Month: September 2024

Source: United States Navy

DARWIN, Australia – Maritime forces from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), U.S. Navy (USN) and nine other partner and ally nations gathered to begin Exercise Kakadu 2024 in the vicinity of Darwin, Australia, Sept. 8.

Held biennially, Kakadu is the RAN’s premier international engagement activity, developing interoperability between nations in the maritime and air domains, and providing training opportunities for maritime security and surveillance.

This year’s iteration, scheduled for Sept. 9-20, will involve 13 warships and aircraft from navies and air forces representing 11 countries.

The exercise is held concurrently with a commanders’ conference, where military leaders from more than 30 countries are represented. In total, more than 3,000 military personnel are converging upon the Darwin area.

“Kakadu is the largest and most significant international exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy, it deepens relationships and interoperability between participating armed forces,” said Vice Adm. Mark Hammond, Chief of Navy Australia. “Australia is a maritime nation that, like our neighbors, derives prosperity from access to the sea – assured by a strong Navy and strong partnerships.

“Kakadu provides an excellent opportunity for officers, sailors and aviators to practice their skills in a range of tactical maritime activities,” he continued. “This year, the focus is on interoperability with greater integration of our international partners in all aspects of the exercise.”

Representing the RAN are the Anzac-class frigates HMAS Stuart (FFH 153) and HMAS Warramunga (FFH 152), a Collins-class submarine, and aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force, while the Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) is representing the U.S. Navy.

“Thank you to the Royal Australian Navy for bringing this group of nations together to conduct important training in the region,” said Vice Adm. Fred Kacher, commander of U.S. 7th Fleet. “The work we are doing here provides our navies a valuable opportunity to advance interoperability and address shared maritime security challenges.”

The exercise will begin with a harbor phase for planning, simulation, and international culture exchange before moving into a sea phase where the ships and aircraft will divide into several multinational task groups to practice various scenarios, culminating in a task group free play.

U.S. 7th Fleet forces routinely train with partner and allied navies to refine operational proficiency and to improve crisis and contingency response capabilities to ensure stability and security throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Dewey is assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON)15, the Navy’s largest forward deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force.

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.

Source: United States Navy

Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. – The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Richard M. McCool, Jr. (LPD 29) commissioned at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, September 7.

Welcomed throughout the week, the crew, joined by the ship’s sponsor, Shana McCool, and McCool’s great-grandchildren, attended community events supported by local businesses, flyovers by the Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron, a visit by the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, and ceremony host, Naval Air Station Pensacola. Participating in the ceremony were Marine Aviation Training Support Groups Two-One and Two-Three, Navy Training Wing Ten (VT-10) Wildcats, Navy Band Southeast, McGuire’s Pipe and Drum Band, and 350 Junior ROTC and Navy League Sea Cadets from Alabama, Arkansas, and Pensacola.

During the ceremony guest speaker Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro honored the ship’s namesake as they brought the ship to life, beginning its commissioned service. “Captain McCool’s leadership in the face of grave danger and his acts of heroism to save the crew and the ship our nation entrusted to him are indeed an example for all throughout.”

“I am proud that the Department of the Navy is pursuing the award of the Amphibious Multi-Ship Procurement Contract for a total of three San Antonio class amphibious ships—just like USS Richard M. McCool Jr.—along with an America class amphibious assault ship,” Del Toro continued. “I am proud to see these Sailors and Marines bring this incredible warship to life in service to our nation, much like this ship’s courageous namesake.”

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti also reflected on the importance of the Navy-Marine Corps team. “The LPD plays an essential role on our Blue-Green team as the workhorse of our Amphibious Fleet, and soon McCool will set sail and begin embarking, transporting, and landing elements of our Navy-Marine Corps team,” said Franchetti. “The commissioning of this warship puts another player with more capability on the field in America’s Warfighting Navy, providing more options to our Nation’s leaders to deter and if necessary, fight and win our Nation’s wars in this decade and beyond.”

“LPD 29 represents a shift in what an amphibious warship is,” said Gen. C.J. Mahoney, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. “With the latest in integrated SPY-6 (air and missile defense radar system) and Next Generation Surface Search Technology, she enables reconnaissance and counter reconnaissance on the forward edge of the battlespace – making sense and decision space for the Fleet and Joint Force Commanders.”

Emphasizing the critical role of the integrated Navy-Marine Corps team in the event that deterrence fails, Gen. Mahoney concluded, “If the Marine Corps is a bullet to be fired by the Navy, the USS Richard M. McCool, Jr. – with the very crew you see here today – will pull the trigger.”

Commanding officer Capt. Jeff Baker thanked family, friends, the commissioning committee, those who were not able to be present, the communities of Pascagoula and Pensacola, and Gulf Coast shipbuilders – electricians, machinists, pipe fitters, painters, riggers, welders, and more; everyone who helped to bring this ship to life

Echoing McCool’s words when receiving the Medal of Honor “Fight as a unit, not as an individual”, Baker talked about the importance of the crew. “I hope that we’ve made him proud. I hope that we have lived up to and will continue to honor his legacy. The remarkable warship moored behind me is ready for pictures but full of potential energy. It takes 330 officers, chief petty officers, and enlisted crew to sail her and make our warship ready for tasking. Manning these rails are the finest men and women this country has to offer. I couldn’t be prouder of them. The ship needs them all. I need them all. The Navy and our country need them all. Please thank them. They’ve got the watch.”

“LPD 29, Richard M. McCool, when deployed comes equipped with the most advanced weapons system ever produced. The weapons system with unlimited reach, lethality, and combat effectiveness. The only system known to mankind that cannot be defeated by any adversary anywhere in the world. The weapons system of the United States Marines Corps.”

LPD 29 is the 13th San Antonio-class LPD commissioned in the United States Navy, and the first U.S. Navy ship to bear this namesake.

The naming of LPD 29 honors U.S. Navy Capt. Richard M. McCool, Jr., Ret. who received the Medal of Honor in 1945 for the heroism he displayed after his ship, USS LSC 122, was attacked by kamikaze aircraft in the Battle of Okinawa. Despite suffering from shrapnel wounds and painful burns, he led efforts to battle a blazing fire on his ship and rescue injured Sailors.

McCool was a leader whose life and legacy revolved around service. In addition to USS LSC 122, he commanded the USS LSC 44 and served on the USS McKean (DD-784), USS Frank Knox (DD-742), and USS Leyte (CV-32), and at the University of Oklahoma, and Eighth Naval District, New Orleans, Louisiana. Attending Boston University in Massachusetts, he was redesignated as a public information officer with assignments as the deputy commander at the Armed Forces Information School at Fort Slocum, New York; and to Commander, Naval Base, Long Beach, California; Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, D.C.; Commander, South Eastern Asia Treaty Organization, Bangkok, Thailand; Ninth Naval District at Great Lakes, Illinois; Commander, First Fleet; and Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, and Commander, Seventh Fleet, Japan. Retiring as a captain in 1974 after 35 years of active duty, he continued serving his community through engagement in local politics in the Bremerton, Washington, area. McCool died in March 2008 and is buried at Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland.

San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships are warships that embark, transport, and land elements of a landing force for a variety of expeditionary warfare missions. They provide the Navy and Marine Corps with modern, sea-based platforms that are networked, survivable, and built to operate in the 21st century, with the MV-22 Osprey, the upgraded Amphibious Assault Vehicle, and future means by which Marines are delivered ashore.

For more news from Commander, Naval Surface Forces, visit https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/com or follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SurfaceWarriors

Source: United States Navy

Thank you, Commander Karlo and good morning everyone!

It is an absolute pleasure to be here with you in beautiful Pensacola here on the Emerald Coast a city with proud Navy heritage a city that helped bring Naval aviation to life and has supported our Sailors for just shy of two hundred years. Mayor Reeves, please accept my heartfelt thanks for this city’s continued support of our Navy team and especially for its hospitality this week.  

Honorable Gates, Secretary Del Toro, General Mahoney, state and local leaders, members of the Commissioning Committee, members of the McCool family, ladies and gentlemen, active and reserve Sailors and Marines, Navy Civilians, 400 NJROTC and Sea Cadets and most importantly the crew and builders of this ship today is a great Navy day!

As General Mahoney just said, today we get to commission the Navy’s newest San Antonio Class Amphibious Transport Dock our last LPD Flight I and bridge to our future LPD Flight II LPD-29, the USS Richard M. McCool, Jr.

In just a few minutes, McCool will officially enter our Navy and join the Fleet with 12 of her sister ships.

The LPD plays an essential role for our Blue-Green team as the workhorse of our Amphibious Fleet. And soon McCool will set sail and begin embarking, transporting, and landing elements of our Navy-Marine Corps team.

Executing missions like amphibious assault, special operations, and expeditionary warfare using the latest technology which together bring a quantum leap in capability to the Amphibious Ready Group and to the Joint Force.

The commissioning of this warship puts another player with more capability on the field in America’s Warfighting Navy providing more options to our Nation’s leaders to deter and, if necessary, fight and win our Nation’s wars in this decade and beyond.

As you’ve all seen on the news the events of this past year and the actions taken by your Navy-Marine Corps team whether in the Indo-Pacific, in the Mediterranean, in the Red Sea, and beyond underscore the enduring importance of this ship and more broadly American Naval power.

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 executing our mission around the world and around the clock, delivering power for peace, defending our national security interests and ensuring our security and prosperity every single day.  

I am so proud of the amazing roster of players in America’s Warfighting Navy-a roster that the McCool is about to join.

There is no other Navy-Marine Corps team that operates at this scale. No other Navy in the world can train, deploy sustain such a lethal, globally deployed, and combat credible force able to synchronize effects in every single domain.

And, so I’d like to say thank you to those gathered here today and those you represent for working together to put this warship into our Fleet and drive forward with one purpose: to deliver the Navy the Nation needs.

I know CAPT Baker, CDR Karlo, CMC Gonzalez, and the crew of Richard M. McCool Jr. are ready to take the watch, bring this ship to life, and live up to the gallantry, sacrifice, and legacy of its namesake.

We’re so happy to have CAPT McCool’s granddaughter and sponsor of the McCool … Shana (Shawn-aaa) … and his great-grandchildren here with us today.  This legacy lives on in you, and in this powerful warship.

To the crew of the Richard M. McCool Jr., you are the cornerstone of our naval power. Your ship is among the best in the world, with all the latest technology, but I know that it can go nowhere and do nothing without you.

I ask that you to be good stewards of this warship like it’s your first car because your fingerprints will forever be etched in this ship’s history.

Always remember to live up to your motto to “fight as a unit, not as individuals” because teamwork on this ship, on the blue-green team, and across the Joint warfighting ecosystem is critical to our every success. I look forward to seeing all you will accomplish together and to seeing you out in the Fleet.

Let me again say thank you to the crew of the Richard M. McCool Jr. and thank you to our active and reserve Sailors, Marines, and civilians for your service and sacrifice. You make a difference every single day.

Please extend my thanks to your families and support networks for their service and sacrifice as well and for they enable us to accomplish our mission, every day.  It now gives me great pleasure to welcome Secretary Del Toro the 78th Secretary of the Navy to offer today’s principal address.