he was recognized with the highest Naval Service honor. He was the first African-American to receive the Navy Cross.
Petty Officer Miller, nicknamed “Dorie” by his shipmates and friends, did not survive World War II. He lost his life at age 24 while serving aboard aircraft delivery ship USS Liscome Bay (ACV/CVE-56). His ship was sunk by the Japanese in November 1943 near the Gilbert Islands in the Pacific....with the loss of 644 crew members.
The brand-new supercarrier will be the second ship to bear his name....the first being the now-decommissioned frigate USS Miller (FF-1091).
Images at the top of this post: That’s Petty Officer Miller....as if eyeing the world’s most advanced warship that will soon bear his name....and to be inspired by his heroism and devotion to duty and mission.
(If you look real close, that’s actually an artists’s conception of sister-carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 80) pictured up top.....but USS Doris Miller (CVN 81) will look the same. The artists haven’t had a chance to picture the ship yet.)
USS Doris Miller (CVN 81) is now funded....scheduled to begin construction in 2023....launched in 2028....and commissioned in 2030. The warship will join the Fleet soon thereafter as the most advanced and lethal warship ever built by man.
Yeah....the best of the best....all around!
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>>Note: For perspective, the status of the rest of the Ford-class supercarriers so far:
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) -- in commission....undergoing testing and evaluation of her state-of-the-art mechanical, electronic and digital systems at sea....expected to be ready for full active-duty in the next year or so.
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 80) conducting high-speed maneuvering tests recently.
USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) -- under construction; to be commissioned in late 2020; should be ready to join the Fleet around 2023.
USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) touched water for the first time recently.
USS Enterprise (CVN 80) -- just beginning construction in 2020....expected to be ready for Fleet duty by 2027.
Artist’s conception of the upcoming USS Enterprise (CVN 80).
USS Doris MIller (CVN 81) -- (you know the story from above)
[Not yet named] (CVN 82)....joining the Fleet in the mid-2030s.
