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The following was released by the Office of the Assistant to the
Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs):
                                           No. 211-94
                                           (703)697-5131(media)
                                           (703)697-3189(copies)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE      April 21, 1994      (703)697-
                                           5737(public/industry)

        NAVY TO CHRISTEN GUIDED MISSILE DESTROYER RAMAGE
                            (DDG 61)

     A christening ceremony will be held for Ramage (DDG 61), the
U.S. Navy's newest Guided Missile Destroyer, on Saturday, April
23, 1994 at Ingalls Shipbuilding, in Pascagoula, Mississippi,
commencing at 11 a.m.  In the age old Navy tradition, Mrs.
Barbara Ramage, widow of the late Vice Admiral Lawson P. Ramage,
for whom this ship is named, will break a bottle of champagne
over the bow and formally name the ship.

     Assistant Secretary of the Navy Nora Slatkin will be the
principal speaker at the ceremony.

     Ramage honors Vice Admiral Lawson Paterson Ramage, U.S. Navy
(1909-1990), holder of the Medal of Honor, two Navy Crosses, and
a Bronze Star for his World War II service, and, later, two
Distinguished Service Medals, one for his service as Commander,
First Fleet, and the other for service as Commander,  Military
Sea Transportation Service (now Military Sealift Command).

      Ramage is the eleventh of 29 Arleigh Burke class ships
currently authorized to be built.   These multi-mission ships are
equipped with the Navy's modern Aegis combat weapons system,
which combines space-age communication, radar and weapons
technologies in a single platform for unlimited flexibility.
These new destroyers will replace older, less capable ships that
are being taken out of service as the Navy reduces spending while
maintaining quality as part of the overall plan to recapitalize
the fleet.  These versatile ships are designed to operate
independently or in support of aircraft carrier and amphibious
operations.

     The ship is equipped to carry Standard surface-to-air
missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from forward and
aft vertical launching systems; two fully automated, radar
controlled Phalanx close-in weapon systems; Harpoon anti-ship
missiles; one five-inch gun and electronic warfare systems.

     Ramage is 505 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59
feet and displaces approximately 8,676 tons fully loaded.  The
ship will have a crew of 26 officers, 24 chief petty officers,
and 291 enlisted.
                               -USN-