Month: September 2024

Source: United States Navy

WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro attended a closed briefing at the Capitol with the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, chaired by Hon. Ken Calvert (CA-41) with Ranking Member Rep. Betty McCollum (MN-4), to discuss a $1.95 billion request to fully fund submarines authorized in Fiscal Year 24, Sept. 19, 2024. 

After recognizing the thousands of Sailors, Marines, civilians, and their families who are either stationed or deployed all over the world, Secretary Del Toro recognized the importance of submarine acquisitions amidst the challenges of fiscal constraints. 

“Our submarines truly are the apex predators of the sea, both technically and quantitatively superior to any submarines fielded by our adversaries—principally, our pacing threat, the People’s Republic of China, and our acute threat, Russia,” said Del Toro. “Submarines provide our Navy and our nation a critical, asymmetric advantage—which is why they have and will remain our number one acquisition priority.” 

The Secretary has been advocating for improvements to the maritime industrial base, and to increase funding to ensure the Navy meets its acquisition objectives. 

To demonstrate fiscal responsibility, the Navy has stood up an independent Naval Cost Agency to improve cost estimations and created a Maritime Industrial Base program to manage the funding supporting the industrial base.

The Navy is also working to improve ship design processes, is investing in modern facilities on the shipyards, and is working alongside industry to offload large-scale work from prime shipbuilders to other yards. The Navy has also implemented additive manufacturing to reduce the time it takes to build critical components and parts and ultimately alleviate pressure on the Navy’s supply base. 

“I am working across the cabinet, industry, academia, and state and local government—as well as with members of Congress—to restore the essential maritime capabilities of our Nation. Over the past three years, I have visited every shipyard, met with every shipyard CEO and President, as well as the workers actually building our ships,” said Secretary Del Toro. “As Secretary of the Navy, I will remain unsatisfied until both commercial and naval shipbuilding is restored.” 

The Navy’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget request included significant investments in recruiting, quality of life, and the ships, submarines, and aircraft the Department of the Navy requires to enhance maritime dominance. 

“We must build one Columbia-Class submarine, and two Virginia-Class submarines a year by 2028,” said Del Toro. “By 2032, this number must grow to one Columbia-Class submarine and 2.33 Virginia-Class submarines a year.” 

Further fiscal constraints could also jeopardize aspects of the Australia, United Kingdom, and United States (AUKUS) partnership. 

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense is a standing subcommittee within the United States House Committee on Appropriations. 

Read the letter to the subcommittee issued Sept. 12, 2024, here. 

Source: United States Navy

YOKOSUKA,Japan — The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22) arrived to its new forward deployed location at Sasebo, Japan, Sept. 19, becoming the newest ship to join the Forward-Deployed Naval Forces Japan (FDNF-J).

San Diego (LPD 22) is replacing the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20), which is headed to Naval Base San Diego after spending more than nine years as part of FDNF-J.

“We are excited to welcome USS San Diego, its crew and family members to Sasebo and to the Amphibious Squadron Eleven family,” said Capt. Patrick German, commodore of Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) Eleven. “As the newest amphibious ship in FDNF-J, San Diego will further strengthen our strong contingent of ships to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”

San Diego will join the America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), which teams with the Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to deliver integrated naval power to U.S. 7th Fleet by rapidly inserting and supporting forces ashore.

“The crew is enthusiastic about starting our next chapter with the USS San Diego in Japan,” said Capt. David Walton, the ship’s commanding officer. “After over a month of transiting across the Pacific Ocean, and many more months of preparation and training, this is the moment we have all been focused on. We are grateful for the support we received entering into 7th Fleet, and we are ready to immediately fold into forward deployed operations.”

San Diego’s modern platform enhances execution of expeditionary warfare missions, extending the reach of Marines by delivering them ashore via Landing Craft air cushion (LCAC), amphibious vehicles, helicopters and tilt rotor aircraft.

San Diego is assigned to U.S. 7th Fleet in the U.S. Pacific Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the 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.

PHIBRON Eleven is the newest and only forward-deployed amphibious squadron in the U.S. Navy. It commands the America ARG, which includes the America-class amphibious assault carrier USS America (LHA 6), the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18), and the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47).

Source: United States Navy

PACIFIC OCEAN (Sept. 18, 2024) – The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Omaha (LCS 12), with an embarked detachment from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35 and a law enforcement detachment from U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team Pacific, began operations in support of Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI), Sept. 8.

A Secretary of Defense program, OMSI is aimed at diminishing transnational illegal activity on the high seas in the Pacific Island nations of Oceania’s Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ), as well as increasing interoperability with partner nations.

Omaha’s range and capabilities allow the embarked U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment the ability to access the remote U.S. and Pacific Island nations’ EEZs.

“We embrace the opportunity to work closely with the U.S. Coast Guard as we help enforce economic policies among some of our closest partners in the Western and Central Pacific,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kevin Smith, commanding officer of Omaha. “It is rewarding to work with these island nations to patrol their waters, maintaining a free and open region.”

The objective of OMSI is to reduce and eliminate illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, combat transnational crimes in EEZs of the Western and Central Pacific region and enhance regional security.

“The partnership between the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard plays an integral role in the OMSI mission,” said Coast Guard Chief Maritime Enforcement Specialist Kyle Smouse. “Deploying U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachments aboard U.S. Navy vessels allows the Coast Guard to have a greater presence and impact in enforcing Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) regulations. These areas of operation would be difficult to reach without the support of the U.S. Navy.”

The WCPFC international fisheries agreement focuses on the long-term conservation and sustainable use of fish stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. The WCPFC seeks to address problems in the management of the high seas fisheries in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, where there is unregulated fishing and vessel re-flagging to evade controls.

Omaha, homeported in San Diego and assigned to U.S. 3rd Fleet, is on a scheduled deployment in the Pacific Ocean. Littoral combat ships are fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats.

Source: United States Navy

The ship was named after Somerset County, in memorial of the 40 passengers and crew who gave their lives on United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The passengers and crew prevented the plane from reaching its intended target, but it tragically crashed in Stoneycreek Township in Somerset County.

Ten Sailors arrived in Somerset County for a multi-day trip to strengthen their relationship with the community and participate in the annual Flight 93 National Memorial observance, honoring the families of the 40 passengers and crew that perished on Flight 93.

Religious Program Specialist 2nd Class Denzell Washington, a native of Buffalo, New York, experienced his first visit to Somerset and returns with a new perspective.

“’Let’s roll’ has a different feeling to it now,” said Washington. “I chose this line of work to be of service to my country and I pray I can be half as brave as those 40 Heroes.”

The annual visit from Somerset Sailors fosters the unbreakable bond between Somerset County and USS Somerset while educating Sailors on the impact and significance that Flight 93 had on the world.

“This has been a truly unique experience,” said Cmdr. Aaron Gorum, the executive officer of USS Somerset. “I’m humbled to be here, and extremely grateful to the people of Somerset.”

The Somerset crew’s itinerary included planting flags at a historic turnpike, interviews with media, meeting with local farmers and students, a tour of a local dairy farm, visiting the Somerset County courthouse, dinner at the Stoystown American Legion where they met with local veterans, and participating in the Flight 93 National Memorial ceremony where that had the opportunity to meet President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Somerset is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship home ported in San Diego. The ship’s keel contains steel from a mining machine standing near the crash site in Somerset County. Every deck of the ship contains mementos of Flight 93, including a dedicated passageway leading to the Memorial Room, which bears the names of the passengers.

Source: United States Navy

Typically, CVW-5 operates with limited participation in AWF due to operational demands in the Indo-Pacific as part of the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF). However, the hull swap created a unique scheduling opportunity, allowing the entire air wing to train together.

“The true value of the AWF course and training at the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) stems from our ability to test the air wing in effectively countering peer threats through the synchronization of kinetic and non-kinetic fires while fully integrating all air wing platforms,” said Capt. John Stigi, strike department head, NAWDC. “Carrier Air Wing 5 seamlessly integrated fixed-wing fighters, command and control platforms, and rotary-wing assets equipped with advanced sensors to locate and destroy targets, while applying contested logistics and expeditionary advanced basing tactics to achieve mission success at significant ranges.”

NAS Fallon hosts the Navy’s premier integrated training facility, providing live, virtual and constructive training opportunities. For five weeks, CVW-5 mission-planned, rehearsed in a virtual environment, refined tactical plans and executed live-flight missions. AWF remains unique, with all NAWDC strike instructors being hand-selected junior officer weapons and tactics instructors (WTIs) from every CVW platform, delivering top-tier tactical instruction.

“I am confident that CVW-5 departs Fallon fully prepared for globally deployable operations across all mission areas,” Stigi said. “CVW-5’s exceptional performance reflects the hard work of the Sailors and chiefs who provided outstanding maintenance in challenging high desert conditions, and the leadership who maintained a laser focus on warfighting excellence throughout the exercise.”

George Washington relieved Ronald Reagan as the forward-deployed carrier in August and is scheduled to return to Yokosuka, Japan. The completion of AWF ensures CVW-5 remains fully trained and ready to support missions in the Indo-Pacific.

“Air Wing Fallon delivers the highest caliber of tactical training that naval aviation provides to carrier air wings prior to deployment,” said Capt. Patrick Corrigan, commander CVW-5. “As CVW-5 is stationed in Japan, it’s over nine years since the entire team completed the course. I am extremely proud of our team, who had just four weeks to integrate the F-35C, the new EA-18Gs and the DSSC 4.0 E-2Ds into the air wing before starting AWF. This process rigorously tested every element of mission planning, tactical execution and debriefing, and as a result, we are now a more lethal air wing. The NAWDC strike team has crafted a world-class training syllabus, and with our newly upgraded air wing, we are fully prepared to return to operations in the South China Sea.”

The hull swap between George Washington and Ronald Reagan, along with CVW-5 readiness, plays a critical role in ensuring that the most advanced and capable warships operate in the Indo-Pacific, providing security and stability throughout the region.

CVW-5 includes Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102 “Diamondbacks,” Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 “Royal Maces,” Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 “Argonauts,” Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195 “Dambusters,” Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 141 “Shadowhawks,” Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30 “Titans,” and Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 125 “Tigertails,” operating F/A-18F Super Hornets, F/A-18E Super Hornets, F-35C Lightning II’s, EA-18G Growlers, C-2 Greyhounds and E-2D Hawkeyes.

As the type commander for Naval Aviation, Commander, Naval Air Forces’ mission is to “man, train and equip deployable, combat-ready Naval Aviation forces that win in combat.”