USS Arleigh Burke ( DDG - 51 ) The USS " Arleigh Burke " ( DDG - 51 ) , named for Admiral Arleigh A . Burke , USN ( 1901 – 1996 ) , is the lead ship of the " Arleigh Burke " - class guided missile destroyer s . She was laid down by the Bath Iron Works company at Bath , Maine , on 6 December 1988 , and launched on 16 September 1989 by Mrs . Arleigh Burke . The Admiral himself was present at her commissioning ceremony on 4 July 1991 , which was held on the waterfront in downtown Norfolk , Virginia . The " Arleigh Burke " ' s designers incorporated many lessons learned by the Royal Navy during the Falklands campaign and from the USS " Ticonderoga " - class guided - missile cruiser s . The " Ticonderoga " - class cruisers were becoming too expensive to continue building , and were too difficult to upgrade . The " Arleigh Burke ' s " design includes what is now better known as stealth technology , which improves the ship ' s ability to evade anti - ship missile s . She also uses a slightly downgraded version of the Aegis combat system , allowing the launching , tracking , and evading missiles simultaneously . Furthermore , her all - steel construction provides good protection for her superstructure , while her Collective Protection System allows her to operate in environments contaminated by chemical , biological , or radiological materials . History . Even before the USS " Arleigh Burke " was commissioned , the Commander , Operational Test and Evaluation Force , was involved in the initial phases of testing . New systems , operated by fleet sailors ashore , were examined at land - based test facilities . The combat systems testing took place at the Combat System Engineering Development Site in Moorestown , New Jersey . The propulsion plant testing occurred at the Gas Turbine Ship Land - Based Engineering Site in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . These test results supported the acquisition decision to begin limited production of the ship class . After being commissioned , and throughout 1992 , the " Arleigh Burke " conducted extensive testing at sea . As is often the case with new ship classes , U . S . Navy officers and shipyard engineers encountered a number of problems with some shipboard systems that required the attention of this warship ' s design and production agencies . An additional phase of testing was added to verify the effectiveness of the modifications made to these systems – modifications incorporated into later destroyer s of the " Arleigh Burke " class . Following her initial operational testing , the USS " Arleigh Burke " was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and the Adriatic Sea in 1993 , serving as the " Green Crown " during Operation Provide Promise . During her second deployment in 1995 , the " Arleigh Burke " steamed in the Mediterranean as the " Red Crown " in support of the No - Fly Zone over Bosnia - Herzegovina . During her third cruise , in 1998 , she steamed in the Mediterranean Sea , Adriatic Sea , Red Sea , and Black Sea , as a participant in numerous American and Allied exercises . During her fourth cruise in 2000 – 2001 , the " Arleigh Burke " saw service in the Mediterranean and Red Seas and in the Persian Gulf , enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq and conducting exercises with allied naval partners . On her fifth deployment in 2003 , the USS " Arleigh Burke " and the other units of the USS " Theodore Roosevelt " - led carrier battle group participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom . During this wartime cruise , the " Arleigh Burke " fired Tomahawk missile strikes against targets in Iraq , escorted merchant ships and naval auxiliaries through geographic choke - points , and carried out " leadership interdiction " operations in the northern Arabian Sea . She also undertook counter - piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden . This cruise , which lasted from January through June 2003 , saw the " Arleigh Burke " at sea over 92 percent of the time . In March 2003 she was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 2 . The USS " Arleigh Burke " has earned one Navy Unit Commendation , three Meritorious Unit Commendations , three Battle Efficiency E Awards , the National Defense Service Medal , the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal , the Kuwait Liberation Medal , and five Sea Service Deployment Ribbons . As a member of Destroyer Squadron 2 , the " Arleigh Burke " operated with the USS " Theodore Roosevelt " Strike Group under the direction of the Commander , Cruiser - Destroyer Group Eight . In May 2007 , the " Arleigh Burke " ran what the Navy is calling " soft aground " off Cape Henry Light at the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay . Her captain , Commander Esther J . McClure , was relieved of her command shortly thereafter as a result of " loss of confidence in her ability to command " . In October 2007 , the " Arleigh Burke " was involved in anti - pirate operations in 2007 in Somalia . In 2009 , the " Arleigh Burke " was deployed to the eastern coast of Africa in support of AFRICOM ' s Africa Partnership Station . The ship represented the United States during a port visit on the island nation of Seychelles where they played a role in securing a status of forces agreement between the two countries . In August 2010 , the " Arleigh Burke " entered the BAE Systems Ship Repair shipyard in Norfolk , VA for DDG Modernization , a program to upgrade the ship ' s systems and to extend service life to 40 years . On 19 April , Tom Hum of General Atomics , indicated that DDG - 51 may become the test platform for a new railgun capable of launching projectiles at Mach 5 or Mach 6 . Ship ' s crest . The Shield outlined in blue and gold stands for the achievements in battle of Admiral Burke against the naval power of Japan . The fist and mace symbolize the offensive and defensive power of the new destroyer . The mace , also a symbol of authority , represents Admiral Burke ' s service as Chief of Naval Operations . It also refers to Admiral Marc Mitscher , an influential figure and mentor for whom Admiral Burke served as Chief of Staff . Admiral Burke ' s Destroyer Squadron 23 , represented by the border of 23 ovals , was the only United States Destroyer Squadron awarded a Presidential Unit Citation , signified by the canton of blue , yellow , and red . The ovals also refer to the year 1923 in which Midshipman Burke graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis . Twenty - three also reflects Admiral Burke ' s distinguished service on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations as ( OP - 23 ) . The mounted figure of St . George recalls Admiral Burke ' s celebrated victory in the Battle of Cape St . George over Japanese naval forces . His mantle bears a gold cross for the Navy Cross awarded to the Admiral . The birch branch on the helmet represents Admiral Burke himself , a reference to his name derived from his Scandinavian heritage . The red sea dragon symbolizes Japanese naval power assaulted by forces under Captain Burke ' s command . It is gorged with the two gold stars he was awarded for outstanding service . The lance impaling the dragon signifies ordnance on target . The capabilities of the new destroyer , the most powerful and survivable ever built , are signified by the full armor and equipment of the warrior St . George . The Admiral ' s nickname " 31 - Knot Burke " is recalled by the number 31 on the horse . The motto " Built to Fight " is from Burke ' s remarks to the new crew about the destroyer , " This ship is built to fight . You had better know how . " Popular Culture . The " Arleigh Burke " was used to film the at - sea scenes in the 2003 " NCIS " episode " The Immortals . " She was also featured in the opening credits for " NCIS " ' s parent show , " JAG " .