Month: May 2023

Source: United States Navy

Bauernschmidt successfully completed her command tour, marking a milestone in U.S. naval history – being the first woman to command an aircraft carrier.

“Lincoln’s strength is the Sailors,” Bauernschmidt said addressing the crew. “What we all do matters and our hard work makes the difference.”

During her 21 months of command, the Sailors of Abraham Lincoln completed a seven-month deployment to the U.S. 7th and 3rd Fleet Area of Operations, culminating in the Lincoln serving as the flagship for the largest Rim of the Pacific Exercise to date with 32 coalition partners.

“There remain complicated challenges around the globe,” said Bauernschmidt. ‘We must remain steadfast in doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do. I know under Capt. Riebe’s leadership you will continue to strive for excellence in daily tasks and cohesion across Lincoln Nation, addressing obstacles, remaining ready and continuing your development into the most effective, powerful and trusted fighting force.”

Other significant events during Bauernschmidt’s tenure include Lincoln hosting the first Marine Corps F-35C squadron integrated into the Air Wing of the Future and hosting the NCAA Armed Forces Classic basketball game on Lincoln’s flight deck in San Diego.

Rear Adm. Kevin Lenox, Commander, Carrier Strike Group Three, presided over the ceremony.

“Over the course of her CVN command tour, Capt. Bauernschmidt has shown herself to be an immensely impactful leader,” said Lenox. “She did this job as well I as I have ever seen it done, by anyone.”

“At sea, she led 5000 Sailors, operating forward, supporting the international rules based order, ready to compete and prevail at any level on the spectrum of conflict,” Lenox continued. “Once home she prepared her ship for extensive improvements ensuring that USS Abraham Lincoln will emerge later this year with the Navy’s newest combat capabilities, ready again answer the nation’s call.”

Bauernschmidt was awarded the Legion of Merit for her superior accomplishments and will report to Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet for her next tour of duty.

A time-honored naval tradition, the ceremony allows the crew to formally acknowledge the passing of command from the current commanding officer to the next.

Capt. Riebe takes command of Lincoln after serving as Commanding Officer of USS Anchorage (LPD 23) and executive officer of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). He completed the Aviation Nuclear Officer training pipeline in 2018 and has accumulated more than 3,800 flight hours throughout his career.

“Thank you and congratulations to Capt. Bauernschmidt,” said Riebe. “Clearly you have led this ship and crew well, and I’m thankful for the thorough and complete turnover. I look forward to seeing your continued success in the Navy and know that you are always welcome on Abraham Lincoln.”

“Our mission is no-fail and America is counting on us,” Riebe said, addressing the crew. “We are a critical cog for the United States to maintain our maritime superiority and military dominance. We will ensure that we are ready and focused on maintaining the warfighting advantage needed to win.”

Capt. Bauernschmidt commissioned in 1994, was designated a Naval Aviator in 1996. She was one of the first women to be assigned to a combat squadron in the Navy after the combat exclusion policy for women was lifted in 1993.

This year, the U.S. Navy commemorates 50 years of women flying in the Navy. The first class of women entered flight school in 1973 and one year later, six of those women earned their wings of gold.

USS Abraham Lincoln is home-ported at Naval Air Station North Island. For more information visit www.facebook.com/Lincoln or https://www.airpac.navy.mil/Organization/USS-Abraham-Lincoln-CVN-72/.

For complete coverage of the change of command ceremony, please visit https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/USSAL-CVN72.

Source: United States Navy

Sailors from RAN sailed aboard Ronald Reagan for the week to exchange knowledge with U.S. Navy Sailors in their career field.

“I’m proud to have hosted a highly professional and motivated group of Royal Australian Navy sailors,” said Rear Adm. Buzz Donnelly, commander, Task Force 70. “They all excelled in representing their Navy, their country, and their culture with outstanding expertise, enthusiasm, and passion for the important role that they provide in naval service.”

The RAN sailors each support the maritime supply mission as culinary specialists and supply chain management.

“Working here on the aircraft carrier has been an eye-opening experience,” said RAN Able Seaman Amanda Ward, from Injune, Queensland, Australia. “The ship I work on, HMAS Supply, is a refueling ship with around 180 to 200 people. I’ve learned a lot in a short time about the massive amount of work it takes to supply a ship like Ronald Reagan and take care of a crew this large.”

The U.S. Navy and RAN have worked closely as partners for over 80 years.

On March 15, 2023 Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, U.S. 7th Fleet, celebrated the 80th anniversary of the formation of 7th Fleet in Brisbane, Australia where the U.S. Fleet was formed.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

CTF 70 and the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operation conducting routine operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Source: United States Navy

Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces, visited crewmembers as the U.S. Navy increases the rotation of ships and aircraft patrolling the strategic maritime chokepoint.

Cooper was joined by Joint Commander of the French Forces Deployed in the Indian Ocean Vice Adm. Emmanuel Slaars, and United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander Commodore Philip Dennis. While aboard, the leaders met with Paul Hamilton leadership, observed patrol operations and thanked crewmembers for their efforts.

“The Paul Hamilton team is doing remarkable work as we step up our patrols with regional allies and partners,” said Cooper. “This effort is about enhancing our collective vigilance and presence.”

During the transit through the narrow strait, Paul Hamilton and UK Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster (F 229) passed one another as Cooper, Slaars and Dennis observed. Lancaster arrived in the region last year and recently seized 3,000 kilograms of hashish worth $6 million from a fishing vessel transiting the Arabian Sea, May 8.

Paul Hamilton has been operating in the Middle East since February after departing its San Diego homeport in January.

Source: United States Navy

The future USS Canberra (LCS 30) will join the U.S. Navy active fleet on July 22 with the U.S. Navy’s first international commissioning ceremony at the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Base East in Sydney, Australia.

Canberra is the first U.S. Navy warship to be commissioned in an allied country. It is the second U.S. Navy ship to bear the namesake of Canberra.

“I can think of no better way to signify our enduring partnership with Australia than celebrating the newest U.S. Navy warship named for Australia’s capital city, and commissioning her in Royal Australian Navy Fleet Base East surrounded by many of the Australian ships we have worked alongside for years,” said Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro. “I look forward to this momentous day for the ship, crew, sponsor, and all our partners in government and industry who worked tirelessly to give the future USS Canberra the celebration it deserves.” 

Australian Chief of Navy, Vice Adm. Mark Hammond said this historic event encapsulates both the depth of the historical ties, and modern day partnership between the Royal Australian Navy and the U.S. Navy.  

“This is a unique demonstration of respect by the U.S. for the Officers and Sailors of the Royal Australian Navy,” said Hammond. “It is an opportunity to reflect on our shared history, and on a friendship forged while fighting side-by-side. On August 9, 1942 the RAN heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra was severely damaged off Guadalcanal (Solomon Islands) while protecting the U.S. Marines fighting ashore. In a surprise attack by a powerful Japanese naval force, Canberra was hit 24 times in less than two minutes and 84 of her crew were killed including Captain Frank Getting”

“I look forward to welcoming the U.S. Navy, and the crew of USS Canberra to Australia and we are honored to host the U.S. Navy’s first international commissioning. It will be a historical event to see the USS Canberra and HMAS Canberra alongside each other in Sydney. As we look to the future, the strength of our partnership remains a cornerstone of a secure, stable, free and open Indo-Pacific Region.”

The first USS Canberra (CA-70/CAG-2) was named at the direction of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in honor of the Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra for the ship’s courageous actions during the Battle of Savo Island that took place Aug. 7-9, 1942. The new Baltimore-class heavy cruiser was renamed Canberra from Pittsburgh on Oct. 16, 1942, and was commissioned on Oct. 14, 1943.

Canberra will soon begin the transit for the Navy’s first international ship commissioning making stops along the transit in Indo-Pacific nations prior to its arrival in Sydney for commissioning. 

A visit to the Australian capital city of Canberra is planned the day after commissioning, continuing the U.S. Navy tradition of building a strong relationship with namesake communities. 

The ship’s sponsor is Australian Senator, the Honourable Marise Payne, the former Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs who attended the ship’s keel laying ceremony in Mobile, Ala. in 2020. The ship was christened June 5, 2021, by Alison Petchell, the Australian Government’s Defence Assistant Secretary for Industrial Capability Planning in the Nuclear Submarines Taskforce and former Minister Counsellor for Defense Materiel, on behalf of Senator Payne. The ship arrived for the first time at its homeport of San Diego last year.

The first U.S. Navy ship named after a foreign capital, Canberra (CA-70) was sponsored by Lady Alice C. Dixon, the wife of Sir Owen Dixon, then Australian Minister to the United States. Following World War II, Canberra was placed out of commission and in reserve on March 7, 1947. Five years later, the ship was selected to be the U.S. Navy’s second guided missile cruiser. The ship was re-commissioned on June 15, 1956, as guided missile heavy cruiser CAG-2. 
With its new designation, Canberra transported President Dwight D. Eisenhower and later was the ceremonial flagship for the selection of the Unknown Serviceman of both World War II and Korea interned at Arlington National Cemetery, was the Commander of the Atlantic Fleet Cruiser Force flagship, conducted an around the globe goodwill cruise, provided medical assistance to the crew of the Turkish merchantman Mehmet Ipar, was the Commander Task Group 136.1 flagship that was charged with maintaining a blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and served in Korea and Vietnam. To highlight the ship’s role in naval gunfire support following operations in Vietnam, Canberra was re-designated to original classification and identification number CA-70 on May 1, 1968.

Canberra received seven battle stars for her service in World War II. The ship was decommissioned on Feb. 2, 1970, and was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on July 31, 1978.

The present day USS Canberra is the 16th Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy. LCS are designed to be fast, optimally-manned, mission-tailored, surface combatants that operate in both littoral and open-ocean environments. LCS integrate with joint, combined, crewed, and unmanned systems to support forward-presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe. The future USS Canberra was built by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama.