“This ship’s construction will incorporate many improvement strategies recommended by our shipbuilders,” said BIW’s president.
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General Dynamics Bath Iron Works started work this week on its next Navy destroyer, the future USS J. William Middendorf (DDG 138), at the shipyard’s structural fabrication facility in Brunswick.
Frances Middendorf, daughter of the namesake and a sponsor of DDG 138, activated the burning machine to cut the first steel for the ship.
DDG 138 is the 47th of its class built at Bath Iron Works and the sixth Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to start construction at the Maine shipyard. Advancements in radar and combat systems make Flight III Arleigh Burkes the most technologically advanced surface combatants in the world, according to a news release.
“This ship’s construction will incorporate many improvement strategies recommended by our shipbuilders — processes and practices that are designed to deliver DDG 138 as soon as possible to the U.S. Navy while maintaining our reputation for Bath-built quality,” said Charles Krugh, BIW’s president.
The late J. William Middendorf served as a Navy officer, Secretary of the Navy, U..S. ambassador to the Netherlands, permanent representative to the Organization of American States and U.S. representative to the European Union.
Bath Iron Works is also building the Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127) and Flight III destroyers Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), William Charette (DDG 130), Quentin Walsh (DDG 132), John E. Kilmer (DDG 134) and Richard G. Lugar (DDG 136).
The shipyard is ranked as Maine's fourth-largest employer in the 2025 Mainebiz Book of Lists.