USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, has successfully completed testing of its MK45 Mod 2 5in anti-surface warfare gun.
During the testing, conducted as part of its final pre-deployment evaluation with the George H.W. Bush Strike Group, sailors test fired five 54-calibre rounds into open waters to evaluate the capability of the on-board weapons system for future test scenarios.
The MK45 fully-automatic naval gun, which was developed to be lighter and more easily maintained than its predecessor, the MK42, can be deployed to strike against surface, air and land-based targets.
Gunner Mate 3rd Class Ashlie Umbarger said, "If we are going to be out and participating in these real-world inspired simulated events to prepare for deployment, we need to make sure our equipment is in top working order, especially our weapons."
The vessel is currently operating in a simulated training environment with the George H.W. Bush Strike Group.
Designed to provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities, the Arleigh Burke-class vessel can operate independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, amphibious ready groups, and underway replenishment groups.
The Bath Iron Works and Huntington Ingalls Industries-built multi-mission vessels have been designed to support missions including anti-air warfare (AAW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and anti-surface warfare (ASUW).
Capable of accommodating a crew of 276, the ships are armed with standard missile (SM-2MR), vertical launch ASROC (VLA) missiles, Tomahawk, six MK-46 torpedoes, close in weapon system (CIWS) in addition to the MK45 guns.
The pre-deployment evaluation aims to achieve mission readiness as well as the ability to work alongside international allies in compliance with the US Navy’s maritime strategy.
Image: USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) in the Suez Canal. Photo: US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Katrina Parker/Released.
