Search the Site with
|
Search the Site with
|
General Characteristics Crew List Memorabilia About the Ship's Name Image Gallery to end of page |  |  |
USS FRANK E. PETERSEN JR. is one of the ARLEIGH BURKE Flight IIA guided missile destroyers and the first ship in the Navy named after US Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Frank E. Petersen, Jr., who was the first Black US Marine Corps aviator and the first Black Marine to become a three-star general.
| General Characteristics: | Awarded: June 3, 2013 |
| Keel laid: February 21, 2017 | |
| Launched: July 13, 2018 | |
| Commissioned: May 14, 2022 | |
| Builder: Northrop Grumman Ship Systems' Ingalls Operations, Pascagoula, Miss. | |
| Propulsion system: four General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine engines | |
| Propellers: two | |
| Length: 508,5 feet (155 meters) | |
| Beam: 67 feet (20.4 meters) | |
| Draft: 30.5 feet (9.3 meters) | |
| Displacement: approx. 9,200 tons full load | |
| Speed: 32 knots | |
| Aircraft: two | |
| Armament: one | |
| Homeport: Pearl Harbor, Hi. | |
| Crew: approx. 320 |
back to top go to the end of the pageback to top go to the end of the pageCrew List:
This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS FRANK E. PETERSEN JR. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.
back to top go to the end of the pageback to top go to the end of the pageAbout the Ship's Name:
Frank E. Petersen, Jr. was born 2 March 1932, in Topeka, Kansas. He joined the US Navy as a seaman apprentice in June 1950. He served as an electronics technician and in 1951 entered the Naval Aviation Cadet Program. In October 1952, he completed flight training and accepted a commission as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps.
His first tactical assignment was with Marine Fighter Squadron 212 during the Korean conflict. He commanded a Marine Fighter Squadron, a Marine Aircraft Group, a Marine Amphibious Brigade and a Marine Aircraft Wing. General Petersen served two combat tours, Korea in 1953 and Vietnam in 1968. He flew in excess of 350 combat missions, and had over 4,000 hours in various fighter/attack aircraft.
He received his bachelor's degree in 1967 and his master's degree in 1973, both from George Washington University, Washington, D.C. In 1987 he was the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Law degree granted by Virginia Union University. In addition he also attended the following service schools: the Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, Virginia; the Aviation Safety Officers Course at the University of Southern California; and the National War College, Washington, D.C., class of 1973.
In February 1979 he was selected for promotion to brigadier general, and in May 1983 was advanced to the rank of major general. He was promoted to lieutenant general on 12 June 1986.
His numerous decorations include: the Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit with Combat "V", Distinguished Flying Cross; Purple Heart; Meritorious Service Medal; Air Medal; Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
At the time of his retirement he was by date of aviator designation the senior ranking aviator in the US Marine Corps and the US Navy with respective titles of "Silver Hawk" and "Grey Eagle". His date of designation as an aviator also precedes all other aviators in the US Air Force and Army.
Lieutenant General Petersen relinquished duties as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, Virginia, on 8 July 1988. He served as the Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff from 8 July 1988 until 31 July, and retired from the Marine Corps on 1 August 1988. LtGen Petersen passed away on 25 August 2015 at the age of 83.
back to top go to the end of the pageUSS FRANK E. PETERSEN JR. Image Gallery:
The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the FRANK E. PETERSEN JR. under construction at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems' Ingalls Operations, Pascagoula, Miss., on October 17, 2019.
 |
back to top
Back to Destroyers list. Back to ships list. Back to selection page. Back to 1st page.