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.
Steven Palazzo Visits HII, Newport
Huntington Ingalls Industries today hosted Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss., for a tour of the company's Newport News Shipbuilding division. Palazzo represents the fourth district of Mississippi, which includes Newport News' sister shipyard, Ingalls Shipbuilding. The visit provided an opportunity for Palazzo to see nuclear shipbuilding at Newport News and understand the value that Mississippi suppliers contribute to ship construction in Newport News. Palazzo's visit included a tour of aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), which is about 85 percent complete and scheduled for delivery in 2016. Shipbuilding suppliers in Mississippi contribute an average $3.6 million to Newport News' efforts each year.
Seabees to Receive New Convoy Simulator
By Daryl C. NORFOLK (NNS) -- The Naval Construction Force will soon have a new, 21st century convoy training simulator to augment current training for Seabees. Lockheed Martin was recently awarded a contract that includes a state-of-the-art $5 million combat convoy simulator (CCS) expected to be delivered to Construction Battalion Center (CBC), Gulfport, Miss., in September 2008. The trainer is part of a $52.5 million contract providing convoy simulators to the Marine Corps. The system consists of six vehicle simulators, four high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles and two medium tactical vehicle replacements, that will be programmed with a variety of training scenarios and scenery projected onto a 360-degree screen.
CNO Visits Naval Construction Battalion Center Seabees
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead conducted an all hands call, Jan. 10, aboard Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport. The CNO was in Gulfport as part of an eight-day trip in which he will visit shipbuilders, Sailors and academics throughout the United States. Roughead lauded the importance of the Seabees and the invaluable resources they provide to the Navy, other maritime activities and joint commands the world over. "I've seen the Seabees not just here, but in Iraq and in Kuwait," said Roughead. "I've seen the work that they do and it is superb. The CNO opened the floor to junior and senior Sailors alike discussing the basic allowance for housing rates, advancement exam waivers and the current trend for deployments among Seabee battalions.
Navy Selects Firm to Negotiate for Largest Family Housing Privatization Project
The Department of the Navy selected GMH Communities Trust on Feb. 26 to enter into exclusive negotiations for the design, construction, management, and maintenance of affordable, quality military family housing at 11 Navy bases in five Southeast states. The initiative is one of the largest public/private venture (PPV) housing initiatives to date. The 50-year term of the project will begin with a six-year Initial Development Period (IDP) valued at approximately $772 million. "This project is one of the most ambitious public/private ventures undertaken for Navy families,” said Scott Forrest, director, Special Venture Acquisition, Naval Facilities Engineering Command.
