The USS BAINBRIDGE (DDG-96) is the fifth ship to bear her name. The first was a brig which was commissioned in 1842 and served in the Civil War. There were three ships bearing the name BAINBRIDGE commissioned in the 20th century. The first, DD-1, served from 1902 to 1919, running patrol and escort duty during World War I. DD-246 served the American Navy from 1920 to 1945. CGN-25 was first commissioned as a nuclear powered frigate in 1962, but was reclassified as a cruiser in 1975. She served until 1996. DDG-96 was christened the USS BAINBRIDGE in 2004 and commissioned in 2005. She was sponsored by Susan Bainbridge Hay, a descendant of Commodore William Bainbridge after whom she is named.

The Arleigh-Burke class destroyer has gone on numerous deployments and served the Navy well in the years since her commissioning. From August 2007 to February 2008 she served in the role of the flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1, participating in numerous activities and port visits over the course of the deployment. The ship gained greater renown for her role in the Maersk Alabama hostage rescue in 2009. After several days of following the pirates, the ship successfully facilitated the rescue of the ship’s captain with the assistance of an embarked SEAL team. For her contribution, the ship received a Navy Unit Commendation. Other awards received by the ship include the Navy E Ribbon in 2011, the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy in 2012, and the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation in 2015.

DDG-96 deployed numerous times to US Sixth Fleet, assisting in various missions throughout those deployments. Recently the ship acquitted herself admirably once again in the aiding of a distressed merchant vessel. On 13 June 2019 the USS Bainbridge received a distress call from the merchant vessel Kokuka Courageous. The Japanese tanker had suffered a major engineering casualty and was in need of aid. The Bainbridge and her crew responded to the call, rescuing the entire crew and providing assistance as needed. She continues to proudly serve the Navy and the nation as a whole.