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Class Squadron News

29 Apr 2014

Huntington Ingalls Appoints Jonathan Padfield as Corporate Director

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) announced today that Capt. Jonathan Padfield (U.S. Navy, Ret.) has joined the company as Corporate Director of Customer Affairs for amphibious programs. Padfield, whose last assignment for the Navy was commanding officer, Assault Craft Unit Five, began his new position on Monday. "Jon brings a wealth of leadership and maritime experience to our company, and he is going to be an excellent fit for our team," said Dan Holloway, HII's corporate Vice President, customer affairs. "His extensive naval career provides him with a vast understanding and at-sea knowledge of amphibious warships and how they operate and support U.S. Marine Corps and Navy missions.

09 Dec 2009

USS Freedom Closer to Maiden Deployment

Photo courtesy U.S. Navy

The Navy's first littoral combat ship (LCS), USS Freedom (LCS 1), has successfully completed another major milestone in preparation for her upcoming maiden deployment. Freedom conducted independent ship deployment training and certification at sea from Nov. 13-21, operating with ships from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Carrier Strike Group during their Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off the southeastern coast of the United States. Freedom conducted effective complex training as part of the Maritime Security Surge certification for the ship's Gold Crew…

14 Oct 2009

Littoral Combat Ship Support Facility Opens

The Program Executive Officer, Littoral and Mine Warfare (PEO LMW), Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD) and the Littoral Combat Ship Class Squadron (LCS CLASSRON) will unveil the Navy's first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mission Package Support Facility (MPSF) during a ceremony at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Oct. 16. The 42,400 square-foot MPSF will service the Navy's projected initial mission packages to be employed by LCS ships. Mission package maintenance and integration within the facility will be conducted by contractors secured by the Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules Program Office (PMS 420). LCS is a revolutionary new warship, designed for littoral warfare missions in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Surface Warfare (SUW) and Mine Warfare (MIW).

06 Apr 2009

NAVSEA Approves New Non-Skid Coating

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) has recently approved a new non-skid coating for use onboard Navy ships. “The new type of coating provides a quick and easy non-slip surface that ship’s force apply themselves,” said John Wegand, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock Division non-skid engineering manager. NSWC Carderock is a NAVSEA field activity. As a Technical Authority, NAVSEA is accountable for the technical engineering elements of ship maintenance, modernization, construction, design and safety. “The new ‘peel & stick’ variety offers a 66 percent cost savings when compared to covering a similar area using traditional non-skid,” said Cruiser Class Squadron (CGRON) Combat Systems Analyst Chief Fire Controlman (Surface Warfare) Anthony Belbeck.

30 Mar 2009

Assessment of USS Hartford and New Orleans

The U.S. Navy submarine and U.S. collided in the Strait of Hormuz March 20, have been undergoing extensive engineering and damage assessments since pulling into Bahrain March 21. Engineering and technical experts arrived in Bahrain to assess the damage to USS Hartford (SSN 768) and USS New Orleans (LPD 18). They will augment Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) Detachment Bahrain. Twelve Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard (PHNSY) personnel and two Naval Sea Systems (NAVSEA) experts are assessing the damage to Hartford and New Orleans and have begun initial in-theater repairs.

19 Sep 2008

Navy to Roll Out New Anti-Submarine Warfare Mission Package

The Navy will roll out its new anti-submarine warfare mission package for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) in a ceremony Sept. 19 at Naval Base Point Loma Naval Mine & ASW Command Complex, San Diego. Vice Commander, Naval Surface Forces, Rear Adm. Mike Shatynski; Principal Civilian Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research and Development, Jim Thomsen; Deputy Director of Surface Warfare, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Rear Adm. Michael K. Mahon; Commander, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Rear Adm. Michael C. Bachmann; Program Executive Officer for Littoral and Mine Warfare, E. Anne Sandel; and Commodore, LCS Class Squadron, Capt. Lewis Chris Nygard, are all scheduled to speak at the event.

04 Jun 2008

SECNAV Tours Next Generation Amphibious Assault Ship

A bow view of the Pre Commissioning Unit (PCU) Makin Island (LHD 8), which is currently under construction in Pascagoula. Makin Island, the Navy’s first amphibious assault ship equipped with an all electric auxiliary systems and a hybrid gas turbine - electric propulsion system, is scheduled for christening August 19, 2006. Photo by Mr. Steve Blount courtesy Northrop Grumman Ship

Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter visited Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Makin Island (LHD 8) May 29, as part of a scheduled Gulf Coast visit. Winter toured the Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB) facility and spaces aboard . His primary goal for the tour was to review updates on the overall shipbuilding activities at NGSB and for a status assessment of what's happening with . "The overall integration of combat systems in particular was most helpful, and I think it helped gauge not only where we are right now but where we'll be in the future," Winter said.

18 Jun 2007

CLASSRON Stands Up in San Diego

The newest Class Squadron (CLASSRON) was formally established for Guided Missile Cruisers (CG) on Naval Station San Diego June 1. The new CG CLASSRON will be engaged in the training, maintaining, manning and logistics processes for the entire class of 22 CGs. “What we do is we look at issues from two sides,” said Commander, Cruiser Class Squadron Capt. David Matawitz. "So we are looking from the top down. We also go out to the ships and look for problems on the individual deck plates, and push problems up. If one ship has an issue we look across the class to see if it’s on other ships, and frankly, you will often find that one ship with a problem is not all by itself ...

22 Mar 2007

Navy Transfers Two Coastal Mine Hunters to Greece

Mine warfare ship USS Pelican (MHC 53) departs from Naval Support Activity (NSA) New Orleans. Pelican conducted a three-day port call to the New Orleans before returning to her homeport at Naval Station Ingleside, Texas. U.S. Navy photo by Mr. Two Osprey-Class Coastal Mine Hunters, USS Heron (MHC 52) and USS Pelican (MHC 53), were decommissioned March 16, and transferred to the Hellenic Navy (HN) in the first official transfer of ships between nations at the South Texas base. Capt. Dave Tungett, of the Program Executive Office (PEO) for Ships and Rear Adm. Iaonnis Karaiskos, Deputy Chief of Staff, Hellenic Navy, signed the official transfer documents following the decommissioning. “This is an occasion that is sad, but yet happy,” said Lt. Cmdr.

09 Mar 2007

SURFLANT Tours MCM CLASSRON, Ships

Commander Naval Surface Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SURFLANT) toured two mine warfare class squadron’s mine countermeasures ships March 5 to evaluate the progress of the alignment of existing waterfront and type command organizations. Rear Adm. D.C. Curtis, SURFLANT, said he prefers to get out from behind his desk and visit his commands. “It’s the best way to get to know your Sailors, the ships, the needs,” he said. To strengthen surface forces and streamline costs, the Surface Warfare Enterprise formed eight class squadron (CLASSRON) implementation teams. Four of the eight CLASSRONs began operations Feb. 15 and will handle training, maintenance, personnel and logistics for ships by class. Capt.