Month: May 2024

Source: United States Navy

The staff talks were an opportunity to conduct a tri-Service meeting between the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps and UK Royal Navy to assess progress on their shared Strategic Approach plan, known as “Delivering Combined Seapower” or DCS. DCS is a bilateral tri-service strategic approach plan that supports cooperation, collaboration, and integration among U.S. and U.K. maritime services.

“The U.K. is one of our longest standing allies and our partnership is fundamental to maritime peace and prosperity across the globe,” said Dwyer. “In an increasingly challenging security environment, our dialogue is crucial to reinforcing shared values and priorities.”

During the talks, the delegations discussed interoperability of the joint force, U.S.-U.K. interchangeability, and the collective commitment to safeguarding global maritime interests and promoting a rules-based international order.

“These annual staff talks have a sharp focus on improving our combined warfighting abilities,” said Connell. “‘Delivering Combined Seapower’ sets the ambition for Royal Navy, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps collaboration for the year ahead.”

Recently, U.S. and UK naval forces conducted a bilateral mine countermeasures exercise Poseidon’s Chalice in the Arabian Sea from Feb. 24 – March 16. The primary focus of the exercise was to maximize training opportunities in mine warfare and explosive ordinance disposal training.

This was conducted through an integration of naval assets from the Royal Navy and U.S. Navy, and additional training opportunities to include: mine sweeping elements, anti-terrorism operations, small boat operations, an underway replenishment-at-sea and damage control drill.

These recent exercises and today’s staff talks strengthen the ironclad partnership between the United Kingdom and the United States.

The Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development (N7) is charged with advancing Navy Warfighting advantage in order to deter, dissuade and deny, or defeat adversaries.

Source: United States Navy

Using data collected and provided by Tim Taylor, CEO of Tiburon Subsea and the Lost 52 Project, NHHC’s Underwater Archaeology Branch confirmed the wreck site they discovered as the final resting place of USS Harder (SS 257).

Taylor received a Distinguished Public Service Award from the Navy in 2021 for Lost 52 Project’s work to locate, discover and memorialize the 52 submarines lost during World War II. Previous submarines located by Lost 52 project include USS Grayback (SS 208), USS Stickleback (SS 415), USS R-12 (SS 89), USS S-26 (SS 131), USS S-28 (SS 133), and USS Grunion (SS 216).

The first USS Harder (SS 257) was commissioned on Dec. 2, 1942, with Cmdr. Samuel D. Dealey in command; and lost at sea with 79 souls aboard on Aug. 24, 1944.

Resting at a depth of more than 3,000 feet, the vessel sits upright on her keel relatively intact except for the depth-charge damage aft of the conning tower. Submarines by their very design can be a challenge to identify, but the excellent state of preservation of the site and the quality of the data collected by Lost 52 allowed for NHHC to confirm the identity of the wreck as Harder.

“Harder was lost in the course of victory. We must not forget that victory has a price, as does freedom,” said NHHC Director Samuel J. Cox, U.S. Navy rear admiral (retired). “We are grateful that Lost 52 has given us the opportunity to once again honor the valor of the crew of the ‘Hit ‘em HARDER’ submarine that sank the most Japanese warships – in particularly audacious attacks – under her legendary skipper, Cmdr. Sam Dealey.”

Harder’s fifth war patrol was the submarine’s most successful. Harder depleted the critical supply of destroyers by sinking three of them and heavily damaging or destroying two others in four days, and her frequent attacks resulted in Adm. Ozawa’s Mobile Fleet departing Tawi-Tawi a day ahead of schedule. The premature departure upset the Japanese battle plans and forced Ozawa to delay his carrier force in the Philippine Sea, contributing to the defeat suffered by the Japanese in the ensuing battle.

The submarine’s last known location was in the South China Sea off Luzon during her sixth and final war patrol. Early on Aug. 22, Harder and USS Haddo (SS 255) attacked and destroyed three escort ships off Bataan – Harder sinking escort ships Matsuwa and Hiburi. Joined by USS Hake (SS 256) that night, the coordinated attack group headed for Caiman Point, Luzon. At dawn on Aug. 23, Haddo attacked and fatally damaged the destroyer Asakaze off Cape Bolinao. Haddo informed Harder and Hake that her torpedoes were expended and left for replenishment. Harder and Hake remained off Dasol Bay, searching for new targets. Before dawn on Aug. 24, Hake sighted the escort ship CD-22 and Patrol Boat No. 102. As Hake closed to attack, the patrol boat turned away toward Dasol Bay. Hake broke off approach, turned northward, sighting Harder’s periscope 600 to 700 yards dead ahead. Swinging southward, Hake sighted CD-22 about 2,000 yards off her port quarter. To escape, Hake went deep and rigged for silent running. At 07:28 Hake’s crew reported hearing fifteen rapid depth charges explode in the distance astern. Hake continued evasive action, returning to the attack area shortly after noon to sweep the area at periscope depth – only finding a ring of marker buoys covering a radius of one-half mile. Japanese records later revealed Harder fired three torpedoes at CD-22. The Japanese ship evaded the torpedoes and began a series of depth charge attacks at 07:28. The fifth depth charge attack sinking Harder and her crew.

Harder received the Presidential Unit Citation for her first five patrols, six battle stars for World War II service. Cmdr. Dealey was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his outstanding contribution to the war effort on Harder’s fifth patrol. Dealey’s other awards included a Navy Cross (Sept. 1943) for Harder’s first war patrol; a Gold Star in lieu of second Navy Cross (Nov. 1943) for second war patrol; second Gold Star in lieu of third Navy Cross (Feb. 1944) for third war patrol; the Distinguished Service Cross (July 1944); a third Gold Star in lieu of forth Navy Cross (July 1944) for forth war patrol; and the Silver Star (posthumously, Oct. 1948) for the sixth war patrol.

The wreck of USS Harder (SS 257) is a U.S. sunken military craft protected by U.S. law and under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Navy. While non-intrusive activities, such as remote sensing documentation, on U.S. Navy sunken military craft are allowed, any activity that may result in the disturbance of a sunken military craft must be coordinated with NHHC and, if appropriate, authorized through a relevant permitting program. Most importantly, the wreck represents the final resting place of Sailors that gave their life in defense of the nation and should be respected by all parties as a war grave.

For more information on USS Harder (SS 257), visit www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/harder-i.html.

NHHC, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is responsible for preserving, analyzing, and disseminating U.S. naval history and heritage. It provides the knowledge foundation for the Navy by maintaining historically relevant resources and products that reflect the Navy’s unique and enduring contributions through our nation’s history and supports the fleet by assisting with and delivering professional research, analysis, and interpretive services. NHHC comprises many activities, including the Navy Department Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, 10 museums, USS Constitution repair facility, and the historic ship Nautilus.

Source: United States Navy

NEW YORK (May 23, 2024) – Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti traveled to New York to meet with future Sailors and their families and engage with Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen during Fleet Week New York, May 23.

Fleet Week New York, now in its 36th year, is a time-honored sea service celebration that gives citizens of New York City and the surrounding Tri-State Region the opportunity to witness today’s maritime capabilities first-hand. It also provides service members the opportunity to experience New York City and tell their stories to the American people.

CNO started the visit speaking with media at the Rockefeller Center, where she highlighted the importance of the Navy and emphasized the value of service to our Nation. She also had the opportunity to meet with the Navy Band and Fleet Week attendees in the Today Show Plaza.

“It’s an honor to lead our amazing team. We’ve got about 600,000 Active and Reserve Sailors and civilians deployed around the world,” said Franchetti. “We preserve the peace, we’re ready to respond in crisis and, if necessary, win decisively in war. We have a Carrier Strike Group in the Western Pacific, we have another one going around South America, and of course we have the USS Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group leading Operation Prosperity Guardian in the Red Sea to protect the free flow of commerce. Your Navy is out there every day protecting our way of life and I couldn’t be more proud.”

Following her visit to Times Square, CNO visited the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) to meet with future Sailors currently in the delayed entry program, local Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) scholarship recipients and prospective United States Naval Academy Midshipmen, and their families.

CNO took the opportunity to thank families for their support and fielded questions about what to expect in the Navy. CNO also highlighted her priorities for America’s Warfighting Navy: Warfighting, Warfighters, and the Foundation that supports them.

“I’m proud to welcome you to the Navy team – the opportunities you will have in the Navy are endless, and I want to thank you for making the choice to serve something greater than yourself,” Franchetti told the future Sailors. She then told the parents, “Thank you for the support you’ve provided your kids along the way. It is your love, steadfast support, and encouragement for them to be their best that got them here, and the Navy is committed to making them the strongest version of themselves. Welcome to our Navy family.”

While in New York, Franchetti was honored with the Intrepid Freedom Award at the Intrepid Museum’s Salute to Freedom gala held aboard the decommissioned USS Intrepid (CV-11).

“I am truly honored to accept this award. This award is testament to the hard work and success of the Sailors I’ve led and the missions we’ve supported throughout my 38-year career,” said Franchetti. “With an average of 110 ships and 70,000 Sailors and Marines deployed at sea on any given day, the Navy-Marine Corps team is delivering power for peace, deterring potential adversaries, and standing ready to fight and win our Nation’s wars. I could not be more proud of our Navy team, and am grateful to accept this award on their behalf.”

This was CNO’s first trip to New York since her confirmation.

Source: United States Navy

Good afternoon, Michigan!

It is absolutely wonderful to be with you on this very special day in Ann Arbor—the heart of the Wolverine State.

I wouldn’t miss being with you for the world.

I flew all night from Hawaii—directly from meeting with our nation’s top commanders in the Pacific—but I know I’m probably not the only one here that pulled an all-nighter—ah, to be young again.

Family, friends, loved ones, and supporters of the graduating class—thank you for being here to see your graduates achieve their academic dreams. 

I know how important friends and family have been in everything I’ve achieved in my own life. 

You have labored, you have encouraged, and you have sacrificed to get these graduates to this moment.

The students graduating today—and indeed all of us—owe you a debt of gratitude.

I was thrilled when I received your invitation to be the commencement speaker at undeniably one of our nation’s greatest universities. 

The opportunity to join you here today is one of the great honors of my life.

I am humbled and profoundly grateful to share this life milestone with you.

This institution means a lot to the United States Navy and has for a century and a half.

Indeed, this engineering school, at this university, in this state, play an indispensable role in our national life. 

You are the industrial and manufacturing heartland of America.

Many of you will make your careers here in this “pleasant peninsula” on America’s Northern Coast.

And I am committed to growing our Department’s relationships with all of you in the years to come.

This school is truly a national treasure. 

As one example relevant to the Navy, it is the last R1 school in America that teaches Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from undergrad through postdoc.

The future of naval architecture and marine engineering education is a central pillar of my Maritime Statecraft initiative. 

And the University of Michigan is at the forefront of our efforts to rebuild our shipbuilding industry and restore our nation’s comprehensive maritime power.

In fact, this university is one of our Department’s foremost academic partners.

Wolverine engineers lead the way in nearly every field of consequence to our Navy and Marine Corps, from expanding our understanding of traumatic brain injuries, to spearheading hypersonic flight, to developing complex turbulence models to make better materials for our ships.

Let me be clear: America would not have the world’s most powerful Navy and Marine Corps if not for our 150-year partnership.

In fact, for as long as you have played football at Michigan, the Department of the Navy has been your teammate.

In 1879, Congress authorized a Naval officer—Ensign Mortimer Cooley—to teach “steam engineering and iron shipbuilding” at this esteemed institution.

He became this university’s fifth professor of engineering, the youngest professor in your history, and eventually your second—and longest serving—Dean of Engineering.

President Gerald Ford—perhaps Michigan’s second most famous graduate behind Tom Brady—served in the Navy during World War 2 aboard USS Monterey (CVL 26) and his heroic actions helped save his ship from sinking.

And while you might know you’re one of only five universities with a President and a Super Bowl winning quarterback among your alumni, you may not believe the Naval Academy is in that exclusive group with you—but it is.

More importantly, another thing we share is the iconic Admiral Arleigh Burke—one of our most consequential and beloved Chiefs of Naval Operations—our nation’s highest uniformed naval leader.

And Secretary Donald Winter—74th Secretary of the Navy—received his P-H-D from this school and later taught in the university’s preeminent Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering program.

I make a point of surrounding myself with our nation’s very best, and that is why I also have Wolverines in key positions throughout my staff.

There’s my White House Fellow, Dr. Monica Dus—a professor of neuroscience here and a fellow first generation American. 

There’s Howard Fireman—Vice Chair of my Science and Technology Board and himself a NAME [NAH-mee] graduate. 

And Dr. David Singer—a professor in that same department—is an expert consultant on the future of our Navy.

Although in full disclosure, I do have a Buckeye on one of my boards. My good friend Vice Admiral Ted Carter is the president of a small state school a few hours south of here.

Seriously, we need more Michigan alumni on our Department of the Navy team.

For those of you who may not have a job lined up yet and want to come work for us, I know a guy who might be able to hook you up.

After all, “blue and gold” and “maize and blue” are pretty similar.

Like me, I know there are many of you out there who are the first in your family to go to college.

I know that some of you are fellow first-generation Americans.

And I remember how relieved I was at my own graduation.

I had just survived four years of electrical engineering at the Naval Academy—and I can assure you that I was nowhere near the top of my class. I am now, though!

But it was worth it. 

At that moment I could have never imagined pursuing a master’s in Space Systems Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School.

And I certainly never imagined that I would one day become an entrepreneur and start my own engineering firm. 

No matter where you stand in this class, know that the sky is the limit.

I am living proof of that.

So Class of 2024, Congratulations.

I cannot wait to see what you do with your world class education. This is indeed a momentous occasion.

During your time here on campus, you have pushed yourselves to tackle complex problems, to envision solutions, and to bring those solutions to life.

You’ve mastered the fundamentals of physics, mathematics, and the balance of design and construction.

You’ve made lifelong friends and cherished memories.

Your football team even won a national championship.

Your resilience—after beginning your studies at the height of the COVID pandemic—is truly remarkable.

And now, you’re on the precipice of your own professional journeys.

What you do now is up to you.

My one piece of advice to you is that you don’t have to be the captain of the ship, the admiral commanding the fleet, or the CEO of a company in the future.

You don’t need a title to be successful.

What’s most important is to find the jobs where you value the work you’re doing—where you can thrive, and where you can enjoy the journey and pursue your passions in life.

Don’t let your ambitions for the future keep you from making the most of the present.

Because really, life is a collection of moments lived.

So I’d like to take a moment to talk about something that has been important to my own journey: service.

When your former Dean and my fellow Naval Academy grad, Mortimer Cooley—who I mentioned earlier—ran for Senate in 1924, he said:

“I am convinced that we, as engineers, have a duty to perform for the public which we have not realized, and if I can inspire the engineers to take an active interest in public affairs…I shall consider the race won.”

As a fellow engineer in the nation’s service, I couldn’t agree more.

And service can be as local or as global as you wish.

Every act of service, big or small, technical or social, strengthens the communities you touch and paves the way for a brighter future.

After all, it was at a commencement right here in Ann Arbor, that Lyndon Johnson called on Americans to aspire to a “Great Society.”

And in 1960, on the steps of your Michigan Union, that candidate and former Naval officer John F. Kennedy first described his idea for the organization that would become the Peace Corps.

In those remarks, he asked the Michigan students, the people of Ann Arbor, and the people of Michigan, to, and I quote:

“join in building a stronger country, to demonstrate…in the most difficult time in the history of the free world…to help in building here the kind of society which will serve as an example ” to any who wish for freedom.

He challenged the audience to transcend their own lives and become active participants in shaping our nation to serve as a beacon of hope for the world. 

His call to action wasn’t simply about individual service, but about collective action in building a stronger, more just society.

More than that, though—he asked them to be leaders… Leaders.

Leadership isn’t about giving orders from the top of the corporate ladder or from the Office of the Secretary of the Navy.

Leadership is about inspiring others, fostering collaboration, and driving innovation towards a common purpose.

And in my experience, service and leadership are linked together.

They are about changing the world in ways big and small.

They are about the everyday acts of kindness, compassion, and dedication.

They’re about using your skills and knowledge to lift up those around you.

To bridge divides.

Our job as leaders—and all of you are leaders; after all, your fight song calls you the “leaders and the best”—is to make things better for those we lead and protect.

Imagine the young graduate who not only designs a fuel-efficient cargo ship, but who also leads a team to develop new, clean-burning propulsion technologies.

Picture the marine engineer who prioritizes both cutting-edge technology and environmental sustainability, leading efforts to minimize the impact of shipping on our delicate ecosystems—including that of the Great Lakes.

True success isn’t measured only by patents or profits, but by your positive impact on the lives of others, on the health of our oceans and lakes, and indeed on the future of our planet.

Let’s be frank—it’s not people my age who are going to solve the challenges facing our society, our nation, or indeed the world in the decades ahead.

It’s going to be young people like you.

Whether it is taking action to reduce the effects of climate change, building sustainable cities, advancing the transition to electric vehicles, developing fusion energy, or landing on Mars—it will be accomplished by people like you.

And much, much younger than me.

The future today is brighter because of all of you—and if any of you want to join the Navy or Marine Corps, I’d be happy to administer the oath right after the ceremony!

And if you want your parents to join you, let me know and we’ll sign them up too!

Thank you again for this honor, congratulations again, and may God grant all of you, this beautiful state, this venerable institution, our Navy, our Marine Corps, and indeed our nation fair winds and following seas.

Go Blue!

Source: United States Navy

The future USS Hamilton honors Secretary of the Treasury and Founder of the U. S. Coast Guard Alexander Hamilton and the crews of previous Navy vessels to bear the name. 

“Secretary Hamilton was a fierce advocate for our Nation to establish a Navy. He understood that we, as a maritime nation, needed to establish ourselves from the outset as a maritime power, both commercial and naval,” said Secretary Del Toro. “USS Hamilton, once constructed, will sail around the world, representing the freedom and ideals its namesake spent his life advocating for.” 

During the Revolutionary War, Hamilton served for four years as an aide-de-camp for General George Washington and later, in 1781, commanded a light infantry battalion at the battle of Yorktown.  He subsequently contributed significantly to the adoption of the United States Constitution by serving as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, drafting a large portion of the Federalist Papers, and providing pivotal support for New York’s adoption of the proposed document.   

As President Washington’s first Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton was the architect of policies that greatly strengthened the country’s credit and economy.  He consistently advocated for a strong Navy, and encouraged the development of dock yards, naval arsenals, and shore facilities.  To counter the large number of smugglers who were undercutting the new nation’s finances by evading import taxes, Secretary Hamilton in 1790 spurred the establishment of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service—forerunner of today’s United States Coast Guard.  Ships previously named in honor of Alexander Hamilton have served in the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Revenue Cutter Service.  

USS Hamilton, the fifth of the new Constellation-class frigates, was appropriated in 2024. The other ships in the class are USS Constellation (FFG 62), USS Congress (FFG 63), USS Chesapeake (FFG 64), and USS Lafayette (FFG 65), which Secretary Del Toro named last year in France. 

The Constellation-class guided-missile frigate represents the Navy’s next generation small surface combatant. This ship class will be an agile, multi-mission warship, capable of operations in both blue-water and littoral environments, providing increased combat-credible forward presence that provides a military advantage at sea. 

The Constellation-class will have multi-mission capability to conduct air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, electronic warfare, and information operations. 

More information on guided missile frigates can be found here.  

Read Secretary Del Toro’s full remarks online.