Second Hi-speed Vessel for USNS Christened
Austal christening of 'USNS Choctaw County' (JHSV 2) at its Mobile, Alabama shipyard, the second of a nine-ship US$1.6-billion contract with US Navy. The ship was named Choctaw County to honor the contributions of the men and women of rural America. Three counties in America, located in Mississippi, Alabama, and Oklahoma, share the name. The ceremony was held in Austal’s final assembly bay under the ship with over 600 guests in attendance. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus was the principal speaker at the event.
Navy to Christen Second Joint High Speed Vessel
The Navy will christen the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) Choctaw County, named for three U.S. counties, located in Mississippi, Alabama and Oklahoma, which share the county's name, during a ceremony in Mobile, Ala., Sept. 15, at 10 a.m. CDT. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Women from Ackerman High School's class of 1966, 29 in all, will serve as the ship's sponsors, with Theresa Pitts designated as the lead sponsor for the classmates. Ackerman High School is located in Choctaw County's town of Ackerman, Miss.
Navy Names New JHSV
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus joined Ackerman, Miss., Mayor Dick Cain to announce today that the name of the Department of the Navy's next Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) will be United States Naval Ship (USNS) Choctaw County, during a brief ceremony today at Ackerman High School, Ackerman, Miss. "I grew up in Choctaw County, Miss., where people work hard to raise their families and provide for their children," Mabus said. This will be the first naval vessel to serve as the county's namesake, an honor shared by Choctaw counties also located in Alabama and Oklahoma. Capable of transporting 600 short tons, 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots , the JHSV can operate in shallow-draft ports and waterways, providing U.S. forces added mobility and flexibility.
