DDG 117 launched

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Ingalls Shipbuilding launched Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), the company’s 31st Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) guided-missile destroyer, on Nov. 12. , the company said in a nced in a Nov. 16 release. Paul Ignatius was moved via Ingalls’ rail car system to a floating dry dock. Once on the dry dock it was moved away from the pier and ballasted to float the ship. Ingalls has delivered 28 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the U.S. Navy. Other destroyers currently under construction at Ingalls include John Finn (DDG 113), Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) and Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121). Construction on Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123) is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2017. (Source: HII, 11/16/16)