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08 Dec 2021

Maritime History: CV1 — USS Langley was a Trailblazer

USS Langley (CV-1), 1923.  Courtesy of the Library of Congress.

While the December 2021 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News examines 'Great Ships' delivered this calendar  year, Edward Lundquist takes a look back into U.S. Navy history and America's first aircraft carrier —CV 1, the USS Langley.Most people think of USS Langley as America’s first aircraft carrier — CV 1. While that’s true, and being the first flattop in the fleet is an honorable distinction, Langley began life as a collier — USS Jupiter, which itself was a relatively new concept of delivering fuel to the afloat forces where they need it. Today, the U.S.

20 Apr 2017

US Navy to Celebrate Earth Day

Performing missions at sea, on land and in the skies daily around the globe, the Navy is a constant presence in the environment. To emphasize stewardship on all fronts, the Navy workforce is taking part in Earth Day-related activities throughout the month of April. The official Earth Day date is April 22. The Navy's Earth Day theme for 2017 is, "Building Strength Through Stewardship." The theme emphasizes the value of environmental initiatives in supporting the mission by helping to build trust with government agencies and the public. As examples, preserving the ecosystems where we train and operate, conducting research in support of…

18 Apr 2016

This Day In Naval History: April 18

1848 - U.S. Navy expedition to explore the Dead Sea and the River Jordan, commanded by Lt. William F. Lynch, reaches the Dead Sea. 1906 - U.S. Navy assists in relief operations during the San Francisco earthquake and fire. Sailors and Marines fight fires and ships carry the homeless and injured to Vallejo, where medical personnel established emergency facilities. 1942 - The Doolittle Raid begins with 16 Army Air Force B-25 bombers launching earlier than expected from USS Hornet (CV 8), approximately 650 miles off Japan, after being spotted by enemy ships. It is the first attack by the U.S. of the Japanese mainland since Pearl Harbor. Most of the 16 B-25s, each with a five-man crew, attack the Tokyo area, with a few hitting Nagoya.

31 Dec 2014

US Navy Prepares for Communications Satellite Launch

U.S. Navy photo by Rick Naystatt

U.S. Navy military and civilian engineers are preparing the latest military communications satellite for a planned Jan. 20 launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The satellite is part of MUOS, or Mobile User Objective System, which operates like a smartphone network from space, vastly improving secure satellite communications for mobile U.S. forces. Unlike its predecessor system, MUOS provides users a global, on-demand, beyond-line-of-sight capability to transmit and receive high-quality voice and mission data from a high-speed Internet Protocol-based system.

15 Sep 2014

Smith Brothers to Christen Newbuild Tug

Captain Kenneth

On October 10, 2014, Kenneth Smith, 99, the last of the original Smith Brothers, will christen the tug Captain Kenneth. The vessel was designed by the late Oliver Bryant and Parfait Designs and constructed at the company's yard on the Chesapeake Bay. Captain Kenneth is 49.5' x 19' x 7.5' with an operating draft of 6'. The boat, designed for both towing and pushing barges, with a model bow and push knees can operate in any part of the Chesapeake in most sea conditions. Power is…

04 Sep 2014

MN 100: Metal Shark Aluminum Boats

Established in 1986, Gravois Aluminum Boats and its government/commercial entity Metal Shark Boats are leading suppliers of welded aluminum boats for defense, law enforcement, and commercial entities. Customers include the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy, Army, Air Force, the militaries of partner nations worldwide, and a growing list of state and local law enforcement agencies. Metal Shark has entered the shipbuilding sector with a new 25-acre shipyard, maintaining in excess of 110,000 SF of combined manufacturing space (both yards), and a full slate of new builds underway.

01 Jul 2014

USCG 9TH District Commander Honors 75 Yrs Auxiliary Service

The Coast Guard 9th District honored 75 years of service from the Coast Guard Auxiliary in a ceremony at the Coast Guard Cleveland moorings today. What began as fishermen and private boaters reporting sightings of U-boats in American Coastal waters has evolved into the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Auxiliary was established in 1939 to facilitate the operations of the Coast Guard. Starting out as the Coast Guard Reserve, it was split into a military reserve branch and auxiliary operation in February 1941. During WWII the volunteers provided search and rescue support, patrol and picket duties, port security, and limited aviation patrols. The 30,521 members of the modern day Auxiliary use 3,415 operational vessels, 236 aircraft, and 2,459 communication stations to patrol U.S.

23 Dec 2013

Today in U.S. Naval History: December 23

Theodore G. Ellyson (Photo courtesy San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives)

Today in U.S. Naval History - December 23 1826 - Capt. Thomas ap Catesby Jones of USS Peacock and King Kamehameha negotiate first treaty between Hawaii and a foreign power. 1910 - Lt. Theodore G. Ellyson becomes first naval officer sent to flight training. 1941 - Gallant defenders of Wake Island (Sailors, Marines, volunteer civilian contractors, and Army Air Force radio detachment) surrender. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.

27 Nov 2013

Australian Warship Arrives to Support Philippine Recovery

HMAS Tobruk: Photo courtesy of RAN

'HMAS Tobruk' has arrived to commence recovery support operations in the Ormoc region of Leyte Island to assist the Philippines government repair the damage caused by Typhoon Haiyan. The warship sailed from Townsville with a Recovery Support Force onboard, and is now disembarking Army personnel from Townsville’s 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment by landing craft. The engineers will commence a range of tasks including road clearing and quick impact tasks such as debris clean-up in public areas.

22 Oct 2012

US Navy AwardsOcean Wave Power Contract to Bodkin

Bodkin Design & Engineering (BD&E) contracted to develop a coastal water prototype wave power harvesting system. A prototype unit was constructed and tested at the company's Newton facility and was found to have a power conversion efficiency between 34% and 50%. This covert system is designed to be alternative power source for submerged sensors and systems. In addition to its military uses, this submerged system can find application to commercial moorings and on pleasure boats. The fully submerged, robust, self-contained design is anti-fouling and ideally suited for surf zone operation where extreme environmental conditions could damage systems that rely on deployed arms, floats or fragile mechanics.

01 May 2012

US Hospital Ship Deploys to Asia

The San Diego-based Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy is scheduled to deploy Tuesday for a four-month humanitarian mission to four Asian nations, reports San Diego 10News. Converted from an oil tanker in the mid 1980s, the Mercy first saw duty in the Persian Gulf War. Following that deployment, it left its berth at Naval Base San Diego. However, the 2004 tsunami that struck Indonesia prompted the hospital ship to return to the area every year since. The Mercy carries about 400 Naval medical personnel, along with civilian crew members with the Maritime Sealift Command. Crew members on the Mercy will provide medical, dental and veterinary care in the host nations and help with civil engineering projects.

23 Dec 2010

This Day in U.S. Naval History – Dec. 22

1826 - Captain Thomas ap Catesby Jones of USS Peacock and King Kamehameha negotiate first treaty between Hawaii and a foreign power. 1910 - LT Theodore G. Ellyson becomes first naval officer sent to flight training. 1941 - Gallant defenders of Wake Island (Sailors, Marines, volunteer civilian contractors, and Army Air Force radio detachment) surrender. (Source: Navy News Service)

07 Dec 2010

This Day in U.S. Coast Guard History – December 7

1793-The first Revenue Cutter Service court martial occurred on this date aboard the cutter Massachusetts. The offender, Third Mate Sylvanus Coleman of Nantucket, was summarily dismissed from the service for "speaking disrespectfully of his superior officers in public company. . . .insulting Captain John Foster Williams [the commanding officer] on board, and before company. . . .for keeping bad women on board the cutter in Boston and setting a bad example to the men by ordering them to bring the women on board at night and carrying them ashore in the morning. . . ." and for writing an order in the name of the commanding officer. 1830-President Andrew Jackson announced an ambitious plan to add a large number of lighthouses to the federal system, with a total of 51 more lighthouse keepers.

16 Jun 2010

This Day in Coast Guard History – June 17

1832- The practice of utilizing "surplus" naval officers as officers of the Revenue Marine was discontinued. Revenue officer vacancies were henceforth filled by promotion from within the service. 1910-An Act of Congress (36 Stat. L., 534) abolished the Lighthouse Board and created the Bureau of Lighthouses to have complete charge of the Lighthouse Service. This law constituted the organic act under which the Lighthouse Service operated thereafter. 1942-Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet ordered the organization of coastal pickets to combat submarine menace of Atlantic Coast. 1983- National Narcotics Border Interdiction System (NNBIS) began operations under the direction of Vice President George Bush and the executive board consisting of Secretaries of State…

22 Dec 2009

This Day in Naval History – Dec. 23

1826 - Captain Thomas ap Catesby Jones of USS Peacock and King Kamehameha negotiate first treaty between Hawaii and a foreign power. 1910 - LT Theodore G. Ellyson becomes first naval officer sent to flight training. 1941 - Gallant defenders of Wake Island (Sailors, Marines, volunteer civilian contractors, and Army Air Force radio detachment) surrender. (Source: Navy News Service)

06 Dec 2009

This Day in Coast Guard History – Dec. 07

1793-The first Revenue Cutter Service court martial occurred on this date aboard the cutter Massachusetts. The offender, Third Mate Sylvanus Coleman of Nantucket, was summarily dismissed from the service for "speaking disrespectfully of his superior officers in public company. . . .insulting Captain John Foster Williams [the commanding officer] on board, and before company. . . .for keeping bad women on board the cutter in Boston and setting a bad example to the men by ordering them to bring the women on board at night and carrying them ashore in the morning. . . ." and for writing an order in the name of the commanding officer. 1830-President Andrew Jackson announced an ambitious plan to add a large number of lighthouses to the federal system, with a total of 51 more lighthouse keepers.

08 May 2009

Skelton on Defense Budget Proposal

“Members of the House Armed Services Committee are anxious to examine the details of the President’s defense budget proposal and get to work on the Fiscal Year 2010 defense authorization bill. In the current economic climate, it is more important than ever to ensure that each defense dollar is spent wisely and effectively. While many difficult budget and policy decisions are ahead of us, I believe the $533.8 billion requested for defense is a reasonable level which will allow us to support our troops and keep America safe. “I commend the administration for making service members and their families a priority in this budget. I am especially pleased that this year’s budget proposal does not impose new fees on the TRICARE health benefits our service members and their families need.

23 Dec 2008

This Day in Naval History – Dec. 23

1826 - Captain Thomas ap Catesby Jones of USS Peacock and King Kamehameha negotiate first treaty between Hawaii and a foreign power. 1910 - LT Theodore G. Ellyson becomes first naval officer sent to flight training. 1941 - Gallant defenders of Wake Island (Sailors, Marines, volunteer civilian contractors, and Army Air Force radio detachment) surrender. (Source: Navy News Service)

09 Aug 2002

L-3 to Acquire Westwood Corporation

L-3 Communications announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of common stock of Westwood Corporation, a leader in shipboard power control, switchgear and power distribution systems, for $2.30 per share in cash. The total value of the transaction is approximately $22 million, plus assumed debt. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Westwood's stockholders, and is expected to close by the end of this year. The acquisition is expected to be slightly accretive to L-3's earnings. With headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Westwood is the premier niche provider of shipboard power distribution, machinery and automation systems to the United States Navy, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard.

26 Sep 2007

Navy Strategy of Engagement Builds Trust

The United States must engage with maritime partners around the world to create and build trust, according to senior Navy leaders speaking at the 2007 Surface Navy Association West Coast Symposium, held pier side at Naval Station San Diego, in August. Surrounded by ships and cooled summer breeze coming off the harbor, the many attendees heard about the Navy’s efforts to create and build upon meaningful partnerships. Rear Adm. Pete Daly discussed the Navy’s efforts to create a new maritime strategy. The previous maritime strategy addressed a Soviet threat that no longer exists. “We had one big enemy. We understood that enemy. We knew where they were coming from. In the past, military powers knew that military adventurism would be met with reciprocal force.

14 Aug 2007

Navy Contracts Awarded

Lockheed Martin, Maritime Systems & Sensors, Moorestown, N.J., is being awarded a $23,119,281 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the operation and maintenance of a limited in-service support program for the Royal Norwegian Navy new frigate (NNF) F310 CL program.These efforts include software baseline development/maintenance, software maintenance management, engineering support, configuration management, logistics repair, spares support and diminishing manufacturing sources/material shortages. This contract supports the Government of Norway under the Foreign Military Sales program. The effort described herein provides limited in-service…

23 Dec 2005

This Day in Naval History - Dec. 23

From the Navy News Service 1826 - Capt. Thomas Catesby Jones of USS Peacock and King Kamehameha negotiate first treaty between Hawaii and a foreign power. 1910 - Lt. Theodore G. Ellyson becomes the first Naval officer sent to flight training. 1941 - The gallant defenders of Wake Island (Sailors, Marines, volunteer civilian contractors, and Army/Air Force radio detachment) surrender.

12 Aug 2002

MSC Awards $400M Contract for LMSR Operation

On August 5, MSC awarded Maersk Line, Limited, of Norfolk, Va., a five year contract that could total $400 million to operate and maintain eight large, medium-speed, RoRo ships that strategically preposition Army equipment in the Indian Ocean near Diego Garcia. MSC’s Propositioning Program has 35 strategically located ships laden with military equipment, supplies and fuel for the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Defense Logistics Agency. Fifteen ships carry combat equipment and sustaining supplies for the U.S. Army, enough to sustain two Army heavy brigades- up to 8,000 personnel- for up to 30 days.

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