A U.S. Navy Destroyer Just Completed 11-Month-Long Epic Deployment

Aerospace & Defense A U.S. Navy Destroyer Just Completed 11-Month-Long Epic Deployment By Peter Suciu,

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Peter Suciu covers trends in the world of aerospace and defense.Follow Author Jun 17, 2026, 09:23pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Summary The USS Mitscher (DDG-57) returned to Naval Station Norfolk on Tuesday, concluding an 11-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer spent 327 days at sea, setting a new record for a U.S. Navy destroyer, surpassing even the USS Gerald R. Ford's recent deployment. Operating independently, the Mitscher integrated with multiple carrier strike groups, including the Ford, Abraham Lincoln, and UK Prince of Wales. The warship participated in NATO exercises and Operation Epic Fury in the Middle East. Commander Stephen Prugh lauded his crew's resilience and perseverance throughout the extensive mission. Commissioned in 1994, this veteran destroyer's service life has been extended until at least 2034.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) returned to Naval Station Norfolk following a historic 11-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Greggory Fisher)There was another homecoming at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., on Tuesday as the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG-57) concluded an 11-month deployment to the U.S 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations. The United States Navy announced that the warship, assigned to Destroyer Squadron Two, had conducted pre-deployment certification as part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group last summer, but was then “deployed independently.”