Category: Defence

Source: United States Navy

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) met a new milestone with the induction of its first Navy CMV-22B Osprey for maintenance Aug. 21. With receipt of this aircraft, the depot now services all three variants of the V-22 platform, which also include the Marine Corps MV-22B and the Air Force CV-22.

The CMV-22B is the newest member of the Osprey family, entering service in June 2020 on the West Coast and April 2024 on the East Coast. In comparison, the Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey has been in use since achieving initial operational capability in 2007, and the Air Force CV-22 variant has been in operational use since 2009. FRCE will take on responsibility for the Navy’s East Coast-based CMV-22B fleet.

FRCE Commanding Officer Capt. Randy J. Berti said the new workload comes in as a direct result of the quality workmanship the command is known for across the board.

“FRC East’s maintenance of all three variants of the V-22 Osprey, for three different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, really highlights the reputation for excellence our artisans, engineers and support staff have built,” Berti said. “I couldn’t be more proud that the Navy is entrusting us with this new mission. Every day, our workforce strives to provide high-quality service to the fleet at the best possible cost, and our success in that effort leads to the mutual trust and respect we have with our customers – our nation’s warfighters. The work we do here makes a real-world difference for them.”

The Navy is fielding the CMV-22B for long-range, medium-lift aerial logistics capabilities, including the carrier onboard delivery (COD) mission. Like all V-22 aircraft, the tiltrotor, vertical/short takeoff and landing aircraft can take off and land as a helicopter but transit as a turboprop aircraft, and is capable of shore-based, “expeditionary” or sea-based operations. Its features include an extended operational range compared to the MV-22B, and the aircraft offers increased mission flexibility over the Navy’s legacy C-2A Greyhound, which it is replacing.

FRCE V-22 Branch Head Allen Williamson said the depot will provide Planned Maintenance Interval (PMI) 1 service to the CMV-22B aircraft. He anticipates the work scope will closely mirror the PMI-1 evolutions already performed on the MV-22B, which the depot has serviced since 2009, at Marine Corps Air Stations Cherry Point and New River, and the Air Force CV-22 variant at FRCE’s detachment at Hurlburt Field, Florida. 

“While the CMV-22B does have some additional capabilities, the maintenance specifications largely remain the same between the Navy and Marine Corps variants of the Osprey,” he said. “The CMV-22B aircraft is structurally identical to the MV-22B, with the exception of the stub wing fuel tanks. Those tanks on the Navy aircraft are actually quite a bit larger, to provide that extra flight range needed for carrier delivery operations.

“There are very, very low flight hours on these initial CMV-22 aircraft we’ll be receiving, so they’re essentially in new condition,” Williamson continued. “We presume the work scope is going to build in the future, based on the theater they’ll be operating in. The Navy has indicated they plan to deploy the aircraft on ships, which is a harsh environment, and they will be high-use aircraft. With that in mind, I believe there will be a learning curve in regard to what condition we can expect to see these aircraft in as they come in for maintenance in the future, based on the environmental factors.”

Williamson said his guidance to the artisans on the production line is to approach the CMV-22B maintenance as if it were a new capability, rather than an extension of the familiar workload. This will give the team the opportunity to look at the aircraft and its needs with fresh eyes, rather than with preexisting expectations, he added.

“Obviously, the instructions should marry over fairly well – everything, we presume, is the same,” Williamson explained. “But especially with this first aircraft, we’re emphasizing to the team that they should take their time and really explore whether there are any additional differences in the aircraft itself, of the way we work it versus how we would work an MV.”

At the moment, Williamson said, the biggest difference in CMV-22B depot-level maintenance appears be the aircraft’s paint job – the newer variant uses a different type of paint than the standard MV-22B and, as a Navy aircraft, has different markings than the Marine Corps version.

“The aircraft uses a high-gloss paint, so the prep and the application are going to be a little bit different than what we’re used to with the standard MV-22B,” said Paint and Clean Branch Head Matt Sinsel. “There will be some differences in the masking process, because the paint scheme is a little higher-profile than the standard grey Ospreys.

“Spraying high gloss is nothing new for the our team; we do it with the Marine Helicopter Squadron 1 Ospreys, and we do it with the white-top H-1 helicopters for the Air Force, and the State Department H-46 helicopters,” he added. “But there will be some differences, and there will be some learning involved.”

Sinsel said the unique paint scheme of the CMV-22B also gives his team another opportunity to use the laser projection system the depot began using in January to streamline the final finish process, during which an aircraft’s insignia and other markings are applied to the finished base paint. The system acts as a guide for the precise placement of the markings without having to use paper stencils.

Despite the anticipated challenges that come along with learning the ins and outs of maintaining a new aircraft – even one so similar to familiar products – leaders believe the new workload offers FRCE a chance to shine by rounding out its support of the entire V-22 family.

“The V-22 program at FRCE has received its accolades,” Williamson said. “We’re known for what we do, and not just within the brick-and-mortar site at Cherry Point. We have our detachment at New River, which is revered in its own light for the way they conduct a PMI. We have the In-Service Repair team down at New River that is making depot-level repairs while embedded with the Marine squadrons. And we have Hurlburt Field, where we support Air Force Special Operations Command. This isn’t a totally new workload, but it adds a new capability.

“I don’t think the Navy would have considered us for the CMV-22 workload if we didn’t have that track record of superior performance with the products we return to the fleet, and didn’t have the good rapport that we already have with our current customers,” he continued. “I think this is a chance for us to succeed. This is an opportunity to show the Navy that we own the maintenance process on the MV-22s, now let us keep this CMV business for a while and show them our success in providing the fleet with a quality product that we know is going to make that next flight window with no issues.”

FRCE is North Carolina’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 4,000 civilian, military and contract workers. Its annual revenue exceeds $1 billion. The depot provides service to the fleet while functioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers.

Source: United States Navy

PORTSMOUTH, Virginia – Amongst its ranks of more than 10,000 employees servicing the fleet, our military veterans make up nearly 23 percent of the workforce– with an estimated total military service exceeding 10,000 years altogether. These brave men and women have served and sacrificed in the name of freedom, both in uniform and today as they continue their service as civilians within Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY).

Every year, our nation comes together November 11 for reflection and appreciation of our veterans during Veterans Day. This holiday coincides with the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 marking the end of World War I – when a truce was declared between the Allied Nations and Germany. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson then proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day – a day to honor the service members who fought in that war. Today it is known as Veterans Day – honoring the men and women who have served and celebrating their responsibilities and achievements in protecting the freedoms of the American people.

In honor of our veterans across our waterfront, as well as those beyond our gates, the NNSY Veterans Employee Readiness Group (VET-ERG) hosted the annual Veterans Day Fall-In for Colors Ceremony Nov. 7, inviting the civilian workforce and Sailors at America’s Shipyard to come together to honor those who’ve served across our military branches.

This year’s celebration included an invocation and benediction by Navy Region Mid-Atlantic (NRMA) Chaplain Lt. Chad Goddard, a presentation of the flag by the NNSY Duty Section and VET-ERG Membership Officer Ricky Burroughs, and a performance of Amazing Grace by bagpiper Lt. Col. (Ret.) Thomas Metz.

“Today we stand united in our gratitude for the brave men and women who have served our nation,” said Shipyard Commander Capt. Jip Mosman. “We at Norfolk Naval Shipyard recognize the immense sacrifices made by you and all of our nation’s veterans – sacrifices that have safeguarded our freedoms and shaped the very fabric of our country. It’s because of each of you that our country is what it is today. You have protected our nation and our very way of life.”

He continued, “Our veterans are a proud example that the spirit of service extends beyond military duty. Even outside of the uniform, you gather up your tools and continue to serve. You stand ready and willing, whether along our waterfront or at our support sites to ensure our Sailors and our vessels have what they need to return to the front lines to protect our lasting freedom. I’m so proud to serve alongside you all – as one team. Whether we’re in uniform or not, we all serve our nation and have a critical role to play in meeting our mission.”

Rear Adm. Jack Kavanaugh (Ret.) was the guest speaker for the event. A Chicago native, Kavanaugh served 34 years as a Navy Supply Officer with eight deployments to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf.

“On this day, I count my decision to join the military as one of the best decisions I ever made. Indeed, this decision has had a lasting and profound impact on my life both during and after service,” said Kavanaugh. “I joined the Navy in 1962 at the height of the Vietnam War. The Navy taught me the value of sacrifice, teamwork, discipline, and leadership – the same values adhered to in every branch of military and in civil service. There’s no better leadership training than serving in the military. Regardless of the branches of service, the leadership lessons are the same. Each branch of the Armed Services in some way is a band of brothers and sisters, dedicated to keeping our country safe and each has a special relationship with the American people. Though the history of each branch of the Armed Services is different, the dedication is the same. The willingness to serve is the same. The sacrifice is the same. For every veteran, we are measured by our ability to stand shoulder to shoulder. We know that we are judged not by what we have but what we gave. We have been tested, not based on our strength alone, but on honor, principle, and integrity. What we have earned will always be with us.”

He continued, “I am honored to be counted among those as a defender of liberty and freedom. Today’s theme rings true to both military service members and Norfolk Naval Shipyard workers. You can see the thread of similarities between our jobs when it comes to defending America. I could not do my job without you doing yours. So please take a moment to think about the freedom we enjoy today. It’s because of these men and women who gave so much to this country.”

Following the ceremony, Mosman hosted a cake cutting ceremony with shipyard employees Oscar Thorpe and Justin Cartwright, paying tribute to all veterans spanning generations. The cake cutting ceremony is a time-honored tradition in the military celebrating the past, present, and future of our Nation and those who serve to protect it – with the known oldest and youngest veterans of the command taking part. The NNSY VET-ERG provided the cake and the representatives cut it with a naval cutlass sword symbolizing bridging the gap between veteran eras and ensuring continuous service of the nation’s defense at America’s Shipyard.

The NNSY VET-ERG is comprised of more than 250 NNSY employees that are either veterans, service members currently serving, or those who support the military. For more information regarding the NNSY VET-ERG, email the VET-ERG Officer group at NNSY_VET-ERG_Officers@us.navy.mil.

November is recognized as National Veterans and Military Families Month. For more information, visit https://www.militaryonesource.mil/parenting/family-life/military-family-appreciation/.

Source: United States Navy

On Saturday morning, nestled between the USS Intrepid, New York’s Hell’s Kitchen, and the cruise terminal, the Navy’s newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS John Basilone, was brought to life.

Commissioning ceremonies, as described by Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy, are a time-honored tradition dating back to 1775. Now, 249 years later, the USS John Basilone became the 74th ship of her class and the second ship to bear the namesake of John Basilone.

Throughout the week leading up to commissioning, the crew of the USS John Basilone spent time learning about the life and legacy of Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone, the only Enlisted Marine to earn the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross during World War II.

While John Basilone and his beloved wife Lenah Mae (Riggi) Basilone didn’t have children, GySgt Basilone’s niece, Diane Hawkins, has taken up the mantle of representing her uncle’s memory and his heroism. While exploring the history behind her uncle’s actions, a Marine Corps representative sent Hawkins a bottle of black sand, a vial taken from Iwo Jima, the beach where her uncle gave the ultimate sacrifice. That bottle included a recommendation to retrace her uncle’s footsteps. In her remarks, Hawkins recounted traveling to Guadalcanal, where Basilone and his regiment defeated a much larger Japanese force, to the Philippines, where he earned the nickname “Manilla John,” to Australia, where he received the Medal of Honor, and to Iwo Jima where he perished “with his boys.” Through her journey, Hawkins learned more about the man behind the myth and gained a deeper appreciation for his legacy. Most importantly, she recounted John’s love for his wife, Lenah Riggi, and how Basilone outranked Riggi: “It was Lenah who was in charge.” Hawkins closed her remarks by thanking the crew of DDG 122, saying that those who comprise John Basilone’s legacy are delighted to have this magnificent ship become part of his legacy “to the service to this nation.”

Unique to this Navy event was the presence of Marines from John Basilone’s historic 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment, and the references and speeches related to USMC culture throughout the event.

Continuing on themes of sacrifice, the ship’s sponsors Ryan Manion and Amy Looney Heffernen, both from Gold Star families, spoke to the grief that comes with loss and the responsibility to uphold the memory of the fallen. Heffernen notes that she believes her late husband, Navy Seal Brandon Looney, was “cut from the same cloth as John Basilone” making her presence and participation in the life of the USS John Basilone all the more meaningful and humbling. Standing before the crew, Manion, sister of fallen Marine Travis Manion, noted the towering shadow over the crew of the Basilone, the shadow of a man who made the ultimate sacrifice and built a profound “legacy of service” in his wake. Heffernen recounted moving her way through grief with a quote, “No one is dead until the ripples they cause in the world fade away.” It is evident from the passion, dedication to service, and commitment to excellence shown by the DDG 122 crew that John Basilone won’t fade for generations to come.

In his principal address, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro spoke about the role of the sponsors of a ship. According to naval tradition, a ship’s sponsor “guides her and her crew” through her time in service, offering his gratitude that Manion and Heffernen will forever be the connection between “this ship, her crew, and the nation.” He talked about his connection to New York, having grown up just blocks from where the ship sits today, the same pier where the USS Bunkley (DDG 84) commissioned under his command. Paying tribute to Basilone, Secretary Del Toro took a moment to spotlight Marine Sgt Dakota Meyer, a Medal of Honor recipient for his heroism in Iraq, resulting in a standing ovation to the Marine.

Del Toro recognizes the “rapidly evolving” global security environment for DDGs like the John Basilone. He remarked that today’s world differs from the American Revolution, World War II, or even his active duty tenure twenty-three years ago. Today, ships of the same class as the John Basilone are over the horizon, defending America and her allies from the threat of “Iranian-aligned Houthi attacks” in the Red Sea. Making it clear that there is “nothing ordinary” about what is being asked of America’s Sailors and Marines since the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel, Del Toro reminded the crew of the USS John Basilone and event participants that “Service is not an obligation, it is a privilege, a chance to be part of something greater than ourselves and uphold the values that define us as a nation.”

Referencing a history of sacrifice, the perils of the future, and the hope for the present, the crew of the former USS Basilone (DDE 824) passed the torch as John Basilone’s living legacy as sponsors Ryan Manion and Amy Looney gave the order to “man our ship and bring her to life.”

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers are the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet. These highly capable, multi-mission ships conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence to national security, providing a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface, and subsurface. Flight IIA DDGs host dual helicopter hangers, allowing for expanded anti-submarine, anti-surface, and anti-air warfare capabilities through integrated operations with helicopter squadrons.

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 Naval Surface Forces, visit DVIDS – Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/COMNAVSURFPAC or Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/.

For additional information about the ship, visit USS John Basilone (DDG 122), https://ussbasilone.org/uss-john-basilone-ddg-122/.

Source: United States Navy

On behalf of the United States Navy, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Royal Australian Navy for locating the final resting place of the destroyer USS Edsall (DD 219), lost in a valiant battle against the Imperial Japanese Navy in the early days of World War II. The commanding officer of Edsall lived up to the U.S. Navy tenet, “Don’t give up the ship,” even when faced with overwhelming odds. The wreck of this ship is a hallowed site, serving as a marker for the 185 U.S. Navy personnel and 31 U.S. Army Air Force pilots aboard at the time, almost all of whom were lost when Edsall succumbed to her battle damage. This find gives us the opportunity for today’s generation of Sailors and Navy civilians to be inspired by their valor and sacrifice.

The U.S. Navy would also like to take this opportunity to salute the valor of the crew of the Australian sloop HMAS Yarra, lost two days after the Edsall, under similar circumstances in a heroic battle against overwhelming odds.

Finding the Edsall further cements the strong alliance that has existed between the United States and Australia since World War II, the relationship between the Royal Australian Navy and the U.S. Navy, further reinforced by the current Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) trilateral security partnership. A key component of AUKUS is the development of the most cutting-edge underwater technologies of the type that enabled the discovery of Edsall in the vastness of the Indian Ocean, something not possible just a few years ago. These advanced technologies, enabled by interoperability between long-standing Indo-Pacific Allies and partners, ensure our collective capability to preserve the peace, respond in crisis, and win decisively in war, if called.

Source: United States Navy

This marks the commencement of the at-sea phase for Phoenix Express 24. PE24 is a multinational maritime exercise held in the Mediterranean Sea. This phase evaluates the capacity of participating vessels and maritime operation centers (MOC) to carry out maritime security operations. Such operations encompass ship boarding, airborne maritime patrol operations, and search and rescue exercises.

“The second week of Phoenix Express is our opportunity to put into practice everything that was learned during the first week of the exercise,” said Capt. Harish Patel, U.S. exercise director for Phoenix Express. “This phase is critical to this exercise as it provides an opportunity for U.S. and participating nations’ ships to enhance their ship to shore communications across multinational MOCs”

Allied and partner participating ships include Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary sea base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB-4), Moroccan Frigate Sigma Class Sultan Moulay Ismail (614), Italian Navy Cassiopea-class patrol vessel OPV Spica (P403), Italian Coast Guard Fiorillo (CP 904), Libya Landing Tank Ship Ibn Ouf (132), Algerian Multipurpose Corvette El Faith (921), Tunisian Opv Jugartha (P610), Tunisian Opv PLM La Galite (501), Turkish Barbaros Class Frigate TCG Salihreis (F 246) and other participating nation.

“The at sea portion of this exercise is the time to further enhance interoperability and improve ship to shore and ship to ship communications across participating nations,” said Commodore Nejib Ben Saada, Tunisian exercise director for Phoenix Express. “The coordination across the 12 participating nations during this phase is no easy task and I look forward to strengthening our lines of communication during this phase.”

The at-sea events not only test the participating ships and crews while underway, but also provide the unique opportunity for multinational MOCs to conduct communication drills and share information to better enhance multinational cooperation. These centers are key elements in managing and relaying a common operational picture to tactical units at sea.

Phoenix Express provides North African, European, and U.S. maritime forces the opportunity to work together, share information, and refine tactics, techniques, and procedures in order to promote maritime safety and security in the Mediterranean Sea. Phoenix Express is an opportunity to enhance our ability to work together, deter sea-based illicit activity, and protect NATO’s and Europe’s southern flank against malign activity.

Participating nations in Phoenix Express include Algeria, Belgium, Georgia, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, Türkiye, Senegal, and the United States.

Phoenix Express is one of three regional maritime exercises led by U.S. Naval Forces Africa as part of a comprehensive strategy to provide collaborative opportunities to African forces and international partners to address maritime security concerns.

Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners to advance U.S. national interests, security and stability in Europe and Africa.