"laid anchor at New York City's Pier 88..."

Navy seems to have changed quite a bit since I was in. We used to just "tie up" to piers.

Some of the comments following the article are disgusting. I have read the story of Michael Murphy and it is above and beyond.

Notice the inclined surfaces, which war designed to scatter radar.

Moving tribute and photos, thanks to BI.

This is a large, modern, highly-capable ship. Far, far larger than a WWII destroyer, it's more the size of a WWII light cruiser, but with more firepower reaching over a far greater range. The vertical launch cells can be loaded with a variety of versions of the Standard Missile [[that's its name], some of which can take out orbiting satellites.

She's sitting at about her normal maximum draft, suggesting the "barge" [a fuel-carrying "lighter"] has topped her off. The lighter sits high. The one pennant on display [yellow and blue] indicates "I wish to communicate with you."

FTA: an effort to call for aid for his men and himself after being ambushed by over 50 anti-coalition militia fighters in Afghanistan.

What, can't spell "Islamic terrorists"? Or "unlawful combatants"?

FTA: While ships are usually named for cities or states...

Don't know the subject? Three choices: a. find someone who does; b. research it carefully; or c. shut up. "Naming conventions" [the proper term, BTW] follow ship's class. US Navy ships are not randomly named for cities, states, battles, or individuals.

FTA: ... or famous and notable Americans, this ship was named after Murphy because of the bravery and commitment to others he displayed in the 2005 mission.

So you're saying LT Murphy isn't "notable"? Really?

Find the best photos at
http://www.navy.mil/view_photos_top.asp

There are several pages of photos from the ceremony already up.

Go here for a fine photo of her sailing past the Statue of Liberty, flying a very large US flag. http://tinyurl.com/9xumfeb

That photo shows quite a bit of oil-canning of her hull plates, and the much-greater masking of her stacks against infrared detection compared to early Arleigh Burkes.

#3 is correct. That feature also appears in the above-referenced photo. Modern ship designs incorporate many features to reduce detectability, as I also note above.

#4: There's a second "BI" involved, actually BIW, the builder, Bath Iron Works, in Bath, Maine. Only Northrop-Grumman in Norfolk builds our nuclear-powered carriers.

Fair winds and following seas to the USS MURPHY and crew. God bless.

I was on the commissioning crew for the USS Topeka, CLG-8 and I think this one is smaller but not by much. A great looking ship.

Fair winds and following seas. May you never have to fire your weapons in conflict but if you do, may your aim be sure.

This is great and thank you Navy for not naming this ship after a politician.

Good looking, effective ship class to be sure.

Fair winds, following seas to her crew.

Semper Paratus

I proudly served on 3 of the flight 1 versions of these mighty warships. one during a time of war. This is how you name a United States Ship. You don't name it after some putz politician or a dipstick liberal activist. You name it after one of America's finest. Some of the comments after the article are pathetic but that's what you get when birdbrained liberals and people who have NO IDEA what it takes to serve in the Navy or in any branch of the armed forces. Fair Winds and Following Seas to the crew of the USS Michael Murphy DDG 112. This ship is in a long line of deadly beauties. Go Navy!

There was no mention of the LtMM's sponsor. I hope that honor went to Mrs. Murphy.

For those who do not know the "sponsor" of a ship is usually the woman who gets to smash the champagne bottle on the vessel's prow at its christening--which happens at its launching which would have occurred before the commissioning. If it was Lt. Murphy's mom it would have been a nice touch to make mention in the article.

Great pics of a fine vessel.

BTW, are the legends re: right rudder and left rudder embossed on the wheel to aid any female who might be the helmsperson. ;-)

Also, it looks like the Chief QM has a Purple Heart with Oak Leaf clusters = 2 combat injuries.

#8: Thank you for your service, and congratulations, Plankowner. My daughter, a nuc MM, is a Plankowner on CVN-77. That ball cap with Plankowner embroidered on the back is some memento.

#10: These hulls are designed to maintain speed [that is, not have to slow greatly] even in rougher sea-states. The hull shape of the Arleigh Burkes and the Ticonderogas are quite similar.

#11: Congratulations, thanks for your service, and for the post. For those not familiar, all ships of the class can operate helicopters. Flight Is don't have hangers. Flight IIs and IIAs do. The difference is apparent.

#12: Agreed. Yes, Michael's mother, Maureen, is the sponsor, and was at the commissioning. Good photos at Navy.mil, a great, great website, great resource, all images released for use.

God bless and keep the USS Michael Murphy and her crew.

I was blessed with seeing the USS Sullivans and her crew. I wanted to cry!! I've known of the Sullivans' and their sacrifice since I was a child, have seen the movie "The Fighting Sullivans" (if I recall the name correctly) several times. It's some years since I saw it last.

I concur with others here on naming our members of our fleet according to those who have shown honor and bravery in combat.

Thanks for the memories. I had the great honor of being a plankowner (at 17 yrs old, the youngest)of the USS Lynde McCormick DDG-8, 51 years ago. Named after another Navy Hero and former Chief Of Naval Operations.

I can appreciate how honored this commissioning feels upon this great occasion and how humbled I feel to have been in the fore of this great class of beautiful ships, the Guided Missle Deystroyer (DDG).