Navy League of the U.S., Barcelona Council -- Ship Visits to Spain: USS O´Bannon

Navy League of the United States,
Barcelona, Spain Council

P.O. Box 5126, 08080, Barcelona, España
Email: barcelonanlus@gmail.com

The Barcelona Council welcomed the men and women of the USS O`BANNON (DD987) -- The Stirke Shamrock -- visiting Barcelona February 1-5. We were proud to be able to offer two unique opportunities to personally meet officers and crew and show them our appreciation and support of the U.S. Navy and the sea services. Commander Troy Stoner and his crew hosted a personalized visit onboard the O´Bannon. Later that evening, the Council hosted

a dinner in honor of our visiting guests. We were joined by representatives from both the Spanish Armada and American security services, as well as the Barcelona Port authority. The event proved to be a great chance for our members and friends to gain firsthand valuable insights to life on board a vessel and about education, training or careers in the Navy, and much more. Add to that the exquisite cuisine and friendly ambience of Da Greco Restaurant, site of our Welcome Dinner – and a great evening was enjoyed by all!! Our heartfelt thanks to Commander Stoner for their hospitality onboard and to Tony Greco for hosting our dinner.
          What a fantastic group of people make up the crew of USS O`BANNON. These professionals have a few outstanding things in common -- ever vigilant for the safety of crew and vessel, they are dedicated to excellence in their posts and conscious that their individual and team efforts contribute to maintaining peace and to making the world a safer place for all of us.
          We are sure they will tell you why Barcelona was their number one choice as the Liberty Port, and we in the Barcelona Council were delighted to receive them and honoured to meet and mingle with such fine people. We would also like to thank them for dedicating part of their “liberty time” to some appreciated community work here in Barcelona. Crew members did some welding for the Local Maritime Museum.
          During the four-day visit, we heard and witnessed the “de facto” good relations that exist between the Spanish and U.S. forces. In fact, the USS O’Bannon had participated recently in some of the regular exercises with Spanish and Allied vessels.
           The Welcome Dinner hosted by our Barcelona Council was fun and informative for members and guests alike. Among invited guests were representatives from the security forces of the Armada Española – Madrid, the U.S. base in Rota, the Port of Barcelona, and the Comandancia de Marina de Barcelona. During dinner, CO Stoner echoed the importance of motto DICIPLINE-PRIDE-PERFORMANCE aboard the USS O’Bannon. The primary concern being the safety of vessel and crew every minute day or night, at sea or in port. Officers gave us an insight to their day-to-day responsibilities aboard. They spoke with the confidence and sense of purpose of the well-educated, competent professionals working daily for peace in our world.
          Our tour gave us an idea of the cramped living conditions. The routine day aboard is structured, so when not on duty, the crew either eat, sleep, work-out in the gym, read, or study chosen careers. There is a college professor on board and a medical officer. We heard how these men and women from USS O’Bannon have contributed to many other community service projects, such as building a school in Ecuador or a shelter for battered wives in Malta. They told us a little about their personal lives, too. Guess which of the officers has a passion for Ducatti motorbikes? Or who has more than seven pet cats at home? They all spoke excitedly about their families and loved ones back home and how they cope with being far away for long periods.These talented professionals, caring men and women aboard the USS O’Bannon are an asset to the Sea Services, to local communities, and are our best guarantee for world peace and freedom.
          The Barcelona Council was privileged to share time with them during their visit. The Port and City of Barcelona welcomed you with open arms, and our council served for a brief moment as their “home from home.” It is our aim to continue our mission to educate and inform community leaders and general public about the importance of their work and the work of all U.S. Navy forces, and to promote and facilitate mutual relations between our two cultures and our democratic life.

Propulsion system: four General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine engines
Propellers: two                                            Blades on each Propeller: five
Length: 564,3 feet (172 meters)              Beam: 55,1 feet (16.8 meters)
Draft: 28,9 feet (8.8 meters)                     Displacement: approx. 9,200 tons full load
Speed: 30+ knots                                       Aircraft: two SH-60B Seahawk (LAMPS 3)
Homeport: Mayport, Fla.                            Crew: approx. 340
Armament: Two Mk 45 5-inch/54 caliber lightweight guns, one Mk 41 VLS for Tomahawk, ASROC and Standard missiles, Mk 46 torpedoes (two triple tube mounts), Harpoon missile launchers, one Sea Sparrow launcher, two 20mm Phalanx CIWS, one Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) System

Keel laid: February 21, 1977
Launched: September 25, 1978
Commissioned: December 15, 1979

Blue and Gold are the colors traditionally associated with the U.S. Navy and both are symbolic of the Navy's element, the sea and it's goal of excellence. The Shield symbolizes an event in 1805 during the Tripolitan War when LT Presley O'Bannon (USMC), at the head of an escort of seven Marines and one midshipman, stormed the fort at Derna in present day Libya. This fort is represented by the embattled partition line. With his own hands, O'Bannon hoisted an American Flag over a captured position for the first time in the history of the US. At Malta, according to tradition, Hamet presented O'Bannon with the jeweled sword he carried while a refugee with the Mameluke in Egypt. This type of blade, known as a Mameluke sword, is worn by Marine Officers today and is the oldest weapon in continuous use by the Armed Forces of the United States.

On his return home, O'Bannon was presented a second sword, this time a ceremonial one, by his native state of Virginia. The crossed sword and cutlass on the shield have been adopted from the Enlisted and Officers surface warfare badges and represent the two swords presented O'Bannon as well as the mission, capabilities, and personnel of the Spruance Class Destroyer. Three shamrocks refer not only to the O'Bannon's Irish heritage, but also the three ships to bear this name DD 177, DD/DDE 450 and DD 987. The globe and the anchor, adapted from a USMC seal, are direct references to Presley O'Bannon's outstanding service in the USMC.

DID YOU KNOW?
The O´Bannon can go from top speed to completely stopped in just two and a half ship lengths.

The USS O'BANNON is the 25th in a series of 31 Spruance Class Destroyers, and the fourth to bear the namesake of Presley Neville O'Bannon, USMC, "the Hero of Derna". A highly versatile multi-mission vessel, O´Bannon is capable of operating independently or in company with Amphibious or Carrier Task Forces. She is a verteran of many overseas deployments, counter narcotics operations, and many exercises as a test platform for boty systems and tactics.
One of O´Bannon´s primary missions is to operate offensively as a Strike Warfare platform for the launching of Tomahawk Missiles at land targets. Also a premier Undersea Warfare platform, O´Bannon´s AN7SQQ-89(v)6USW suite is the most advanced underwater detection system yet developed.The Seahawk helicopters extend O´Bannon´s sensor range.

USS O´BANNON DD 987
"Strike Shamrock"

Barcelona Council Hosts a Welcome Dinner for Guests
from the USS O´Bannon

USS O´Bannon - Strike Shamrock - Visits Barcelona