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General Characteristics

Crew List

Memorabilia

History

About the Ship's Name

About the Ship's Coat of Arms

Image Gallery

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USS Donald Cook (DDG 75)

USS DONALD COOK is the 25th ship in the Navy's ARLEIGH BURKE - class of Guided Missile Destroyers and the first ship in the Navy named after US Marine Corps Colonel Donald Cook. In February 2014, the DONALD COOK shifted her homeport from Norfolk, Va., to Rota, Spain., where she remained for the following 7 years. In mid-July 2021, DONALD COOK shifted her homeport to Mayport, Fla.

General Characteristics:	Keel Laid: July 7, 1996
	Launched: May 3, 1997
	Commissioned: December 4, 1998
	Builder: Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
	Propulsion system: four General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine engines
	Propellers: two
	Blades on each Propeller: five
	Length: 505,25 feet (154 meters)
	Beam: 67 feet (20.4 meters)
	Draft: 30,5 feet (9.3 meters)
	Displacement: approx. 8.300 tons full load
	Speed: 30+ knots
	Aircraft: None. But LAMPS 3 electronics installed on landing deck for coordinated DDG/helicopter ASW operations.
	Armament: two MK 41 VLS for Standard missiles, Tomahawk; Harpoon missile launchers, one Mk 45 5-inch/54 caliber lightweight gun, two Phalanx CIWS, Mk 46 torpedoes (from two triple tube mounts)
	Homeport: Mayport, Fla.
	Crew: 23 Officers, 24 Chief Petty Officers and 291 Enlisted

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS DONALD COOK. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

Click here to view the list.

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Click here to see which USS DONALD COOK memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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History of USS DONALD COOK:

Date	Event
May 3, 1997	Ship Launch
July 11, 1997	Ship Tow to Portland for Sonar Dome
August 16, 1997	Ship Tow back to BIW after Dome install
January 9, 1998	AEGIS Light Off (ALO)
April 4, 1998	Maine Engine Light Off (MELO)
June 29, 1998	Combined A/B Shipyard Trials
July 14, 1998	Navy Acceptance Trials Charlie
August 1998	Receipt of Homeport Certificate
August 21, 1998	Ships Custody Transfer (SCT) / This commences ship move aboard
November 16, 1998	Sailaway (from BIW)
December 4, 1998	Commissioning in Philadelphia, Pa.
August 20, 1999	Post Shakedown Availability (PSA) in Portland, Maine
June 2000	Departed on its maiden deployment to the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf as part of the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) Battle Group.
October 2000	Provided support for sister ship COLE (DDG 67) after she was attacked by terrorists in Aden, Yemen.
December 2000	Returned to Norfolk, Va.
August 2001	Participation in the Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) for the THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) Battle Group in the US Atlantic Fleet Operating Areas along the Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina coasts.
February - March 2002	NATO Exercise Strong Resolve in Northern Europe
December 5, 2002	Left Norfolk, Va. on its second deployment. Assigned to the USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75) Battle Group USS COOK operated in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
March 20, 2003	Involved in the first Tomahawk strikes against Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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Click here to read about the Destroyer’s Name, about Colonel Donald G. Cook.

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About the Ship's Coat of Arms:

(Click on the coat of arms for a larger version)

The Shield:

Dark blue and gold are the colors traditionally used by the US Navy; red is emblematic of valor and sacrifice. The reversed star denotes the Medal of Honor, our country's highest honor, posthumously awarded to Colonel Donald G. Cook for his spirit of sacrifice and extraordinary heroism. The gauntlet grasps a broken chain underscoring Colonel cook's internment as a prisoner of war by the Viet Cong during which he unselfishly put the interests of his comrades before that of his own well-being and, eventually, his life. The swords are crossed to signify the spirit of teamwork while symbolizing the heritage of the US Navy and Marine Corps. The Mameluke represents Colonel Cook's service as a Marine.

The Crest:

The eagle symbolizes the principles of freedom upon which our country as founded and highlights military vigilance and national defense. The tridents represent sea power and underscore USS DONALD COOK'S AEGIS firepower and the capability to conduct operations in multi-threat environments.

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USS DONALD COOK Image Gallery:

The photos below were taken by Carl Groll in February 2002 during exercise Strong Resolve in the Baltic Sea. The first two pictures show the DONALD COOK entering the port of Kiel, Germany. The third photo shows the COOK at anchor in the Kieler Förde.

The photos below were taken by me and show the DONALD COOK during overhaul at the BAE Shipyard Norfolk on November 10, 2008.

The photos below were taken by me and show the DONALD COOK during overhaul at Norfolk, Va., on October 27, 2010.

The photos below were taken by me and show the DONALD COOK at Naval Base Norfolk, Va., on May 6, 2012. On April 19, 2012, the ship had returned from a seven-month deployment to the 6th and 5th Fleet areas of operation.

The photos below were taken by Philip Petersen and me and show the DONALD COOK alongside USS VICKSBURG (CG 69) and USS ANZIO (CG 68) at Naval Base Faslane, UK, prior to their participation in exercise Joint Warrior 151 on April 11, 2015.

The photos below were taken by Philip Petersen and me and show the DONALD COOK departing Faslane, UK, on April 12, 2015, to join exercise Joint Warrior 151.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show USS DONALD COOK arriving at Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth, UK, on July 29, 2017. DONALD COOK departed her homeport Rota, Spain, on July 26, for her sixth forward-deployed patrol and is visiting Portsmouth in preparation for Exercise Saxon Warrior 17.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show USS DONALD COOK berthed alongside USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CG 58) at Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth, UK, on July 29, 2017. Both ships, as well as the USS GEORGE H. W. BUSH (CVN 77), are at Portsmouth in preparation for Exercise Saxon Warrior 17.

The photos below were taken by me and show USS DONALD COOK at Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde in Faslane, UK, on September 30, 2017, prior to her participation in Exercise Joint Warrior 172. DONALD COOK is presently on her sixth forward-deployed patrol.

The photos below were taken by me and show USS DONALD COOK after departure from Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde in Faslane, UK, on October 1, 2017, to join Exercise Joint Warrior 172. Note the two new white communications antennas next to the aft VLS. They were installed during the ship's recent upkeep period in Rota, Spain, between mid-August and mid-September.

The photos below were taken by Helwin Scharn and show USS DONALD COOK at Naval Base Kiel, Germany, on April 14, 2020. DONALD COOK only made a brief stop to refuel and departed Kiel later that day. The ship is presently on its tenth forward-deployed patrol.

The photos below were taken by Michael Siweris and show USS DONALD COOK departing Rostock, Germany, on March 20, 2022 after a three-day port visit. The first three photos show the ship in the Port of Rostock while the other photos show the DONALD COOK passing Warnemuende on her way out to the Baltic Sea. The DONALD COOK departed her homeport Mayport, Fla., on January 21 for a surge deployment to the 6th Fleet AoR and has since visited Rota, Spain, and Portland, UK.