Month: October 2023

Source: United States Navy

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro will deliver the principal address. Additional speakers include Adm. James F. Caldwell, director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program; the Honorable Joe Courtney, U.S. representative from Connecticut, and Mr. Kevin Graney, president, General Dynamics Electric Boat.

The submarine’s sponsor is Darleen Greenert, wife of former Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Jonathan Greenert. As part of the commissioning ceremony tradition, Greenert will give the order to “man our ship and bring her to life.”

The future USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795) honors Adm. Hyman G. Rickover, known as the “Father of the Nuclear Navy.” This is the second nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine named in recognition of Rickover. The first Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 709) was commissioned at Submarine Base, New London, in Groton, Connecticut, July 21, 1984.

Rickover served in the Navy for 63 years on active duty. He recognized the military implications of successfully harnessing atomic power for submarine propulsion and forged an agreement with the Atomic Energy Commission. In just seven years, Rickover and his team obtained congressional support to develop an industrial base in a new technology, pioneered new materials, designed, built and operated a prototype, established a training program, and put to sea the first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus (SSN 571) in 1955.

“Adm. Rickover’s impact to our Navy was more than just as a visionary, consequential leader,” said Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti. “This commissioning not only honors his legacy, it is a celebration of our Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and its 75 years of excellence. Much like Adm. Rickover himself, this boat is unmatched in its pursuit of excellence. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this crew.”

Hyman G. Rickover is the fourth Block IV Virginia-class submarine to enter service, designed with enhanced stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements to meet the Navy’s multi-mission requirements. Hyman G. Rickover will provide the Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation’s undersea supremacy well into the 21st century.

The ceremony will be live-streamed at: https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/32640. The link will become active at 9:45 a.m. EST.

Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at (703) 697-5342. More information on the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine programs can be found at: https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2169558/attack-submarines-ssn/

Source: United States Navy

Background: Rear Adm. Christopher Alexander, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Nine relieved Capt. Danielle DeFant as commanding officer of Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) due to a loss of confidence in her ability to command. Capt Brandon Burkett will assume the duties as commanding officer until a permanent relief arrives. DeFant will be reassigned to Commander, U.S. Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Source: United States Navy

The future USS Philadelphia honors the city and citizens of Philadelphia for their extensive maritime legacy. The name selection follows the tradition of naming amphibious transport docks after U.S. cities and cities honoring pioneers.   

“I cannot think of a city with a richer maritime history than Philadelphia. It is the birthplace of American Democracy, as well as the birthplace of both the U.S. Navy and the Marine Corps. Philadelphia is undoubtedly a ‘Navy Town,’ said Secretary Del Toro. “I am pleased to bring in the tie of the birthplace of the Marine Corps to this great ship, one that will carry Marines worldwide.”

Along with the ship’s name, Secretary Del Toro also announced that the ship’s sponsor will be Maureen Paparo, spouse of Adm. Samuel Paparo, the 64th Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Maureen Paparo was born and raised in Philadelphia, grew up in the Oxford Circle neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia, attended St. Martin of Tours Catholic School and Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls, and graduated from Villanova University.  

“I have tremendous gratitude to Secretary of the Navy Del Toro to be appointed sponsor of USS Philadelphia named after our beloved hometown,” said Maureen Paparo. “May the spirit of our great city uplift the Sailors and Marines who sail in her with Honor, Courage and Commitment. Anchored by the unwavering values enshrined in Philadelphia, we sail into the future with hope and unblinking resolve.”

This is the seventh vessel to bear the name of Philadelphia. The first Philadelphia, a Continental Navy gunboat, was launched in August 1776 and placed in service shortly thereafter on Lake Champlain. It sank during a six-hour clash with a Royal Navy squadron during the Battle of Valcour Island on Oct. 11, 1776. The second was a 28-gun frigate (1800–1804) constructed for the Navy by the citizens of Philadelphia. Serving in the Mediterranean Sea during the First Barbary War, it ran aground off Tripoli in October 1803. Captured and refloated by the Tripolitans, it was set ablaze and adrift during a daring attack led by then-Lieutenant Stephen Decatur on Feb. 16, 1804. The third Philadelphia was a side-wheel iron-hulled merchant steamer (1861–1865) that was seized by the Federal Government at the outbreak of the Civil War. It participated in the campaigns in eastern North Carolina in 1862.  The fourth Philadelphia (Cruiser No. 4) (1890–1902) was active during the Second Samoan Civil War in 1899. The fifth Philadelphia (CL 41) (1937–1947) was a Brooklyn­-Class light cruiser that supported Allied operations in North Africa and Italy. The sixth Philadelphia (SSN 690) (1977–2011) was a Los Angeles-Class attack submarine that was later fitted to provide Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle mother ship support. 

The city was home to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard (1801–1995), which constructed numerous Navy vessels including the second Wisconsin (BB 64).  

In 2021, the Navy has issued a $1.295 billion contract modification to HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding for the detail design and construction of LPD-32, then, the last San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock under the service’s current budget plans. 

Amphibious transport dock ships are warships that embark, transport and land elements of a landing force for a variety of expeditionary warfare missions. LPDs are used to transport and land Marines, their equipment, and supplies by embarked Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) or conventional landing craft and amphibious assault vehicles (AAV) augmented by helicopters or vertical take-off and landing aircraft (MV 22). These ships support amphibious assault, special operations, or expeditionary warfare missions and serve as secondary aviation platforms for amphibious operations. 

More information on our amphibious transport dock programs can be found here. 

Source: United States Navy

The Honorable Erik K. Raven, Under Secretary of the Navy, and Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti met with the mayor of Yokosuka, Japan, the Honorable Katsuaki Kamiji, today to thank Mayor Kamiji for Yokosuka’s longstanding history of hosting U.S. Navy assets in the U.S. Seventh Fleet.

The leaders discussed the strong partnership between the Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the United States’ commitment to the defense of Japan.

Raven, Franchetti and Kamiji shared their thoughts on the importance of Allied naval presence in the Indo-Pacific, as well as security and stability in the region. Yokosuka is the only city in the world with a forward-deployed U.S. aircraft carrier, and both leaders spent time discussing the upcoming hull swap between the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and USS George Washington (CVN 73).

Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka is the largest overseas U.S. naval installation in the world, and serves as the home to U.S. Seventh Fleet.

This was Raven and Franchetti’s first meeting with Mayor Kamiji.