Month: May 2024

Source: United States Navy

USVRON Three will oversee a fleet of small, unmanned surface vessels (sUSV) known as Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC).
During the ceremony, Capt. Derek Rader assumed command of the newly established USVRON Three.

“Our Sailors are the essential key for integration of unmanned surface vessels in the Navy and joint construct,” said Rader. “This will be accomplished through experimentation with the fleet testing and doctrine drafted by operators you see today, who embody and execute the warfighting that we need to achieve to enable the full potential of unmanned systems.”

USVs, including the GARCs, will provide additional warfighting capability and capacity to augment the Navy’s traditional combatant force, providing commanders with a greater range of capabilities and employment options to increase the Fleet’s tactical and strategic advantages. The goal for USVs is to provide the fleet with operations in conjunction with carrier strike groups, surface action groups, or even independently.

Manufactured by the Maritime Applied Physics Corporation, GARCs are 16-foot USVs that enable research, testing, and operations that will allow integration throughout the surface, expeditionary, and joint maritime forces.

Commander, Naval Surface Forces U.S. Pacific Fleet Vice Adm. Brendan McLane delivered the keynote speech at the ceremony.

“With challenging obstacles to overcome, we have put the right team in place at USVRON Three, and I believe we have done just that,” McLane said. “The Navy is placing unmanned systems in the hands of 400 of our most talented warfighters to help integrate, scale, experiment, and employ these systems.”

USVRON Three will also incorporate the newest rating, the robotics warfare (RW) specialist into their teams. The rating was announced in February by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). They will enable Robotic Autonomous System (RAS) operations and maintenance at the tactical edge and be the subject matter experts for computer vision, mission autonomy, navigation autonomy, data systems, artificial intelligence, and machine learning on the RAS platforms.

USVRON Three will report to Surface Development Group (SURFDEVGRU) One, under the direction of Cdre. Shea Thompson.

“There are currently no boundaries, and we have an incredible opportunity to determine what right looks like within our sphere of influence,” said Thompson. “And the SURFDEVGRU One and USVRON Three teams are manned by like-minded surface warriors who are making considerable strides in validating small USV capability while laying out a clear path to achieving full operational capability by a timeframe that matters.”

The mission of USVRON Three is to deliver the most formidable, unmanned platforms in the maritime domain. The squadron will be a cornerstone in building the foundational knowledge required to operate and maintain sUSV and will spearhead the development of TTPs for sUSV operations and sustainment. USVRON 3’s motto is “Victory Through Ferocity.”

SURFDEVGRU 1 is responsible for the maintenance, training, and manning oversight for unmanned surface vessels (USV), Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyers, and the future USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002).

The mission of CNSP is to man, train, and equip the Surface Force to provide fleet commanders with credible naval power to control the sea and project power ashore.

For more news from Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visit https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/.

Source: United States Navy

LFWAP, which took place following WSP ARG’s completion of Composite Training Unit Exercise, is a live-fire missile exercise where ships showcase their tactical proficiency and combat systems suites against a simulated threat.
Exercises like LFWAP continue to demonstrate the capabilities of the ship’s weapons systems and warfighting readiness of the watchstanders across the ARG.

“This live fire exercise wasn’t just about hitting targets; it was about honing teamwork and communication under pressure” said Capt. Christopher Purcell, commanding officer of amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), WSP ARG’s flagship. “I’m incredibly proud of the way this crew came together to achieve such a high level of performance.”

The WSP ARG consists of Wasp, San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), and the embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capable (24MEU(SOC)).

The 24th MEU (SOC) is a rapidly deployable Marine Air-Ground Task Force that consists of: Battalion Landing Team 1/8, the Ground Combat Element; Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced), the Aviation Combat Element; and Combat Logistics Battalion 24, and the Logistics Combat Element.

During the live-fire exercise, Wasp, New York and Oak Hill detected, tracked and engaged with BQM-177A aerial targets. The BQM-177A is a surface-launched, recoverable, remotely piloted, fixed-wing target capable of speeds just short of Mach 1 and altitudes up to 40,000 feet. The aerial target is designed to mimic some of the airborne threats deployed in different areas of operation around the world.

“This was a mission success” said Capt. Nakia Cooper, commodore of Amphibious Squadron Four. “Live fire events like this are invaluable for maintaining our combat edge and ensures the WSP ARG remains a ready force.”

In addition to LFWAP, Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC)-provided training includes the flagship underway training of Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT), in which Warfare Tactics Instructors (WTIs) oversea multi-warfare events to build watchstander confidence and competence with combat systems and warfighting doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures.

To learn more about WASP ARG and 24th MEU(SOC) Team of Teams visit their DVIDS feature page at https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/wasparg24thmeu.

You can find Amphibious Squadron 4 on Facebook and DVIDS at https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/PHIBRON4.

You can find the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit on Facebook, Twitter (@the24MEU), Instagram (@24MEU), and DVIDS at https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/24MEU.

You can find USS Wasp on Facebook, Instagram (@usswasp_lhd1) and DVIDS at https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/USSWASP.

You can find USS New York on Facebook, Instagram (@uss_newyork) and DVIDS at https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/LPD21.

You can find USS Oak Hill on Facebook and DVIDS at https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/LSD-51.

Source: United States Navy

MONTEREY, Calif. — The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) hosted the 21st annual Acquisition Research Symposium on May 8-9 in Monterey, Calif., bringing together experts from government, military, industry, and academia to explore the impact of defense acquisition on the delivery of innovative and necessary warfighting capabilities.

Source: United States Navy

Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jim Kilby received the ship’s bell of USS Jacob Jones (DD 61) on behalf of the U.S. Navy from the U.K. Royal Navy’s Second Sea Lord Vice Adm. Martin Connell during a ceremony at Lancaster House in London, England, May 15.

“Bells have huge significance and symbolism. They are a central part of our ships,” said Connell. “When I was fortunate enough to command an aircraft carrier, the ship’s name was HMS Illustrious, it was the fifth named ship. The fourth ship was also an aircraft carrier and received action damage in the Second World War. That bell from that fourth ship sat outside my cabin, and it was a daily reminder sort of to me and all of my Sailors about what happens in war. This bell was ripped apart with the blast damage that it received at the time. That bell now sits in the Chief of Naval Operations’ dining room in the Pentagon. It is another symbol of the U.K., U.S., Royal Navy, United States Navy relationship.”

“This bell serves as a remembrance of the 64 Sailors aboard Jacob Jones who made the ultimate sacrifice defending the freedom of our country and those who challenged it,” said Kilby. “As the first U.S. destroyer lost in combat, her crew’s legacy will live on, their stories will be told and their loss will be remembered as we preserve this piece of our nation’s story. Our Navy expresses our sincerest gratitude to those who made it possible to take this incredible artifact of somber history back home.”

USS Jacob Jones (DD 61) was the first U.S. Navy destroyer lost to enemy action, sinking eight minutes after being struck by a torpedo fired from German submarine U-53 on Dec. 6, 1917. Out of the seven officers and 103 men on board at the time of the attack, 64 lost their lives.

The shipwreck was discovered off the Isles of Scilly, England, in August 2022 by technical divers. Since the discovery, multi-lateral efforts involving SALMO, the UK’s National Oceanography Centre, Wessex Archaeology, and NHHC aim to fully document and study the wreck site in support of its interpretation and long-term preservation. The continued cooperation between the UK Ministry of Defence and the U.S. Navy fortifies the historical bonds and mutual dedication to honoring and preserving a shared naval history.

The bell – recovered in January 2024 by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence’s Salvage and Marine Operations (SALMO) team with support from NHHC – was initially stabilized by Wessex Archaeology. Following NHHC Underwater Archaeology branch conservation efforts, the bell is intended for display in the future new National Museum of the U.S. Navy.

“NHHC’s goal is to document and preserve this artifact in the Command’s Conservation, Research, and Archaeology Laboratory and prepare it for long-term curation and display in the new National Museum of the U.S. Navy. We believe the bell will offer a tangible way for the public to connect and learn about the story of Jacob Jones and U.S. Navy’s role in World War I,” said NHHC Archaeological Conservator Shanna Daniel.

“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who made this important recovery possible,” said NHHC Director, Sam Cox, retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. “World War I marked a pivotal moment in our collective history. In escorting convoys of soldiers and supplies across the Atlantic, the Jacob Jones contributed significantly to the ultimate Allied victory. The ultimate sacrifice of many of her crew demonstrates that victory has a cost, and freedom isn’t free. We should never forget these courageous sailors. The remains of the ship are a war grave, and it is normally Navy policy to leave such wrecks undisturbed. However, due to significant risk the bell could be plundered, this recovery represents an exceptional case. After final conservation the bell of the Jacob Jones will be displayed in the National Museum of the United States Navy in honor of the gallant crew of this ship, and especially the 64 men who did not survive.”

The wreck of USS Jacob Jones (DD 61) 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 who gave their life in defense of the nation and should be respected by all parties as a war grave.

For more information regarding the sinking of USS Jacob Jones (DD 61), visit: www.history.navy.mil/research/underwater-archaeology/sites-and-projects/ship-wrecksites/uss-jacob-jones-dd-61.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.

Note to Media: For more information, contact the Naval History and Heritage Command Public Affairs Office at 202-433-7880 or nhhc_publicaffairs@us.navy.mil.

Source: United States Navy

SECNAV Del Toro welcomes home from deployment the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64), May 19, and he awarded the crew a Navy Unit Commendation (NUC) for “outstanding performance against terrorist forces during their nearly eight-month deployment.”