US Navy holds commissioning ceremony for destroyer USS Carl M. Levin.

According to information published by DVIDS on June 26, 2023, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120) was officially commissioned by the U.S. Navy in Baltimore. Following the commissioning, the ship is set to make its way to its home base at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii.
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Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carl M. Levin. (Picture source: Port of Baltimore)

The official christening of the ship with its title was on April 11, 2016, courtesy of Ray Mabus, the then-Secretary of the Navy. Fast forward a few years to October 2, 2021, when the ship was formally launched at Bath Iron Works' shipyard in Bath, Maine.

The Carl M. Levin distinguishes itself as the 42nd ship of the Flight IIA series, and the fifth vessel built with "technology insertion" (TI), featuring components from the upcoming Flight III series.

At full load, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Carl M. Levin displaces 9,300 long tons. The ship measures 509 feet (155 meters) in length, with a beam and draft of 66 feet (20 meters) and 31 feet (9.4 meters) respectively.

Propulsion is provided by four General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, delivering a total of 100,000 shp (75,000 kW), which allows the vessel to achieve speeds of up to 31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph). The ship is operated by a complement of 380 officers and enlisted personnel.

The destroyer comes equipped with a variety of armaments including a lightweight 5-inch gun, a 20 mm Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), two 25 mm Mk 38 machine guns, and four .50 caliber guns.

The destroyer's missile capabilities are substantial, thanks to a 32-cell and a 64-cell Mk 41 Vertical Launching System, capable of deploying an array of missiles like the RIM-66M, RIM-156, RIM-174A Standard ERAM, RIM-161 Anti-Ballistic Missile, quad-packed RIM-162 ESSM, BGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missile, and the RUM-139 Vertical Launch ASROC.

Torpedo capabilities include two Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes for firing Mark 46, Mark 50, and Mark 54 lightweight torpedoes. The ship is also equipped to carry two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, housed in a double hangar, with a dedicated helipad for operations.