The USS Barry is in Malta to mark the 100th anniversary of the naval voyage of “The Great White Fleet”.
The USS Barry is the fourth destroyer to bear the name and is under the command of Commander Douglas L Edson. The Great White Fleet was the popular nickname for the battle fleet that completed a circumnavigation of the globe from16 December 1907 to 22 February 1909 by order of US President Theodore Roosevelt. It consisted of four squadrons of four battleships each, with their escorts. Roosevelt sought to demonstrate growing American military and naval capability.
The fourth Barry (DDG 52) was launched on 10 May 1991 by Ingalls Shipbuilding Inc. and was commissioned into the US Atlantic Fleet on 12 December 1992, being placed under the command of Commander Gary Roughead. The Commissioning ceremony took place at Naval Station Pascagoula in Mississippi.
In November 1993, Barry received orders to proceed to Haiti to take part in Operation Support Democracy.
On 20 May 1994, Barry departed Norfolk, Virginia on her first Mediterranean deployment. During Barry’s maiden deployment, she served alongside the USS George Washington as the backdrop for the 50th anniversary of D-Day. Barry also sailed the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas as “Red Crown” in support of the No-Fly Zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
On 7 October 1994, Barry received orders to proceed to the Persian Gulf in response to Iraq’s massing of troops on the Kuwaiti border. In what would become known as Operation Vigilant Warrior, Barry’s participation included escort of both the George Washington and an amphibious assault group to anchorage off Kuwait City. Barry also served as alternate Persian Gulf Anti-Air Warfare Coordinator (AAWC), and principal Tomahawk strike platform during the crisis. Barry received a Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, and the NATO Medal for her actions during the deployment and returned home to Norfolk, Virginia on 17 November 1994.
In October of 2004, Barry departed for the Persian Gulf in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom as part of the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Carrier Strike Group. This deployment was part of Summer Pulse 2004, the simultaneous deployment of seven aircraft carrier strike groups (CSGs) which demonstrated the ability of the Navy to provide credible combat power across the globe within five theaters and with other US, allied, and coalition military forces. Summer Pulse was the Navy’s first deployment under its new Fleet Response Plan (FRP). During this deployment, Barry also participated in Somalia Operations in the Horn of Africa (HOA). Barry returned from this deployment in March of 2005.
In May of 2006, Barry deployed to West Africa and the Mediterranean Sea as an independently steaming unit. She participated in a port visit in Nigeria, as well as Joint Task Force Lebanon. Barry returned from this cruise in November of 2006.
During April and May of 2008, Barry participated in Exercise Joint Warrior 08-01 in the North Atlantic. This was a multi-lateral NATO exercise involving ships from over eight countries. Barry departed for a Mediterranean Sea/Persian Gulf deployment as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) in August of 2008.
Barry has received many awards, including the Battenberg Cup for the years 1994, 1996, and 1998, earning her the nickname “Battenberg Barry” in the late 1990s. She has also been awarded the Battle E award 4 times, and received the Golden Anchor and Silver Anchor Awards for retention. More recently, in 2004 the Barry received the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy for being the most improved ship in the Atlantic Fleet.