L-3 Unit to Refurbish LCAC Landing Craft

(Source: US Department of Defense; issued Aug. 11, 2006)

L-3 Communications Titan Corp. Unidyne Division, Norfolk, Va., is being awarded a $22,712,231 firm-fixed-price contract for the Service Life Extension program (SLEP) for three Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) craft.

LCAC is the essential element within the current and future Navy/ Marine Corps amphibious warfare triad that provides heavy lift capability to perform amphibious assaults and operational maneuvers from the sea.

LCAC SLEP entails modifications for extending the service life of the LCAC from twenty to thirty years. Modifications include repair/refurbishment of the hull, main engine upgrades, installation of a new skirt system, and upgrades to the communication/navigation systems.

Work will be performed in Norfolk, Va., and is expected to be completed by March 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was competitively awarded and advertised on the Internet, with two offers received.

The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, Washington, D.C. is the contracting activity (N00024-06-C-2203)

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Northrop Grumman Marks Major Production Milestones With Launching of Two Major Ships in One Week

(Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.; issued Oct. 2, 2006)

PASCAGOULA, Miss. --- Northrop Grumman Corporation accomplished two successful ship launches in one week on two very important shipbuilding programs. Shipbuilders from the company's Ship Systems sector launched the U.S. Navy multipurpose amphibious assault ship Makin Island (LHD 8) on Friday, Sept. 22 and one week later launched the U.S. Coast Guard's first National Security Cutter, Bertholf (WMSL 750).

A ship launching involves a meticulous schedule of events that includes moving a ship across land via the company's rail transfer system and ends with the ship in the center of the shipyard's floating drydock. Following a complete hull survey and pre-launch inspection, water is pumped through a ballast system into the walls of the drydock to float the ship. Tug boats then move the ship to its berthing area.

“Successfully ship launchings take a huge team effort coupled with tremendous capability and engineering knowledge and our team really stepped up to complete two in one week,” said George Yount, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems sector vice president of ship construction. “Sometimes shipbuilding is a little like football in that the only way you can see if you're winning or not is to check the scoreboard. Now, a year ago we got whacked pretty hard by a few hurricanes and a lot of people thought we were going down for the count. Well, as only shipyarders can do, adversity and chaos were turned into success and order.”

The 844-foot, 42,800-ton Makin Island is the first of the large deck amphibious assault ship class to be built with gas turbine engines and electric drive. The ship is designed to transport and land a Marine Expeditionary Unit, a force of 1,900 Marines, ashore by helicopter, landing craft and amphibious assault vehicle.

Bertholf is a 418-foot vessel with a 4,300-ton displacement at full load. Powered by a twin screw combined diesel and gas turbine power propulsion plant, the ship is designed to travel at 29 knots maximum speed. The ship will be the largest modern vessel in the U.S. Coast Guard fleet.

“It's a magnificent ship and this is a hallmark day for the Coast Guard,” said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Patrick Stadt, prospective commanding officer of the Bertholf. “The Coast Guard's project resident management office here that works with Northrop Grumman has experienced a great relationship with the shipyard and their employees for the past several years. I've been associated with the office myself recently and have worked with ship superintendents and shipyard workers on a daily basis. These are all very fine people and good professionals and it shows in the quality of work that appeared on Bertholf today.”

With the successful launch of Bertholf, Northrop Grumman employees will prepare the ship for her christening, scheduled for Nov. 11

“Since Katrina, we have delivered LPD 17, DDG 98 and a Polar tanker; christened LPD 20 and LHD 8; and now we have launched an LHD and a National Security Cutter in the same week,” said Yount. “We have laid the keel for a second National Security Cutter and the next DDG, and we are simultaneously preparing three additional ships for sea trials and delivery. All-in-all we have 12 new ships in production. From where I sit that scoreboard looks pretty darn good.”

Navy Completes Successful Mobile Landing Platform Demonstration

(Source: US Navy; issued Oct. 21, 2006)

WASHINGTON --- The Navy began conducting at-sea experiments off the coast of Virginia near Norfolk for the Maritime Prepositioning Force (Future) Program (MPF(F)) in August and was completed Oct. 13.

The Navy’s overall objective was to continue learning about how to ensure that vehicles, stores and personnel can routinely and safely be transferred between ships at sea. In the future, transfer at sea will allow the rapid and selective offload of prepositioned ships, followed by delivery of the forces and equipment to shore via connector craft.

“The demonstration has provided essential information that will help mitigate the technical risk for MPF(F) squadron acquisition,” said Capt. Patricia Sudol, program manager for Support Ships, Boats and Craft (PMS 325) within the Program Executive Office Ships. “MPF(F) is a key enabler of sea basing, and will flexibly support the projection of up to a brigade-sized force and continuously sustain them from the sea. We learned a great deal during this exercise, and we greatly appreciate all the hard work put in by the individuals and organizations, which helped to facilitate this event.”

The effort is headed by PMS 325 and was supported by Assault Craft Units 2 and 4; Beachmaster Group 2; Military Sealift Command (MSC); Naval Sea Systems Command; Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division; Office of Naval Research and various contractors in the conduct of the demonstrations.

The demonstrations used a heavy lift, or float-on/float-off, ship and a Large, Medium-Speed, Roll-on/roll-off (LMSR) ship to simulate the future planned Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) and LMSR "skin to skin" interface. The event also tested automated stowage and retrieval systems in the at sea environment, as well as initial experiments with dynamic positioning.

The MLP, an element of the MPF(F) squadron, will be the "pier in the ocean," a surface interface platform that will allow ships such as Army and Navy LMSRs to transfer vehicles and equipment to the MLP instead of going to a terminal on shore.

The MLP is being designed to interface with LMSRs and Landing Craft Air Cushions (LCACs), but other platforms such as the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), Army Logistic Support Vessels (LSV), and Landing Craft Utility (LCUs) could interface with the ship for loading as well.

Mighty Servant III, a heavy-lift, semi-submersible ship owned by Netherlands-based Dockwise International, was used as a surrogate MLP during the demonstration.

USNS Red Cloud (T-AKR 313), a ship crewed by civilian mariners and operated by MSC to support Army lift requirements, also participated in the exercise as the representative LMSR. Red Cloud is a roll-on, roll-off vessel used to transport military vehicles and other cargo and can load and unload from its stern, or side ramps.

Events were initially conducted pierside for training, then at anchor and ultimately in the open ocean.

“The exercise was based on a ‘crawl, walk, run’ philosophy,” said Sudol. “This approach ensured a safe operating environment for personnel, equipment and the ships, and provided data under a variety of operating conditions.”

The at-sea demonstrations covered seabase-enabling operations in sea states ranging from sea state 3 through the middle range of sea state 4. Sea refers to the height, period, and character of waves on the surface of a large body of water. Sea state 3 refers to waves between .5 and 1.25 meters in height. Sea state 4 refers to waves between 1.25 and 2.5 meters in height.

“Although we used ships not specifically designed for the purpose, we were able to successfully demonstrate vehicle transfer and delivery in sea state 3 - the threshold goal for the program,” said Sudol. “We are working to progress to higher seas as our understanding of the challenge develops.”

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Lockheed Delivers 100th AEGIS System
Ready for Duty on Destroyer Named for "Father of Aegis"

(Source: Lockheed Martin; issued Nov. 27, 2006)

MOORESTOWN, NJ --- Lockheed Martin delivered the 100th Aegis Weapon System to the U.S. Navy during a ceremony in which Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen announced that the destroyer receiving the system will be named Wayne E. Meyer, after the retired rear admiral who is widely regarded as the "Father of Aegis."

"I can think of no better name for a new destroyer than Wayne E. Meyer, and no better tribute to the man who inspired and delivered Aegis to our fleet. He is a legend, a man of great vision and leadership," said U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen. "That the ship bearing his name will also receive the 100th Aegis system seems proof enough that his legacy -- and the incredible combat system he made possible -- continue to serve us well in this long war. It is just as impossible to overstate the contributions of Aegis to our nation's defense as it is to imagine where our great Navy would be without the contributions of Adm. Meyer."

Aegis is the most successful air defense weapon system and multi-mission combat system in the history of the U.S. Navy. Aegis delivered revolutionary capability to the fleet immediately upon its introduction in 1983 and the periodic delivery of progressive spiral development upgrades has since maintained the Aegis Weapon System at a state-of-the-art technology level to take on new, more complex threats. For example, Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108)'s Aegis Weapon System has eight times more computing power and costs 66 percent less than the first Aegis baseline.

"Lockheed Martin is the top high-tech employer in South Jersey, and the well being of the plant and its employees is a priority for me in Washington," said Rep. Jim Saxton, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. "But Congress and the nation also have security concerns that are international in scope, and our Navy is critical in projecting U.S. policy around the world. Aegis is the shield that protects our forces and allows us to do that."

In addition to 13 U.S. Navy Aegis-equipped ships now under construction, the U.S. Navy is currently modernizing Aegis-equipped cruisers first delivered in the 1980s with Aegis Open Architecture (Aegis OA), which will add 20-25 years of front-line service. The first modernized cruiser with Aegis OA will be delivered in 2008.

The ability to continuously evolve and improve the Aegis Weapon System is the cornerstone of Rear Adm. Wayne E. Meyer's legacy as the Navy's Aegis Program Manager beginning in the 1970s. Meyer introduced a systems engineering discipline into the program that focused on innovative integration and cost control, leading to an enduring principle that lives on today: "Build a little, test a little, learn a lot."

"Our nation is so fortunate to have a visionary leader like Rear Adm. Meyer," said Fred Moosally, president of Lockheed Martin's Maritime Systems & Sensors business. "The world sees his systems engineering excellence in ships flying the flags of five nations, in ships that are setting the bar in ballistic missile defense, and in ships that will continue to be the most advanced multi-mission warships for decades."

The Aegis Weapon System is the world's premier naval surface defense system and is the foundation for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, the primary component of the sea-based element of the United States' Ballistic Missile Defense System. Aegis seamlessly integrates the SPY-1 radar, the MK 41 Vertical Launching System, the Standard Missile family and the weapon system's command and control system.

The Aegis Weapon System is currently deployed on 80 ships around the globe with more than 25 additional ships planned or under contract. In addition to the U.S., Aegis is the maritime weapon system of choice for Japan, South Korea, Norway, Spain and Australia.

GD Unit Launches US Navy Resupply Ship

(Source: General Dynamics NASSCO; issued Dec. 6, 2007)

SAN DIEGO --- General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, today launched the U.S. Navy's newest resupply ship, USNS Alan Shepard (T-AKE 3). The ship is named in honor of the first American astronaut in space. It is also the first U.S. Navy ship ever to be named after an astronaut.

The ceremony took place in San Diego at the NASSCO shipyard. John H. Sununu, a three-term governor of New Hampshire and former White House Chief of Staff, was the principal speaker for the ceremony. Mrs. Laura Shepard Churchley, the eldest daughter of Alan Shepard and the ship's sponsor, christened the ship by breaking the traditional bottle of champagne against it during the morning ceremony. Two former Apollo astronauts - William Anders and Eugene Cernan - were also in attendance.

A native of Derry, N.H., Alan Shepard (1923-1998) joined the Navy in 1944. He was selected as one of the original seven Mercury astronauts in 1959. He made two space flights, including the third successful lunar landing. He retired from NASA and the Navy as a rear admiral in 1974. He spent his post- NASA career in business and for several years ran the Mercury Seven Foundation, a non-profit organization now called the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, which provides college science scholarships.

USNS Alan Shepard is the third ship of an expected class of 11 dry cargo- ammunition ships for the Navy. NASSCO has contracts to build eight T-AKE ships. The first ship of the class, USNS Lewis and Clark, was delivered to the Navy on June 20. The T-AKE class incorporates international marine technologies and commercial ship-design features, including an integrated electric-drive propulsion system, to minimize operating costs over its projected 40-year service life.

Construction of USNS Alan Shepard began in September of 2005. The ship is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy's Military Sealift Command in the summer of 2007. When it joins the fleet, the ship's primary mission will be to deliver food, ammunition, fuel and other provisions to combat ships at sea. The ship has modular cargo holding and handling systems onboard and can carry more than 6,600 tons of dry cargo and nearly 23,500 barrels of fuel.


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General Dynamics NASSCO Starts Construction of Sixth T-AKE Ship

(Source: General Dynamics NASSCO; issued Dec. 7, 2006)

SAN DIEGO --- General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, today announced the start of construction on the sixth dry cargo-ammunition ship in the U.S. Navy's T-AKE program. The ship is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in the fourth quarter of 2008.

"The start of construction of T-AKE 6 allows NASSCO to continue the efficient production and timely delivery of these next-generation replenishment ships to the Navy," said General Dynamics NASSCO President Frederick J. Harris. "With five ships now under construction and the potential to build as many as eight additional ships, the T-AKE program will continue to provide significant work for NASSCO's shipbuilders and teammates into the next decade."

The lead ship of the class, USNS Lewis and Clark (T-AKE 1), was delivered to the Navy last June. The second ship, USNS Sacagawea, will go to sea for Builder's Trials on December 14 and will be delivered to the Navy in the first quarter of 2007. The third ship, USNS Alan Shepard, was launched on December 6, and is scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter of 2007. The fourth and fifth T-AKE ships, currently under construction, are the Richard E. Byrd and Robert E. Peary, respectively.

The T-AKE ships are 210 meters (689 feet) in length and 32.2 meters (105.6 feet) in beam, with a design draft of 9.12 meters (29.9 feet) and a displacement of 41,000 metric tons. NASSCO has incorporated international marine technologies and commercial ship-design features into the ships, including an integrated electric-drive propulsion system, to minimize operating costs over their projected 40-year service life.

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USS John S. McCain Arrives in Vladivostok

Navy News | PO2 Chantel M. Clayton | May 10, 2007
source link

Vladivostok, Russia -- USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) arrived in Vladivostok, Russia May 7 for a scheduled port visit and to participate in Victory Day celebrations.

Victory Day, which is called "V.E. Day" (for Victory in Europe Day) in the U.S., is celebrated on May 9 in Russia as the day in 1945 when the Allies accepted the surrender of Nazi Germany, ending World War II in Europe.

“We are very excited to be here to celebrate Victory Day,” said Cmdr. Thomas C. Halvorson, the ship’s commanding officer. “We also look forward to strengthening our relationship and to maintaining strong ties and stability in this region. We look forward to a wonderful visit in Vladivostok.”

While in port, the ship’s approximately 300 crew members will have a chance to participate in military to military partnership building activities, meet local citizens through community relations projects, experience local customs and traditions, and enjoy recreational sports exchanges with Russian sailors.

The ship has been conducting routine operations in the western Pacific Ocean. This routine deployment of John S. McCain and its crew supports the longstanding U.S. commitment to peace and security in this vital region of the world.

John S. McCain is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. The 8,315-ton warship is a multi-mission platform designed to support carrier and expeditionary strike groups.

John S. McCain is permanently forward-deployed to the western Pacific and operates as a part of the U.S. 7th Fleet from Yokosuka, Japan. The destroyer reports to Destroyer Squadron 15, the Navy’s largest destroyer squadron.

Not that it would do any good.

USS Lassen Arrives In Adelaide

(Source: Australian Department of Defence; issued May 11, 2007)

Defence is pleased to welcome to Adelaide the United States Navy Arleigh Burke class destroyer, USS Lassen. This ship is the basis for one of the two design options currently being evaluated for the Royal Australian Navy’s Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) program.

The other option being considered for the AWD is the F100 frigate, designed by Spanish company Navantia. Both options are being developed by the AWD Alliance which consists of the Defence Materiel Organisation, ASC AWD Shipbuilder Pty Ltd and Raytheon Australia Pty Ltd.

The AWDs will meet Australia’s strategic requirements and be highly capable across the full spectrum of maritime operations; from peacetime national tasking that might include protection of our environment and natural resources, through to responses to terrorism and threats to our national security. As a highly interoperable unit, the AWD will be a key component to the provision of air defence to a joint or combined task force, including land forces.

The AWD Alliance is currently developing business cases for the two design options which will be presented to Government for consideration in mid 2007.

The Air Warfare Destroyer Program is the largest, most complex naval procurement in Australia’s history. The Program will provide enormous opportunity for the shipbuilding, electronics and engineering industries.

Companies who believe they can provide engineering and design capability solutions to the AWD Alliance should register their interest on the supplier registration portal at: www.ausawd.com

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Latest T-AKE Resupply Ship Launched

(Source: General Dynamics; issued May 15, 2007)

SAN DIEGO --- General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, today launched the U.S. Navy's newest resupply ship, USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4). The ship is named in honor of the Navy Rear Admiral and Medal of Honor recipient who explored the North and South Poles by air.

The Tuesday evening ceremony took place at the NASSCO shipyard.

Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter spoke at the event. Rear Admiral Robert Reilly Jr., commander of the Navy's Military Sealift Command (MSC), was the ceremony's principal speaker. Mrs. Bolling Byrd Clarke, Byrd's oldest daughter and the ship's sponsor, christened the ship by breaking the traditional bottle of champagne against its bow.

A 1912 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and a naval aviator, Byrd (1888-1957) explored the North Pole region by air in May 1926. He received the Medal of Honor for the flight. Two and a half years later, Byrd began his first expedition to the Antarctica. He commanded the first flight over the South Pole in November 1929. Byrd completed four more expeditions to the Antarctic continent over the next 26 years, including the 1955 "Operation Deep Freeze" expedition that established the permanent U.S. facilities at the South Pole.

USNS Richard E. Byrd is the fourth ship of an expected class of 11 T-AKE dry cargo-ammunition ships for the Navy. NASSCO began constructing the 689- foot-long ship in February 2006. The ship is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in November. The T-AKE class incorporates international marine technologies and commercial ship-design features, including an integrated electric-drive propulsion system, to minimize operating costs over its projected 40-year service life.

When the Richard E. Byrd joins the fleet, its primary mission will be to deliver more than 10,000 tons of food, ammunition, fuel and other provisions to combat ships at sea. It is the second Navy ship to be named in honor of the polar explorer. The first ship, USS Richard E. Byrd (DDG 23), was a Charles F. Adams-class guided missile destroyer that served from 1964 to 1990.

Northrop Wins $2.4 bn Contract to Design, Build LHA 6 Amphibious Ship

(Source: US Department of Defense; issued June 1, 2007)

Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Pascagoula, Miss., is being awarded a $2,400,000,000 fixed-price incentive modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-2221) for the detail design and construction of the LHA 6 Amphibious Assault Ship.

The LHA 6 will replace the LHA 1 Class Amphibious Assault Ships and will provide forward presence and power projection as an integral part of joint, inter-agency and multi-national maritime expeditionary forces.

It will launch tilt-rotors, helicopters, and fixed wing, short take-off vertical landing aircraft in support of amphibious operations.

The LHA 6 will be a variant of the LHD 8 Amphibious Assault Ship currently under construction by NGSS and will have enhanced aviation capabilities.

Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Miss. (95 percent) and New Orleans, La. (5 percent), and is expected to be completed by August 2012.Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. (ends)



The new LHA 6 amphibious ships will be larger than the current LHA 1s (such as the USS USS Peleliu seen here) and will carry more aircraft and helicopters. (US Navy photo)

U.S. Navy Plans Six-Month West African Training Mission

(Source: US State Department; dated June 7, web-posted June 8, 2007)

WASHINGTON --- The U.S. Navy plans this autumn to begin a half-year patrol of West Africa as a follow-up to a regional conference in November 2006, in which Gulf of Guinea nations called for greater maritime security cooperation.

Under the new plan, a U.S. ship will act as a floating headquarters and training base. It will cruise the region for five or six months, conducting numerous port visits, deploying training teams and allowing international visitors on board, said Admiral Harry Ulrich, chief of U.S. naval forces for Europe and Africa.

The ship will carry between 200 and 300 personnel – exact numbers will change over time as experts and specialized teams come and go, Ulrich told reporters May 31 after describing the plan to West African diplomats and military officers in Washington.

The ship’s personnel will focus mainly on training and working closely with Gulf of Guinea nations. Ulrich said he actively is seeking participation from European nations with an interest in West Africa as well as nongovernmental organizations. The idea is to create a “floating schoolhouse” in which multinational training teams can train in key activities such as port and oil-platform security, search-and-rescue missions and medical and humanitarian assistance.

“I think there are plenty of opportunities for nations to participate,” Ulrich said.

The ship has not yet been formally identified, and the six-month mission is part of a new concept that the Navy calls Global Fleet Station. The concept allows the Navy to conduct regionwide training and partnership missions involving hundreds of Americans and thousands of international personnel while minimizing the requirements for shore-based, host-nation facilities.

The first Global Fleet Station mission began in late April when the high-speed vessel [HSV] Swift embarked on a summer-long tour to the Caribbean and Central America, with teams scheduled to visit Belize, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Panama, according to a U.S. Navy announcement.

For the West African mission, Ulrich said the ship is expected to sail a circuit of Gulf of Guinea nations, including: Senegal, Liberia, Ghana, Sao Tome and Principe, Cameroon, Gabon and Angola. Ulrich said that Nigeria also has expressed interest but has just completed an election and is forming a new government, so discussions on Nigerian involvement likely will take place later this summer.

Ulrich said the Gulf of Guinea naval mission is “closely aligned” with the creation of the new U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced by President Bush in February to coordinate U.S. military and government interests across Africa. Unlike a traditional military headquarters, AFRICOM is expected to focus on humanitarian, medical and training missions to assist African nations in creating the conditions for political, social and economic stability.

The Navy has been increasing its presence in West Africa for several years, Ulrich said, but added that the new Gulf of Guinea initiative is “in the spirit of AFRICOM.”

The initiative is a follow-up to a November 2006 conference in Benin, co-sponsored by the United States, in which 11 Gulf of Guinea nations agreed to work together to address maritime security issues.

The Gulf of Guinea accounts for almost 15 percent of the U.S. crude oil supply and is rich in other natural resources. But the region also faces numerous challenges, including illegal fishing, piracy, oil theft, criminal activity and illegal trafficking. A priority for U.S. policy includes helping to foster economic and political stability, and good governance as ways to undermine factors that contribute to terrorism and other regional threats.

The Navy’s training teams in West Africa will focus on four main themes:

- Training maritime professionals, such as navy and coast guard crews;
- Improving maritime infrastructure, such as protecting harbors, ships and oil platforms;
- Enhancing maritime “domain awareness,” which concerns being able to monitor and identify illegal or hostile sea traffic; and
- Strengthening maritime interdiction capability, such as being able to stop illegal traffic, as well as being able to conduct search-and-rescue operations or to to help mariners in distress.

Retired Ambassador Peter Chaveas, director the African Center for Strategic Studies in Washington, a Defense Department initiative, said West African officials appear to support the idea of increased U.S. Navy training emphasis. But African nations also are concerned that the concept will not be long-lasting.

“Africans show a great deal of skepticism. We have to … make the case that we’re with them for the long term,” he said.

Ulrich said he intends to follow up the six-month Gulf of Guinea mission with a year-round presence.

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US Navy Commissions 50th Aegis Destroyer

(Source: US Navy; issued June 11, 2007)

GALVESTON, Texas --- The Navy’s newest Aegis-guided missile destroyer, USS Kidd (DDG 100), was brought to life to the cheers and tears of a proud crowd of 2,500 gathered at Galveston’s historic Pier 21 here June 9.

The emotionally-charged nighttime commissioning recalled the Navy’s proud past and heralded its promising future. The new destroyer honors Medal of Honor recipient Rear Adm. Isaac Campbell Kidd Sr. who was killed aboard the USS Arizona during Pearl Harbor — the first U.S. flag officer to die during World War II.

Kidd's granddaughters, Regina Kidd Wolbarsht and Mary Corrinne Kidd Plumer, ship sponsors, ordered the officers and crew to "man our ship and bring her to life," and with a response of "aye, aye ma'am," the DDG 100 crew moved through the cheering crowd to man the rails of their ship.

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, 14th Congressional District, Texas, served as keynote speaker and saluted the ship, its crew and their role in the defense of our country.

Vice Adm. Terrance T. Etnyre, commander, Naval Surface Forces, also addressed the crew and admonished them to be ever vigilant.

“To those given much, much is expected. You are the recipients of the best technology and machinery in the fleet. Five hundred and ten feet of sovereign U.S. territory that can go anywhere, anytime without permission. This ship's primary mission will be to ensure peace. We don’t know what you’ll encounter, but with you, this ship becomes a warship, and your country expects you to be ready to fight and win when called to defend it,” said Etnyre.

Cmdr. Richard E. Thomas of Westwood, N.J., is the ship's first commanding officer and will lead a crew of 276 officers and sailors. In his remarks, Thomas proudly recalled the ship’s namesake and encouraged his crew to honor Kidd’s memory with their continued service.

With its myriad of offensive and defensive weapons, the 9,200-ton Kidd is capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously. The ship is also the 50th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to be built and the third to be named in honor of Kidd. The first Kidd, DD 661, was a Fletcher-class destroyer in service from 1943-1974, and is now a floating museum in Baton Rouge, La. The second Kidd, DDG 993, was in service from 1981-1998, and was subsequently sold to Taiwan.

Shipmates from both DD-661 and DDG-993 were in attendance for the commissioning. Among them was Buddy Wolfford, who served as a boiler tender on the first USS Kidd during the Korean War. Seeing the new Kidd caused him to comment on the great differences and improvements between the generations.

“For one thing, we didn’t have air conditioning. And where we had guns, they’ve got missiles. This is a dream ship,” said Wolfford.

In a continuing salute to the past, plaques from the first Kidd commissioning were put on board along with two smaller boats named after Kidd’s granddaughters, Regina and Mary, who serve as the ship’s sponsors. Both ladies were excited and proud to be a part of the event.

The historic port of Galveston was a fitting site for the ceremony. The port is home to the museum-submarine ship USS Cavalla (SS244), who, on her maiden voyage in 1944, sank the 30,000 ton Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku, one of the carriers that launched the attack on Pearl Harbor. As USS Kidd departs for her new homeport in San Diego, her crew will render honors to Cavalla, an acknowledgement of the moment in World War II when the submarine struck an avenging blow to the enemy who had killed over 2,400 Sailors at Pearl Harbor, including the ship's namesake.

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Navy Awards Contract for Undersea Warfare System

(Source: Lockheed Martin; issued July 18, 2007)

MANASSAS, VA. --- Lockheed Martin received two U.S. Navy contracts worth $20.6 million to provide integration engineering and engineering support for the AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 undersea warfare system.

Under the terms of the contracts, Aegis-equipped cruisers and destroyers will be updated to the latest AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 configuration. The system employs an open architecture business model using state-of-the-art commercial computing technology to achieve major performance gains over previous designs, at reduced cost. The U.S. Navy's goal is to achieve a single, common configuration to reduce system life cycle costs while allowing for rapid war fighting improvements.

The AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 is the U.S. Navy surface force’s undersea warfare combat system and is installed on all of the Navy’s Aegis-equipped cruisers and destroyers. Using a variety of underwater sensors, the system detects, classifies and localizes submarines and other undersea threats. It includes a hull-mounted sonar, towed array, a sonobuoy processing system and a fire-control system used to launch weapons against undersea targets, all integrated with the Lockheed Martin-produced Aegis Combat System.

GD Unit Wins $100M for T-AKE Support Ship

(Source: US Department of Defense; issued July 20, 2007)

General Dynamics, National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $100,000,000 fixed-price-incentive modification under previously awarded contract (N00024-02-C-2300) to exercise an option for long lead time material and associated labor for the 10th ship of the T-AKE 1-Class (T-AKE 10).

The contractor will perform material sourcing, material ordering, vendor interface, and material quality assurance.

T-AKE is a new Combat Logistics Force Underway Replenishment Naval vessel intended to replace the current capability of the Kilauea-Class (T-AE 26) Ammunition Ship, Mars-Class (T-AFS 1) Combat Stores Ships, and when operating in concert with a Henry J. Kaiser-Class (T-AO 187) Oiler ship, the Sacramento-Class (AOE 1) Fast Combat Support Ship.

In its primary mission role, the T-AKE will provide logistic lift from sources of supply such as friendly ports, or at sea from specially equipped merchant ships by consolidation, and will transfer cargo (ammunition, food, limited quantities of fuel, repair parts, ship store items, and expendable supplies and material) at sea to station ships and other naval warfare forces.

Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed by September 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C, is the contracting activity.

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LPD 19 Mesa Verde Completes Builder's Trials

(Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.; issued Aug. 20, 2007)

PASCAGOULA, Miss. --- The Northrop Grumman-built amphibious transport dock ship Mesa Verde (LPD 19) successfully completed builder's trials last week, in a collaborative effort involving the U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman.

“We had a very successful trial,'' said Philip Teel, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Ship Systems sector. “The ship is in great shape, and this team performed incredibly well. This ship is ready to serve the Navy.''

Shipbuilders worked on sea trial preparations weeks before the ship sailed the Gulf of Mexico from Aug. 13 to 16. The ship's compartments were 100 percent complete, and all systems and certifications were completed and tested 100 percent to pre-trial requirements.

Rigorous testing was performed on the ship's main propulsion, communications, steering, navigational, radar and other systems. Other exercises included anchor handling, flight operations, compartment air balancing and ballasting/de-ballasting of the well deck, where amphibious landing craft will be launched.

Navy representatives onboard during builder's trials praised the effort and teamwork displayed by Northrop Grumman shipbuilders and Navy personnel.

“Mesa Verde performed wonderfully during builder's sea trials,'' said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Shawn Lobree, LPD 19's prospective commanding officer. “Due to the tremendous teamwork by Northrop Grumman and the Navy, she was fully completed before going to sea, and all major testing was complete. Northrop Grumman is poised to deliver a top-rate warship to the Navy, one which shows pride in workmanship everywhere you look. Mesa Verde is a stout ship with a hearty crew. She will not disappoint!''

Capt. Beth Dexter, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Gulf Coast, remarked, “It was an excellent trial, and I think both the Navy and Northrop Grumman teams can be very proud of LPD 19. It's a good product that we can give to the fleet.''

“The Navy and Northrop Grumman team executed a tremendous ship-completion plan that led to a successful builder's trial,'' said Capt. Bill Galinis, U.S. Navy LPD 17 program manager. “It was an excellent sea trial. This team set the standard for how LPDs will be delivered to the Navy in the future.''

Next month, the U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey team will conduct acceptance trials aboard LPD 19, which will involve more rounds of extensive testing of the ship's major systems. Mesa Verde's mission is to embark, transport and land elements of a landing force in a variety of expeditionary and special operations missions.

Mesa Verde is an LPD 17-class ship. The ship is 208.4 meters (684 feet) long, 31.9 meters (105 feet) wide, and will replace the functions of the LPD 4, LSD 36, LKA 113, and LST 1179 classes of amphibious ships. This new ship class affords the Navy's Expeditionary Strike Group with the technology and flexibility to launch and recover amphibious landing craft such as the Landing Craft Air Cushion, operate an array of rotary-wing aircraft, as well as carry and launch the U.S. Marine Corps' Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.

French Navy Rafales Land Aboard USS Truman

(Source: US Navy; issued May 23, 2005)

USS HARRY S. TRUMAN, At Sea --- USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) cooperated with the French Navy May 21, as French pilots landed on the flight deck to work on their carrier qualifications.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for us because it's a refresher for the pilot and also proved the compatibility of the French planes and the U.S. carriers," said French Navy Capt. Patrick Zimmermann, the commander of the French air group attached to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R 91).

France's navy has worked with the U.S. to practice the coordination of joint maritime security operations during the last six years, and this is the first time a French plane has landed on Truman.

"In 2002 during the beginning of the Afghanistan conflict when we were with the war group of the Stennis [USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74)], we did some cross decks with E-2s," Zimmermann said. "Last year was the first time we experienced some traps on the Enterprise [USS Enterprise (CVN 65)] in July 2007 with the Rafale. The Rafale is a swing barrel airplane like the F-18… [performing the functions of] fighter, attack and air defense."

During the exercise, French pilots accumulated six traps with two Rafales and one E-2C making two traps each. A third Rafale made 13 touch-and-go landings to test how well French planes could handle the stresses of landing on Truman's flight deck, explained Zimmermann.

"What they were doing was trying to test the impact of our carrier on their type of aircraft such as the landing gear and different stresses on the aircraft," said Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Shulman, one of the ship's carrier air group landing signal operators. "That way, they can take a look at when they operate with us this summer, how it's going to affect their aircraft."

With the Charles de Gaulle currently in the ship yards in Toulon, France, Zimmermann noted this is the first time his pilots have conducted carrier landings in almost a year.

Shulman and Lt. Cmdr. Greg Provencher, also a carrier air group landing signal operator, traveled to Landivisiau, a French naval air base, in Brittany, France. There, they observed the capabilities of the French E-2Cs and Rafales to ensure they would be able to successfully land on Truman.

"We went up there primarily to watch their planes land," Sulman said. "One of the prerequisites of them coming out here, was that we'd get a chance to go out there and see what the performance of their aircraft was.

"They brought their guys aboard, and everyone met their counterpart. The French shooters were talking to the American shooters and everyone worked together," said Shulman. "If you looked at this evolution a couple weeks or a month ago, you'd have thought it would be more difficult than it actually was; but, it wasn't difficult because there was a lot of planning."

In July, the French air group is scheduled to conduct flight operations during a joint task force exercise with USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and Carrier Strike Group 8, explained Zimmermann.

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A French Navy Rafale-M combat aircraft approaches the flight deck as it prepares to execute a touch and go on the flight deck of the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). (US Navy photo)

Navy Conducts First Test of Raytheon's Standard Missile 6

(Source: Raytheon Company; issued June 24, 2008)

WHITE SANDS, N.M. --- The U.S. Navy successfully conducted the first test of the Standard Missile 6 extended range anti-air warfare missile produced by Raytheon Company.

The missile, launched from the Navy's Desert Ship at the White Sands Missile Range, successfully intercepted a BQM-74 aerial drone using the newly developed SM-6 active seeker. The active seeker autonomously acquired and engaged the target using the Navy's legacy command system, resulting in a direct hit. This launch demonstrates the first successful integration of the Navy's active missile technology into the weapon system to provide for both near-term advanced anti-air warfare and future over-the-horizon capability.

Standard Missile 6 is being developed by Raytheon to meet the Navy's requirement for an extended range anti-air warfare missile. Expected to deploy in 2011, it provides capability against fixed and rotary wing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles and delivers a transformational over-the-horizon counter to the ever-evolving cruise missile threat. Employing the Standard Missile-2 Block IVA airframe and the newly developed active sensor, Standard Missile 6 will also have an inherent capability to fulfill the Navy's sea-based terminal ballistic missile defense requirement.

SM-6?!?!?! What the hell happened to 4 and 5? They've only just started to deploy the SM-3... Why can't we have this much success putting out new ship classes?

quote:

Originally posted by AoiSonlee:
SM-6?!?!?! What the hell happened to 4 and 5? They've only just started to deploy the SM-3... Why can't we have this much success putting out new ship classes?

I don't know about the SM-5 (I think it was the experimental TBM block variant), but the SM-4 was the land attack version of the SM-2.