View source for USS Carl M. Levin

{{Short description|US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = The christening ceremony of future USS Carl M. Levin (DDG-120).jpg
| Ship caption = USS ''Carl M. Levin'' at her christening ceremony on 2 October 2021
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = United States
| Ship flag = {{USN flag}}
| Ship name = ''Carl M. Levin''
| Ship owner = 
| Ship namesake = [[Carl Levin]]
| Ship ordered = 14 March 2014
| Ship builder = [[Bath Iron Works]]
| Ship laid down = 1 February 2019<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=108501|title=Keel Laid for Future USS Carl M. Levin|publisher=United States Navy|id=NNS190202-03|date=2 February 2019|access-date=2 February 2019}}</ref>
| Ship launched = 16 May 2021<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/05/bath-iron-works-launched-future-uss-carl-m-levin-ddg-120/|title=Bath Iron Works Launched Future USS Carl M Levin (DDG 120)|publisher=Naval News|date=20 May 2021|access-date=18 June 2021}}</ref>
| Ship sponsor = *Kate Levin Markel
*Laura Levin
*Erica Levin
| Ship christened = 2 October 2021<ref name="christened">{{cite press release|url=https://gdbiw.com/general-dynamics-bath-iron-works-christens-future-uss-carl-m-levin/|title=General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Christens Future USS Carl M. Levin|publisher=Bath Iron Works|date=2 October 2021|access-date=3 October 2021}}</ref>
| Ship acquired = 26 January 2023<ref name="delivered">{{cite press release|url=https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/3280002/navy-accepts-delivery-of-future-uss-carl-levin/|title=Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Carl Levin|publisher=United States Navy|date=27 January 2023|access-date=27 January 2023}}</ref>
| Ship commissioned = 24 June 2023<ref name="commissioned">{{cite press release|url=https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/Media/News/Article/3439317/uss-carl-m-levin-commissions-in-baltimore/|title=USS Carl M. Levin Commissions in Baltimore|publisher=SurfPac|date=24 June 2023|access-date=24 June 2023}}</ref>
| Ship homeport = [[Naval Station Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor]]
| Ship decommissioned = 
| Ship motto = ''Tenacious in the Fight''
| Ship struck = 
| Ship identification = [[Hull number]] DDG-120
| Ship honors = 
| Ship fate = 
| Ship status = In active service
| Ship notes = 
| Ship badge = [[File:USS Carl M. Levin (DDG-120) Crest.png|150px]]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = {{sclass|Arleigh Burke|destroyer}}
| Ship displacement = 9,300 long tons (full load)<ref name=FAS.org>{{cite web |url=https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/ddg-51.htm |title=DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class |work=[[Federation of American Scientists]] |publisher=FAS.org |date= 2 November 2016 |access-date=9 June 2021}}</ref>
| Ship length = {{Convert|509|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name=FAS.org/>
| Ship beam = {{Convert|66|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name=FAS.org/>
| Ship draft = {{Convert|31|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2169871/destroyers-ddg-51/ | title=Destroyers (DDG 51) }}</ref>
| Ship propulsion = 4 × [[General Electric LM2500]] [[gas turbine]]s {{convert|100000|shp|abbr=on}}<ref name=FAS.org/>
| Ship speed = {{Convert|31|kn}}<ref name=FAS.org/>
| Ship range = 
| Ship complement = 380 officers and enlisted
| Ship sensors = 
| Ship EW = 
| Ship armament = {{Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Flight IIA/III armament}}
| Ship aircraft = {{Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Flight IIA/III aircraft}}
| Ship aircraft facilities = [[hangar|Double hangar]] and [[helipad]]
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

'''USS ''Carl M. Levin'' (DDG-120)''' is a [[United States Navy]] {{sclass|Arleigh Burke|destroyer|0}} Flight IIA [[guided missile destroyer]], the 70th overall for the class. The ship is named for [[Carl Levin]], a former [[United States Senator]] and [[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services#Chairmen|Chairman]] of the [[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services]].<ref name="NNS Secretary Names Destroyer">{{cite press release|url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=94003|title=Secretary Mabus Names Next Destroyer Carl M. Levin|publisher=United States Navy|id=NNS160411-12|date=11 April 2016|access-date=25 August 2016}}</ref>

== Construction and career ==
The contract for the ship, along with the name, was first announced in a press release from [[General Dynamics]], parent company of [[Bath Iron Works]], on 31 March 2016.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.gd.com/news/press-releases/2016/03/navy-awards-general-dynamics-bath-iron-works-644-million-construction|title=DDG 120 contract awarded to GD/BIW |publisher=[[General Dynamics]] |date=31 March 2016 |access-date=17 December 2017}}</ref>  The official designation of DDG-120 as ''Carl M. Levin'' by [[Secretary of the Navy]] [[Ray Mabus]] was announced on 11 April 2016.<ref name="NNS Secretary Names Destroyer"/>

On 2 October 2021, ''Carl M. Levin'' was [[Ship christening|christened]] at the Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine. She is the 42nd Flight IIA ship, and the fifth of the "technology insertion" (TI) builds with elements of the follow-on Flight III series. She is fitted with the [[Aegis Combat System]] baseline 9 which includes integrated air and missile defense capability.<ref>{{cite news|last=GDC|date=2021-10-06|title=U.S. Navy Christened 70th Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer|url=https://www.globaldefensecorp.com/2021/10/07/u-s-navy-christened-70th-arleigh-burke-class-destroyer/|access-date=2021-10-07|website=Global Defense Corp}}</ref>

''Carl M. Levin'' completed her sea trials on 9 December 2022<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.usni.org/2022/12/12/destroyer-carl-m-levin-completes-acceptance-trials|title=Destroyer Carl M. Levin Completes Acceptance Trials|publisher=USNI News|last=Mongilio|first=Heather|date=12 December 2022|access-date=17 December 2022}}</ref> and delivered to the United States Navy on 26 January 2023.<ref name="delivered"/>

On 24 June 2023, the ship was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] in Baltimore, Maryland.<ref name="commissioned"/>

== Ship's Seal ==
'''Seal:''' The coat of arms as blazoned in full color on a white oval, enclosed by a dark blue border edged on the outside with a gold rope and inscribed “'''USS ''CARL M. LEVIN'''''” above and “'''DDG 120'''” below in gold.<ref name="US Army">{{cite web |title=Coat of Arms |url=https://tioh.army.mil/Catalog/HeraldryMulti.aspx?CategoryId=10750&grp=5&menu=Uniformed+Services |website=tioh.army.mil |publisher=Institute of Heraldry, US Army |access-date=27 October 2021}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

=== Blazon ===
'''Shield:''' Gules, three pales Argent between two square flaunches Azure (Dark Blue) bearing six six-pointed mullets, three and three Argent (Silver Gray).<ref name="US Army"/>

'''Crest:''' From a wreath Argent and Azure a bald eagle crouched wings inverted Proper, clutching in dexter claw a Senate gavel Proper and in sinister claw a sword fesswise Proper; in chief radiant light Or surmounted by a Phrygian cap Gules, banded of the second and inscribed “LIBERTY” of the first.<ref name="US Army"/>

'''Supporters:''' Saltirewise a United States Navy Officer’s sword and Chief Petty Officer’s cutlass saltirewise, points downward.<ref name="US Army"/>

'''Motto:''' A tri-parted scroll Gules doubled Argent inscribed “'''TENACIOUS IN THE FIGHT'''” of the last.<ref name="US Army"/>

=== Symbolism===
'''Shield:''' The hourglass shaped division of the field resembles the shape of the historic Senate gavel, implying Mr. Levin’s service as a United States Senator. The six six-pointed stars honor Mr. Levin’s 36 years in the Senate. The seven vertical stripes over a blue field denote USS ''CARL M. LEVIN'' (DDG 120) as the 70th ship in its class. The national colors of the United States are Red, White and Blue.<ref name="US Army"/>

'''Crest:''' The bald eagle, embodying the spirit of the United States, emphasizes the nation’s virtues of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The sword and Senate gavel allude to Mr. Levin’s service as a Senator and position of Chairman of the Armed Services Committee. The Phrygian (Liberty) cap amongst the radiant light conveys Mr. Levin’s work to protect the Great Lakes and their many lighthouses along Michigan’s coastline. The Liberty cap, adapted from the United States Senate Seal, conveys the paramount nature of America’s ethics and values, emphasized by the golden radiant light. Additionally, the eagle is featured on the coat of arms of the State of Michigan, in tribute to Mr. Levin’s home state.<ref name="US Army"/>

'''Supporters:''' The Navy Officer sword and enlisted cutlass pay tribute to the command and crew, representing authority, professionalism and unity in the accomplishment of their mission.<ref name="US Army"/>

'''Motto:''' The motto, “'''TENACIOUS IN THE FIGHT''',” expresses the steadfast and determined motivation of the command and crew to triumph over adversity.<ref name="US Army"/>

== References ==
{{reflist}}
*{{Naval Vessel Register|{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=DDG120}}}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|USS Carl M. Levin (DDG-120)}}
*[https://www.seaforces.org/usnships/ddg/DDG-120-USS-Carl-M-Levin.htm DDG 120 - USS Carl M. Levin]

*[https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/ddg-120/ USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120)]

{{Arleigh Burke class destroyer}}

{{DISPLAYTITLE:USS ''Carl M. Levin''}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carl M. Levin}}
[[Category:2021 ships]]
[[Category:Arleigh Burke-class destroyers]]