Poster from the Launch of DDG-81 Guest Badge from DDG-81 Launching DDG-81 is launched!
Click for full view of Churchill being launched.

 

Before being christened the USS Winston S. Churchill had story.   As the hub of the action in Circle William, DDG-81's fictional crew takes on all comers from annoyed French policemen to dangerous Libyan terrorists.

Circle William author Bill Harlow attended the traditional Navy christening ceremony at the Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine along with about 6,500 others on April 17, 1999.  However, Bill was the only guest whose book became part of the event.   Secretary of Defense William Cohen, presented a copy of Circle William to his counterpart, United Kingdom's Minister of Defence, George Robertson. Bill also gave a signed copy of his book to the Commanding Officer of DDG-81, Commander Michael T. Franken.  Probably no other ship's library started with a book in which it stars.

NAVSEA, the Navy command in charge of building the Churchill reported on the launch day's events.

Have you seen the updated information on DDG-81's capabilities and weapons systems?

DDG 81

Visit the official
USS Winston S. CHURCHILL
website


Navy Photo
At the ceremony Lady Soames, youngest and last surviving child of Sir Winston Churchill, co-sponsored the ship along with Janet Langhart Cohen, the wife of the U.S. Secretary of Defense.  To read more on the the event and the participants, see the excerpts from the Launching Ceremony Program prepared by General Dynamics, which owns Bath Iron Works.   The Navy's press release and other news reports including one from the BBC are also available on-line.

Mrs. Cohen's biography

Sponsor

USS Winston S. Churchill

Janet Langhart Cohen

Lady Soames biography

Honorary Sponsor

For the United Kingdom

The Lady Soames, DBE

 

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