The laying of the keel and its authentication signifies the start of hull integration, the pre-cursor to launch and sea trials
On May 20, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works celebrated the keel laying of the future USS Quentin Walsh (DDG 132). The U.S. Navy named the ship in honor of the Coast Guard captain, who received the Navy Cross for bravery and leadership during World War II.
Walsh and a small band of Seabees helped secure the Normandy port of Cherbourg following D-Day as a base to resupply the Allied invasion force. In taking the town, Walsh bluffed that he had a force of 800 men prepared to attack and he secured the surrender of 350 Germans and the release of 53 prisoners of war.
The ship’s sponsor is Madison Ann Zolper, Walsh’s great-granddaughter, who authenticated the keel by striking welding sparks into a keel plate bearing her initials. She was assisted by Eric Goldsmith, a welder with 18 years of experience at BIW.
“The keel-laying ceremony marks the coming together on Land Level of several large units which our shipbuilders have built to precise specifications in our production buildings,” said BIW President Charles F. Krugh. “When Quentin Walsh is launched and joins the fleet, it will be a powerful platform our Sailors can rely on to protect our country and our families.”
In addition to Quentin Walsh, Bath Iron Works currently has under construction the Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyers Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124) and Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127) as well as the Flight III destroyers Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), William Charette (DDG 130), John E. Kilmer (DDG 134) and Richard G. Lugar (DDG 136).
