The flight deck unit of Thad Cochran (DDG 135) has been rotated into its final upright position and stacked onto the grand block, marking the final unit to stack for the ship. “The lift represents a tremendous amount of coordination across all trades,” said Dianna Genton, Hull General Superintendent. “The team has worked diligently to ensure the structure is ready for a safe rotation and stack to complete this milestone.” The unit will continue the outfitting work in the Stacking Hall prior to the erect of the grand block on the keel blocks. While the flight deck will ultimately support flight operations, the unit also houses several critical below-deck spaces, including equipment rooms, machinery spaces and the ship’s laundry.
“Every milestone builds on the last, and this one positions us to stack the flight deck and continue bringing the ship together,” said Chuck Mercer, General Ship Superintendent. “Seeing it safely rotated into its final position is a testament to the craftsmanship and coordination across multiple trades.”
ABOUT THE SHIP
DDG 135 is a Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer named in honor of U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, Mississippi’s second longest-serving member of Congress and a U.S. Navy ensign from 1959-1961. As DDG 135 continues to take shape, achievements like this remind us of how important our roles are to the nation, to this shipyard and to each other.