Jouett (DLG 29) - Naval Cruise Book

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.M|» »■■■«» CHRISTENING JUNE 30, 1964 Tradition has it that a sliip is merely a mass of metal and machinery until it is officially christened. With the time-honored breaking of a bottle of champagne across its bow, a ship is said to acquire a soul. Jouett ' s charming sponsor, Mrs. Sam Ervin, wife of the Honorable Sam J. Ervin, United States Senator from North Carolina, provided an admirable precedent for Jouett to follow. After introductory remarks by Secretary of the Navy Paul H. Nitze, and an address by Senator Ervin, Mrs. Ervin stepped for- ward to complete the tradition -steeped ceremony. Her first effort produced only a hollow clunk as the tlrick bottle ricocheted intact. Another swing, and the bottle made solid contact with Jouett ' s bow and champagne sprayed magnifi- cently. A cheer went up from the crowd, acclaiming Mrs. Ervin the heroine for proceeding undaunted in the face of perversity . 20

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COMMISSIONING 3 DECEMBER 1966 The commissioning ceremony marks the initiation of service of a ship in the operating forces of The United States Navy. At the moment of breaking her commis- sion pennant, USS JOUETT (DLG-29) becomes the responsibility of the commanding officer. He, together with the entire ship ' s company, then has the duty of making and keeping her constantly ready for any service demanded by our country in peace and war. In taking command of JOUETT, The Commanding Officer assumes responsibility for one of the finest fighting machines yet devised by man ' s ingenuity. JOUETT is significantly different from her recent predecessors in that her anti-air warfare capability has been improved with new radars and additional digital data control systems, and her anti-submarine capability enhanced with the newest and most power- ful bow mounted sonar. Displacing 7900 tons at full load, JOUETT is 547 feet in length and 55 feet in breadth. A 1200 psi steam propulsion plant with two engines developing 85,000 shaft horsepower can drive her at speeds in excess of 30 knots. The high streamlined bow and trim lines of the JOUETT will allow her to operate in the roughest of seas in company with fast carrier task forces. She is manned by 23 officers and over 400 en- listed men, and has complete facilities for a squadron commander and his staff. Although generations removed from the DD-41 and DD-396, the new JOUETT is of the same breed. Fast, versatile, and hard-hitting, she is equipped for whatever tasks the future might bring. 22