USS Barry ( DDG - 52 ) USS " Barry " ( DDG - 52 ) is an " Arleigh Burke " - class guided missile destroyer , commissioned in 1992 . " Barry " is the fourth United States Navy ship named after the " Father of the American Navy " , Commodore John Barry ( 1745 – 1803 ) . Its homeport is Naval Station Norfolk , Virginia . Several improvements over exist on this ship and all following s . They include the ability to refuel a helicopter and several other small improvements . " Barry " has received many awards , including the Battenberg Cup for the years 1994 , 1996 , and 1998 — making " Barry " one of only three ships ( as of 2008 ) to have won the prestigious award three times , and the only Aegis destroyer to have won the award thus far — earning her the nickname " Battenberg Barry " in the late 1990s . She has also been awarded the Battle E award 4 times , and received the Golden Anchor and Silver Anchor Awards for retention . More recently , in 2004 the " Barry " received the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy for being the most improved ship in the Atlantic Fleet . History . " Barry " keel was laid down on 26 February 1990 at the Ingalls Shipbuilding shipyard in Pascagoula , Mississippi . She was launched on 10 May 1991 , and christened on 8 June 1991 by her sponsor , Rose Cochran , wife of United States Senator Thad Cochran . " Barry " was commissioned into the U . S . Atlantic Fleet on 12 December 1992 and was placed under the command of Commander Gary Roughead . The commissioning ceremony took place at Naval Station Pascagoula in Mississippi . Following ship ' s commissioning , " Barry " underwent Post Delivery Test and Trials ( PDT & T ) . During this period , " Barry " tested every major system on board . An Operational Propulsion Plant Examination ( OPPE ) was conducted , with " Barry " receiving an overall grade of Excellent . Combat Systems Ship Qualifications Trials ( CSSQT ) were also conducted that included 13 missile firings . In April 1993 , " Barry " underwent Final Contract Trials ( FCT ) before returning to Ingalls Shipbuilding in May 1993 for a three - month Post Shakedown Availability ( PSA ) . This availability included a 4 - week dry - docking that included installation of the Navy ' s new generation Advanced Technology Design propellers , designed to reduce cavitation at high speed and improve fuel economy . Other improvements included installation of an Electro - Optical Sighting System ( EOSS ) , application of Passive Countermeasure System ( PCMS ) material , tank stiffening and installation of a gray water collection system . On 21 October 1993 , Captain Gary Roughead , " Barry " ' s first commanding officer , was relieved by Commander James G . Stavridis . Barry was under command of ( tactical ) Destroyer Squadron 26 in 1993 , 1994 and 1995 , while administratively part of Destroyer Squadron 2 . In November 1993 , " Barry " received orders to proceed to Haiti to take part in Operation Support Democracy . " Barry " ' s duties included enforcing the embargo of arms and petroleum products to the island nation . 1994 . In January 1994 , " Barry " completed her first combined Combat Systems Assessment ( CSA ) / Cruise Missile Tactical Qualification ( CMTQ ) , achieving one of the Atlantic Fleet ' s highest score to date . In March , " Barry " participated in exercise MAYFLYEX 94 where her Aegis combat system successfully engaged and destroyed several Exocet anti - ship cruise missiles . In April , " Barry " wrapped up her preparations for her first overseas combat deployment by participating in FLEETEX 2 – 94 with other units of the " George Washington " Battle Group . A highlight of this exercise was a covert SEAL team extraction in shallow water only a few miles off the Carolina coast , successfully validating the stealth characteristics of the DDG - 51 class . On 20 May 1994 , " Barry " departed Norfolk , Virginia on her first Mediterranean deployment . During " Barry " ' s maiden deployment , she served alongside the as the backdrop for the 50th anniversary of D - Day . " Barry " also sailed the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas as " Red Crown " in support of the No - Fly Zone over Bosnia - Herzegovina . On 7 October 1994 , " Barry " received orders to proceed to the Persian Gulf in response to Iraq ' s massing of troops on the Kuwaiti border . In what would become known as Operation Vigilant Warrior , " Barry " ' s participation included escort of both the " George Washington " and an amphibious assault group to anchorage off Kuwait City . " Barry " also served as alternate Persian Gulf Anti - Air Warfare Coordinator ( AAWC ) , and principal Tomahawk strike platform during the crisis . " Barry " received a Meritorious Unit Commendation , the Southwest Asia Service Medal , the Armed Forces Service Medal , and the NATO Medal for her actions during the deployment and returned home to Norfolk , Virginia on 17 November 1994 . 1995 . In January 1995 , " Barry " began a three month SRA at Moon Engineering located in Portsmouth , Virginia . This SRA included the Women At Sea ( WAS ) modification . 2004 . In March 2003 she was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 26 . In 2004 , " Barry " participated at the annual Fleet Week in New York City . 2006 . In 2006 , " Barry " joined in providing cover for the " Orient Queen " , a cruise ship chartered by the United States to help evacuate American citizens during the 2006 Israeli - Lebanon conflict . 2011 . On 1 March 2011 Barry was dispatched to the Mediterranean Sea in response to the 2011 Libyan civil war . On 19 March 2011 , the Navy reported that the " Barry " fired 55 Tomahawk cruise missiles to suppress the Libyan air defense system in support of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 . The official codename for the U . S . part of the operation is Operation Odyssey Dawn . On 28 March , the " Barry " assisted a U . S . Navy P - 3C Orion from Patrol Squadron Five and an A - 10 Thunderbolt aircraft attacking a group of three Libyan Coast Guard boats which were firing upon merchant vessels . 2013 . In late August 2013 she was ordered , alongside her sister ships USS Gravely ( DDG - 107 ) , USS Mahan ( DDG - 72 ) and USS Ramage ( DDG - 61 ) to patrol the eastern Mediterranean Sea in response to rising rumors of an imminent military intervention in the Syrian civil war .