George Dewey News

The U.S. Navy will commission its newest fast attack submarine, the future USS Colorado (SSN 788), during a ceremony Saturday, March 17, at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn. The principal speaker will be U.S. Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado. Annie Mabus, daughter of 75th Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, will serve as the ship’s sponsor. “USS Colorado is a true marvel of technology and innovation, and it shows the capability that our industrial partners bring to the fight,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. The future Colorado, which began construction in 2012, is the 15th Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the fifth Virginia-class Block III submarine. Colorado will be the fourth U.S. Navy ship to be commissioned with a name honoring the state of Colorado.

The shipwreck remains of a historic U.S. Coast Guard cutter have been discovered off of Southern California 100 years after the vessel was lost at sea. In its heyday, the Coast Guard Cutter McCulloch – commissioned in 1897 as a cruising cutter for the U.S. Treasury’s Revenue Cutter Service, a predecessor of the Coast Guard – saw its share of action, having served with Commodore George Dewey in the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898 as part of the U.S. Asiatic Squadron that destroyed the Spanish Pacific fleet in the first major battle of the Spanish-American War.

The Navy will christen its newest Virginia-class fast attack submarine, the future USS Colorado (SSN 788), during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, Dec. 3 at General Dynamics Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Connecticut. The Honorable Ray Mabus, secretary of the Navy, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. His daughter, Anne Mabus, is serving as the ship's sponsor. "The christening of the future USS Colorado is an example of our enduring partnership with our nation's shipbuilders, and this ceremony marks a milestone along the journey to add another submarine to our Navy fleet-a fleet that will reach more than 300 ships by 2019," Mabus said. Colorado (SSN 788) is the 15th Virginia-class fast attack submarine and the fifth Virginia-class Block III submarine.

1898 - The battleship USS Kentucky (BB 6) is launched in Newport News, Va. 1903 - Adm. George Dewey is commissioned Admiral of the Navy, the only person to hold this rank. Upon his death Jan. 16, 1917, Congress deactivates the rank. 1919 - The battleship USS Idaho (BB 42) is commissioned. Idaho serves with the Pacific fleet, participating in gunfire support of the Aleutian, Marianas, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa Campaigns, and is in Tokyo Bay Sept. 2, 1945 when Japan formally surrenders. 1936 - USS Balch (DD 363), named after Rear Adm. George B. Balch, is launched.

Today in U.S. Naval History - March 24 1903 - George Dewey commissioned Admiral of the Navy with the date of rank, March 2, 1899. He was the only person to hold this rank. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.

Today in U.S. 1902 - Admiral of the Navy George Dewey receives orders to send his battleship to Trinidad and then to Venezuela to make sure that Great Britain's and Germany's dispute with Venezuela was settled by peaceful arbitration not force. 1944 - Admiral Halsey's Third Fleet encounters typhoon northeast of Samar. Destroyers USS Hull, USS Monaghan and USS Spence sink, while 21 other ships are damaged. 1965 - River Patrol Force established in Vietnam. 1965 - Helicopters from HS-11 on USS Wasp (CVS-18) pick up crew and capsule of Gemini 7…

Before dawn on May 1, 1898, Commodore George Dewey's flagship Olympia led seven U.S. Navy cruisers and gunboats into Manila Bay. By 8 AM that morning Dewey's Asiatic Squadron had located and destroyed virtually the entire Spanish naval force in the Philippines. Damage to the American ships was negligible, and their crews suffered no fatalities and few injuries. The Battle of Manila Bay was a singular demonstration of the daring and decisive application of sea power. In a few hours, Dewey had eliminated any threat that the Spanish Navy might pose to U.S.

From the Navy News Service:   1859 - The first Navy ship built on the West Coast of the United States, Saginaw, is launched at Mare Island, Calif. 1867 - The Navy Civil Engineering Corps is established. 1899 - An act of Congress creates the rank "Admiral of the Navy" for George Dewey. 1973 - Women begin pilot training in the Navy.   For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at www.history.navy.mil.

1903 - George Dewey commissioned Admiral of the Navy with the date of rank, 2 March 1899. He was the only person to hold this rank.   (Source: Navy News Service)

1859 - Launch of Saginaw at Mare Island, first Navy ship built on West Coast of U.S.   1867 - Birthday of Civil Engineer Corps.   1899 - Act of Congress creates the rank Admiral of the Navy for George Dewey.   1973 - Women begin pilot training to U.S. Navy.   (Source: Navy News Service)

1903 - George Dewey commissioned Admiral of the Navy with the date of rank, 2 March 1899. He was the only person to hold this rank. (Source: Navy News Service)

1859 - Launch of Saginaw at Mare Island, first Navy ship built on West Coast of U.S. 1867 - Birthday of Civil Engineer Corps. 1899 - Act of Congress creates the rank Admiral of the Navy for George Dewey. 1973 - Women begin pilot training to U.S. Navy. (Source: Navy News Service)

1902 - Admiral of the Navy George Dewey receives orders to send his battleship to Trinidad and then to Venezuela to make sure that Great Britain's and Germany's dispute with Venezuela was settled by peaceful arbitration not force. 1944 - Admiral Halsey's Third Fleet encounters typhoon northeast of Samar. Destroyers USS Hull, USS Monaghan and USS Spence sink, while 21 other ships are damaged. 1965 - River Patrol Force established in Vietnam. 1965 - Helicopters from HS-11 on USS Wasp (CVS-18) pick up crew and capsule of Gemini 7, after picking up the crew and capsule of Gemini 6 two days earlier. 1967 - Operation Preakness II begins in Mekong Delta. 1972 - Mining and bombing of North Vietnam resumes with Linebacker II Operation. (Source: Navy News Service)

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus has approved Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Calif., as the commissioning location of Pre-commissioning Unit (PCU) Dewey, the Navy's newest and most technologically advanced guided-missile destroyer. The event will be the first time a U.S. Navy warship has been commissioned at Seal Beach. Deborah Mullen, wife of Adm. Mike G. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is the ship's sponsor. She had previously christened the ship during a ceremony at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., Jan. 26, 2008. The new destroyer honors Adm.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) delivered two ships to the U.S. Navy this week at its Gulf Coast shipyards in Pascagoula, Miss. and Avondale, La. Company and Navy officials signed documents officially transferring custody of the Aegis guided missile destroyer Dewey (DDG 105) in Pascagoula on Monday, Aug. 17 and the amphibious transport dock ship New York (LPD 21) at the New Orleans facility on Friday, Aug. 21. "Delivering one ship is a tremendous accomplishment, as a ship delivery flexes nearly every muscle in a shipbuilding organization…

The Navy officially accepted delivery of the future USS Dewey (DDG 105) Aug. 17 from Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB) during a ceremony in Pascagoula, Miss. In June, the guided-missile destroyer completed a combined Builder's and Acceptance trial, also called "super trials," after spending three days in the Gulf of Mexico. "This is the second DDG we've delivered this summer," said Capt. Pete Lyle, DDG 51 class program manager in the Navy's Program Executive Office, Ships (PEO Ships). The future USS Dewey is the 57th destroyer in the Arleigh Burke class and is scheduled to be commissioned in December. Designated DDG 105, the new destroyer honors Adm. George Dewey who is best known for his valor during the U.S. victory in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.

1903 - George Dewey commissioned Admiral of the Navy with the date of rank, 2 March 1899. He was the only person to hold this rank. (Source: Navy News Service)

1859 - Launch of Saginaw at Mare Island, first Navy ship built on West Coast of U.S. 1867 - Birthday of Civil Engineer Corps. 1899 - Act of Congress creates the rank Admiral of the Navy for George Dewey. 1973 - Women begin pilot training to U.S. Navy. (Source: Navy News Service)

1902 - Admiral of the Navy George Dewey receives orders to send his battleship to Trinidad and then to Venezuela to make sure that Great Britain's and Germany's dispute with Venezuela was settled by peaceful arbitration not force. 1944 - Admiral Halsey's Third Fleet encounters typhoon northeast of Samar. Destroyers USS Hull, USS Monaghan and USS Spence sink, while 21 other ships are damaged. 1965 - River Patrol Force established in Vietnam. 1965 - Helicopters from HS-11 on USS Wasp (CVS-18) pick up crew and capsule of Gemini 7, after picking up the crew and capsule of Gemini 6 two days earlier. 1967 - Operation Preakness II begins in Mekong Delta. 1972 - Mining and bombing of North Vietnam resumes with Linebacker II Operation. (Source: Navy News Service)

Mrs. Deborah Mullen, ships sponsor for the precommissioning unit Dewey (DDG 105) christens the newest Aegis-class destroyer, striking the traditional champagne bottle across the ship's bow at Northrop Grumman Systems Shipyard, Pascagoula, Miss., Jan. 26, 2008. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad J. By Fred W. The ship's freshly painted gray hull gave up only a hollow "clunk" as the bottle she gripped with both hands in baseball-bat fashion glanced off its edge.

The Navy will christen the newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, Dewey, Saturday, Jan. 26, during a 10 a.m. CST ceremony at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in Pascagoula, Miss. Designated DDG 105, the new destroyer honors Adm. George Dewey (1837-1917) who commanded the Asiatic Station from the cruiser Olympia. Shortly after the onset of the Spanish-American War, Dewey led his squadron of warships into Manila Bay on April 30, 1898. The next morning, his squadron destroyed the Spanish fleet in only two hours without a single American loss. A widely popular hero of his day, Dewey was commissioned admiral of the Navy, a rank created for him, in March 1903. Two previous ships have proudly carried his name.

From the Navy News Service 1783 - At the conclusion of the American Revolution, Congress orders all Continental naval vessels and privateers home. 1903 - George Dewey is commissioned Admiral of the Navy with the date of rank, March 2, 1899. He was the only person to hold this rank. 1918 - The battleship Idaho (BB 41) is commissioned. 1988 - William L. Ball III becomes the 67th secretary of the Navy. Source: NavNews