Uss Essex

USS Essex Returns to San Diego After 12 Years

USS Essex (LHD 2) is returning to San Diego after completing 12 years as the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed amphibious assault ship in Sasebo, Japan "Essex departed San Diego in 2000, to serve as a forward-deployed asset to 7th Fleet," said Capt. Chuck Litchfield, USS Essex commanding officer. "I know there are a lot of former crew members and fans of the ship still in the area, so it is going to be a real pleasure to re-introduce 'The Iron Gator' to San Diego." Essex was the second ship to serve as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces having taken over those duties from USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3). The crew of USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) took over Essex April 23. "John Paul Jones, the captain of the original Bonhomme Richard, said, 'Men mean more than guns in the rating of a ship,'" said Litchfield. "In the last two years, I have been humbled to witness that truth in my crew. It wasn't easy to turnover a ship we had poured so much blood, sweat, toil and tears into; however, the crew never looked back, they took immediate ownership of Essex. We have spent the last 18 days in transit across the Pacific defining for ourselves what it means to be Essex." Essex is scheduled to participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in and around the Hawaiian Islands this summer

This Day in Naval History – March 25

1813 - USS Essex takes Neryeda, first capture by U.S. Navy in Pacific 1898 - Assist. SECNAV Theodore Roosevelt proposes Navy investigate military application of Samuel Langley's flying machine, beginning naval aviation (Source: Navy News Service)  

Essex Demonstrates Sustained Mission Readiness

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Corey Truax, Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet, USS Essex Public Affairs The multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) successfully completed a three-day evaluation, Unit Level Training Assessment-Sustainment (ULTRA-S) July 22, while returning from the U.S and Australian-led Exercise Talisman Saber 2007. A team of inspectors from the Afloat Training Group Western Pacific (ATGWP) arrived, via helicopter from Guam

Navy Energy Conservation Awards Announced

The Secretary of the Navy has presented the Energy Conservation (ENCON) Awards for FY2003 in ceremonies conducted at the Navy Memorial in Washington, DC. These award winners represent Navy ships that have been singled out for outstanding execution of innovative energy conservation measures, and consistent reduction in energy consumption. Energy conservation awards were also presented to Navy shore activities and Marine Corps bases

SECNAV Energy Conservation Awards Announced

The Secretary of the Navy announced the Energy Conservation (ENCON) ship award winners for FY2003. These award winners represent Navy ships who have been singled out for outstanding execution of energy conservation measures and consistent reduction in energy consumption. Energy conservation awards were also announced for Navy shore activities and Marine Corps bases. During FY 2003, Commander, Pacific Fleet (COMPAC) and Commander, Atlantic Fleet (COMLANT) ships

Safeguard Completes Final Underway

The rescue and salvage ship USS Safeguard (ARS 50) makes her way through the Java Sea en route to Surabaya, Indonesia for the fourth phase of the 2005 Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise. Safeguard is part of a three-ship task group, including the dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) and guided missile frigate USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) that will take part in CARAT Indonesia beginning July 25

USS Tortuga Arrives to Sasebo for Hull Swap

USS Tortuga (LSD 46) arrived on March 31 after completing an 11,000-mile voyage across two oceans and transiting the Panama Canal for a scheduled hull swap with USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43). Tortuga is the sixth Whidbey Island-class ship and will join Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76, serving as an integral part of the Navy’s Forward Deployed Expeditionary Strike Group (FD-ESG) and Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).

This Day in Naval History – May 15

1800 - CAPT Preble in Essex arrives in Batavia, Java, to escort U.S. merchant ships 1942 - First Naval Air Transport Service flight across Pacific 1969 - Sinking of USS Guitarro (SSN-665) 1991 - Amphibious Task Force arrives at Chittagong, Bangladesh, for relief operations after Cyclone Marian (Source: Navy News Source)

This Day in Naval History - May 28

1813 - Frigate Essex and prize capture five British whalers. 1917 - First underway fueling in U.S. Navy, USS Maumee fuels 6 destroyers in North Atlantic. LCDR Chester W. Nimitz served as Maumee's executive officer and chief engineer. 1957 - 1st of 24 detonations, Operation Plumbbob nuclear test. 1980 - 55 women become first women graduates from the U.S. Naval Academy. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval historical Center Web site at http://www.history.navy.mil

Blount-Barker Awarded Contract For Conversion

Blount-Barker Shipbuilding signed a contract on April 15th with Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) to convert the M/V Essex to passenger only service. The 100 ft. open deck passenger/auto ferry with single ended propulsion will be converted to increase the maximum capacity from 149 to 600. Modifications include a conversion to double ended propulsion, enclosing the main deck and providing a steel canopy to cover the upper deck