USS Chung-Hoon
USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93) is an Arleigh Burke-class Aegis destroyer serving in the United States Navy (USN). Chung-Hoon was named in honor of Rear Admiral Gordon Pai'ea Chung-Hoon (1910–1979), recipient of the Navy Cross and the Silver Star. The contract to build her was awarded to Northrop Grumman Ship Systems on 6 March 1998, and her keel was laid down on 14 January 2002, at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Incorporated. She was launched on 11 January 2003, sponsored by Michelle Punana Chung-Hoon of Honolulu, Hawaii, Chung-Hoon's niece, and commissioned on 18 September 2004.[1] She is part of the Pacific Fleet and homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Service historyIn October 2005 while operating 360 nautical miles (670 km) northeast of Kahului, Chung-Hoon responded to a distress call from the bulk freighter C-Laurel. Chung-Hoon provided emergency medical care until the ship was within range of Coast Guard aircraft.[2][3] In September 2006 Chung-Hoon served as host ship to the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN) Luhu-class destroyer Qingdao during Qingdao's visit to Pearl Harbor.[4] The two ships conducted communications and mobility exercises on 10 September 2006. According to Xinhua News Agency, it was the first such exercise by USN and PLAN ships[5] and the first visit by a Chinese navy ship to a U.S. state in six years.[6] On 20 January 2009 Chung-Hoon departed Pearl Harbor for a scheduled deployment with the Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group.[7] On 8 March 2009 Chung-Hoon was escorting the surveillance vessel USNS Impeccable after the latter was involved in an incident with Chinese vessels in waters 75 miles (121 km) south of Hainan.[8] In 2010 the ship assisted the Philippine Navy in the Sulu Sea in operations against Islamic militants. After returning to Pearl Harbor, the ship redeployed to the western Pacific beginning on 1 June 2011.[9] The Republic of Singapore Navy ships RSS Vigour, RSS Stalwart and RSS Supreme conducted joint exercise CARAT 2011 with Chung-Hoon on 23 August 2011.[10] On 27 January 2016 the ship deployed on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment with the USS John C. Stennis Strike Group, the so-called Great Green Fleet.[11] On 5 January 2023 Chung-Hoon, while deployed to the U.S. Seventh Fleet sailed through the Taiwan Strait.[12][13] She then conducted underway training with BRP Conrado Yap of the Philippine Navy on 17 April 2023.[14] On 3 June 2023, People's Liberation Army Navy warship Suzhou cut across the bow of Chung-Hoon while it was transiting the Taiwan Strait together with HMCS Montréal; the closest point of approach was 150 yards (140 m).[15] On 6 August 2023, Chung-Hoon and three other destroyers responded to a joint Chinese-Russian patrol in international waters near Alaska. The Chinese-Russian flotilla left without incident.[16] Awards
In popular cultureIn the novel 2034, written by Eliiot Ackerman and Admiral James G. Stavridis, Chung-Hoon is one of two US ships sunk in a naval battle that sparks World War III.[19] References
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