USS Gonzalez

Gonzalez in the Atlantic, 2003

USS Gonzalez (DDG-66) is an Template:Sclass (Flight I) Aegis guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. She is named for Sergeant Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez, a Medal of Honor recipient in the Vietnam War.

Service history

November 12, 1996 Gonzalez grounded on a coral reef at approximately 0800, off the island of Sint Maarten, damaging her sonar dome and several blades on both screws, costing $10 million in damage returning to service September 1997.Template:Cn

The ship took part in Operation Allied Force, firing Tomahawk cruise missiles at Serbian targets in 1999. Gonzalez also assisted a cruise ship, Template:Ship, after an abortive attack by pirates off the coast of Somalia in 2005.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 1 March 2006, the ship rescued the crew of an Iranian ship, whose engine and rudder were broken down since 18 February. The Iranian crew were returned to Iran. She was involved in the action of 18 March 2006 with suspected pirates, along with the cruiser Template:USS. The two ships exchanged fire with the suspected pirates about Template:Convert off the coast of Somalia. Initial reports indicated that one suspected pirate was killed and five others wounded.

On 17 July 2006, CNN reported that Gonzalez would be deployed to help in evacuation efforts of American citizens from Lebanon in the midst of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In May 2022, Gonzalez was homeported out of Naval Station Norfolk and a part of Destroyer Squadron 28, along with Carrier Strike Group 8 led by the Template:USS.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Gallery

Gonzalez executing a high speed turn during builder's sea trials on 3 May 1996
Gonzalez fires a Tomahawk cruise missile during Operation Allied Force on 31 March 1999
Gonzalez steers right, 20 December 2005
Gonzalez in Souda Bay, 25 July 2008
Gonzalez at night, 16 November 2015
POV from Gonzalez's ship bridge as it transits the Atlantic Ocean, 20 November 2015
Stunning view of Gonzalez transiting the Indian Ocean, 29 January 2016
Aboard the Combat Information Center (CIC) of Gonzalez, 24 March 2016
Aboard the flight deck of Gonzalez, 26 May 2016
The Template:Ship underway with Gonzalez in the Atlantic Ocean on 17 May 2018
Gonzalez departs Naval Station Norfolk on 10 September 2018
The Template:Ship underway with Gonzalez on 28 June 2022