U.S. Aircraft Carrier Deploys Off Korean Peninsula amid Tensions with North
The USS Abraham Lincoln strike group is operating in waters off the Korean peninsula, the U.S. Navy said on Tuesday, amid tensions over North Korea's missile launches and concerns that it could soon resume testing nuclear weapons."The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is conducting bilateral operations with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in the Sea of Japan," Commander Hayley Sims, a spokesperson for the Japan-based U.S. Seventh Fleet, said in a statement.This is the first time since 2017 that a carrier group has deployed to the waters between South Korea and Japan, and comes as U.S.
US Navy to Recover F-35 Warplane that Fell into South China Sea
The U.S. Navy said on Tuesday it was making arrangements to recover an F-35C warplane that fell into the South China Sea after a landing mishap this week.Seven U.S. military personnel were hurt in Monday's accident on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and the pilot ejected, the Navy said."I can confirm the aircraft impacted the flight deck during landing and subsequently fell to the water," said Lieutenant Nicholas Lingo, spokesperson for the U.S. 7th Fleet."The U.S.
Warship Shuffle: Three Aircraft Carriers Swap Homeports
The U.S. Navy announced today that three of its Nimitz-class aircraft carriers will conduct homeport shifts.USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), currently located in Norfolk, Va., will rejoin the Pacific Fleet, making San Diego its homeport. Abraham Lincoln, commissioned in 1989, previously served in the Pacific Fleet from 1990-2011 before moving to Norfolk for midlife refueling.The other two carrier homeport shifts are tied to carrier maintenance. USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), currently homeported in Bremerton…
Search Called off for Missing US Navy Sailor
The search for a U.S. Navy sailor missing from guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) has been called off after three days of exhaustive searching. U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard assets ended their search efforts just after sunset June 9 for Fire Controlman 2nd Class Christopher W. Clavin, who went overboard June 6 at about 3 p.m. while Normandy was conducting training 80 miles off the coast of Cherry Point, N.C. Personnel observed Petty Officer Clavin fall into the water…
US Navy: Bigger is Better, but at What Cost?
The U.S. Navy has a balanced fleet, but it wants to grow bigger and better. Will the budget allow both? Maritime Reporter's March 2017 cover story on the U.S. Navy was all about the numbers. There exists several plans to grow the fleet beyond the current number of 308 ships, the Mitre recommendation of 414 ships, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment 340-ship proposal, and the Navy’s decision to grow the fleet to 355 ships, and the Trump administration’s 350. With so many numbers being bandied about, there are even more suggestions on how to get there.
USS Abraham Lincoln Achieves Redelivery
The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) was redelivered to the fleet May 12, marking the successful completion of its refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) carried out at Newport News Shipyard. At sea for the first time since March 2014, the crew conducted rigorous tests of engineering components, the modernized combat systems suite and flight deck equipment that supports Lincoln's mission at sea. Damage control capabilities and basic deck seamanship were also checked to ensure both the ship and the crew's operational readiness. The ship marked its return to the fleet after four days of sea trials with high-speed maneuvers, that tested the ship's systems and crew.
USS Abraham Lincoln Departs for Sea Trials
Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) got underway for sea trails, May 9, following a four-year refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, Virginia. The four-day sea trails marks Abraham Lincoln's first time underway since March 2013. The ship spent its last days in the shipyard completing a five-day "fast cruise," May 2-7, making final preparations for its transit to Naval Station Norfolk. "We are looking forward to taking the ship out on the open water where we belong," said Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt, Lincoln's executive officer. "I am honored to serve with our crew. This dedicated and impressive group put an incredible amount of work into revitalizing this ship.
Rep. Granger Visits Newport News Shipbuilding
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) hosted Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, on February 23 for a tour of the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division. Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin accompanied the congresswoman on the shipyard tour, which included progress updates on the aircraft carriers Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), as well as the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) refueling complex overhaul and the Enterprise (CVN 65) inactivation. Granger also learned about Newport News’ role in the Virginia- and Columbia-class submarine programs.
Rep. Conaway Tours Newport News Shipbuilding
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) hosted Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, for a tour of the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division. The visit provided an opportunity for Conaway to meet shipbuilders and see the progress being made across Newport News’ ship construction programs. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Conaway introduced legislation last fall to increase the number of operational U.S. Navy aircraft carriers mandated by law from 11 to 12. “I enjoyed touring the Newport News Shipbuilding division today,” Conaway said.
Video: Catapult Testing on Aircraft Carrier Abraham Lincoln
U.S. shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division has begun testing the updated catapult systems aboard the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), which is nearing the end of its midlife refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH). Working with the Navy crew aboard Abraham Lincoln, Newport News shipbuilders are testing the steam catapult systems through a process called “no-load” testing, during which the overhauled components in the catapult systems are operated with steam for the first time. See the video here.
US Rep. Crenshaw Visits Newport News Shipbuilding
Shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) hosted Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.) Tuesday for a tour of the company's Newport News Shipbuilding division. Ken Mahler, Newport News' vice president of Navy programs, joined Crenshaw for the visit, which included a tour of the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and discussions about increased efficiencies and construction progress on Ford and John F. Kennedy (CVN 79). Crenshaw also visited a submarine construction facility…
1,500 to be Laid Off from Newport News Shipbuilding
Layoffs at Newport News Shipbuilding could top 1,500 from now through 2016 as the company copes with a temporary drop in work, the company president told employees this week. In a letter to the workforce, President Matt Mulherin said layoffs will exceed 500 people this year, with more details expected the fall. Next year, job cuts will "likely" exceed 1,000, he said. Those layoffs wil be announced as work drops across the yard. The cutbacks will hit both salaried and hourly workers. There will also be other cost reduction measures. The 2015 layoffs will occur in the fall and the 2016 layoffs will occur as the workload drops across the yard.
Newport News Shipbuilding Hosts Sen. Inhofe
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) today hosted Sen. James M. Inhofe, R-Okla., for a tour of the company's Newport News Shipbuilding division. The senator, a military veteran, also met over breakfast with sailors from Oklahoma serving aboard the aircraft carriers USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). Ford is under construction at Newport News and scheduled for delivery to the U.S. Navy in 2016. Lincoln is undergoing a refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) at the shipyard until 2016. Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin led the tour, which included a visit to one of the shipyard's aircraft carrier construction facilities, a demonstration of the virtual design tool being used to design Ford-class aircraft carriers and a tour of Ford.
HII Wins Aircraft Carrier Advanced Planning Contract
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) was awarded a $224 million modification to an existing contract for advanced planning of the refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). The work will be performed at the company's Newport News Shipbuilding division. The contract funds continued planning work for the RCOH as well as the procurement of long-lead materials, including items such as pumps, breakers, valves and steel to support fabrication of structural units.
US Navy Aircraft Carrier Leaves Drydock
With tugboats guiding it into the James River, the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) was moved from one of Newport News Shipbuilding’s drydocks to an outfitting berth on Monday. With this move, Newport News, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), officially completed the drydock portion of the carrier’s mid-life refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH). Now at Outfitting Berth 1, the carrier will undergo final outfitting and testing. “The end of the drydock portion of the RCOH marks a significant milestone in the life of an aircraft carrier…
USS Enterprise Anchor Installed on USS Abraham Lincoln
Although the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2016, its legacy lives on, and so does one of its anchors. Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division recently installed one of Enterprise's anchors on younger carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). USS Enterprise, originally built by Newport News in the 1960s and refueled for the third and final time in the early '90s, is currently docked at the shipyard's Pier 2 for inactivation.
Virginia Statesmen Visit Newport News Shipbuilding
Huntington Ingalls Industries informs it hosted U.S. Reps. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas; Bobby Scott, D-Va.; Randy Forbes, R-Va.; Rob Wittman, R-Va.; and Scott Rigell, R-Va., for a tour of the company's Newport News Shipbuilding division. The tour gave the Virginia statesmen the opportunity to introduce Thornberry to their shipbuilding constituents and get a behind-the-scenes look at the defense industrial base. Accompanied by Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin, the congressmen got an in-depth look at aircraft carrier and submarine construction, including a tour of nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and a look at ROVR (rapid operational virtual reality), a tool used to increase construction efficiencies.
USS Abraham Lincoln's Final Mast Section Installed
Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), marked a major milestone this week in the refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). The shipyard installed the final section of the ship's main mast: the 38-foot upper mast section. A brief mast-stepping ceremony was held Tuesday for Lincoln shipbuilders and the crew on the flight deck of the ship to commemorate the milestone. Mast-stepping ceremonies are a common tradition dating back to ancient Rome and symbolize good luck.
HII Reports Q1 Earnings Jump
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) reported first quarter 2014 revenues of $1.59 billion, up 2 percent compared to the same period last year. First quarter diluted earnings per share was $1.81, compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.87 in the same period of 2013. Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the quarter was $1.53, compared to $1.17 in the comparable period of 2013. Segment operating income for the first quarter was $137 million, compared to $120 million in the same period last year.
Aircraft Carrier 'Control Tower' Module Installed at NNS
Huntington Ingalls Industries says that its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division recently placed a new upper-level structure on top of USS Abraham Lincoln's (CVN 72) island, which is similar to an airport control tower. The aircraft carrier is undergoing its refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH), during which the shipyard refuels the ship's reactors, paints the ship's hull, modernizes systems and performs a complete recapitalization of the entire ship. HII explains that the structure, which will contain the ship's primary flight control systems when outfitted and serves as the platform for many of its various radars and antenna systems, is one of the largest structure lifts that will be performed during the RCOH process.
US Sens. Kaine and Reed Visit Newport News Shipbuilding
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) hosted U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) Tuesday for a tour of the company's Newport News Shipbuilding division. The visit provided the senators an opportunity to meet shipbuilders and see construction progress being made on all programs across the shipyard. Huntington Ingalls Industries President and CEO Mike Petters and Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin were joined by Adm. M.E. Ferguson, vice chief of naval operations, the Hon. Sean J. Stackley, assistant secretary of the Navy, and Rear Adm.
Ingalls Reports Third Quarter Results
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), a company that designs, builds and maintains nuclear and non-nuclear ships for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard and provides after-market services for military ships around the globe, reported third quarter 2013 revenues of $1.64 billion, up 2.6% from the same period last year. Third quarter diluted earnings per share was $1.36, compared to $0.26 in the same period of 2012. Segment operating income in the third quarter was $142 million, compared to $89 million in the same period last year.
Today in U.S. Naval History: November 1
Today in U.S. Naval History - November 1 1841 - "Mosquito Fleet" commanded by L.Cdr. J. T. McLaughlin, USN, carries 750 Sailors and Marines into the Everglades to fight the Seminole Indians. 1941 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt places Coast Guard under jurisdiction of Department of the Navy for duration of national emergency. 1967 - Operation Coronado IX began in Mekong Delta 1979 - Beginning of retirement of Polaris A-3 program begins with removal of missiles from USS Abraham Lincoln. Last Polaris missile removed in February 1982.