US Navy Has Christened The Future USS William Charette.

Maine/Washington DC; August 2026: The US Navy today (Saturday – 01st August 2026) has christened the future USS William Charette (DDG 130), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, at the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.

The acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao in his principal address has said: “Serving as the shield of the Fleet, protecting the Carrier Strike Group from air and missile threats and maintaining open sea lanes for maritime commerce, this premier surface combatant will be a cornerstone of America’s new Golden Fleet. But this warship will carry more than just advanced technology, she will also set sail bearing the legacy of Master Chief Petty Officer William Charette, whose heroic actions represent the very best of our naval service. His spirit of self-sacrifice is now permanently woven into the steel of this warship, becoming a part of the ship’s culture and soul as she sails forth to defend our homeland”.

Additional speakers included the Honourable Janet Mills, Governor of Maine; the Honourable Susan Collins, US Senator, Maine; the Honourable Angus King, US Senator, Maine; Rear Admiral Matthew Case, Acting US Navy Surgeon General and Acting Chief of the US Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery; Col. Harvey C. Barnum, Junior, Medal of Honour Recipient; Michael Charette, son of the ship’s namesake; and Charles F. Krugh, President of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works.

In a time-honoured tradition, ship sponsor, Kathryn Charette Donovan, daughter of the namesake, did the honour of christening the ship by breaking bottles of sparkling wine across the bow on behalf of her sisters and co-sponsors, Margaret Ann Henderson and Laura Charette Bennett, who were unable to attend the ceremony. Ms. Donovan was accompanied by the Maid and Matron of Honour, Michelle Charette and Sara Charette Wright, granddaughters of the namesake.

DDG 130 is named in honour of Korean War veteran and Medal of Honour recipient Master Chief Hospital Corpsman William Richard Charette. While serving with a Marine rifle company during a fierce battle for Outpost Vegas on March 27, 1953, Charette repeatedly exposed himself to heavy enemy fire to aid wounded Marines. When an enemy grenade landed near him and a casualty he was treating, Charette threw himself over the Marine to shield him from the blast. Despite being knocked unconscious, suffering shrapnel wounds, and losing his medical kit, he awoke and continued treating casualties, tearing his own uniform to use as bandages.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are the backbone of the US Navy’s surface fleet, providing protection to America around the globe. These highly capable, multi-mission ships conduct various operations from peacetime presence to national security and provide a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface, and subsurface domains. These elements of sea power enable the Navy to defend American prosperity and prevent future conflict abroad.

The christening of DDG 130 underscores the Navy’s commitment to building America’s Golden Fleet. For 250 years, American naval power has projected strength globally, operating forward 24/7, 365 days a year. This operational tempo demands continuous capability, and the Fleet of the future is our answer.

USS WILLIAM CHARETTE: DDG 130 –

Keel Laid: August 29, 2024

Christened: August 01, 2026

Commissioned: 2028

Builder: General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine;

Propulsion system: 4 – LM2500 GE Marine Gas Turbines;

Propellers: 02;

Length, overall: 509.5 – 513.0 feet;

Beam: Max 66 feet;

Draft: 31 feet;

Displacement: 9,192-9,217 tons full load;

Speed: 31 knots;

Aircraft: 02 SH-60B/R/F (LAMPS MK III) helicopters

Armament:

• 1 MK-45 MOD 4 5″/62 calibre lightweight gun;
• 1 MK-15 20mm Phalanx CIWS;
• 2 MK-38 MOD 2 25mm Machine Gun System (MGS);
• 2 MK-41 VLS (96 cells) for Standard Missiles, Anti-Submarine Rocket (ASROC), Tomahawk ASM/LAM and RIM-162 ESSM;
• 2 MK-32 MOD 15 triple torpedo tubes (six MK 50/46 MOD 5A Torpedoes).

Team Maverick.