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Little Creek News

25 Jul 2022

USS Whidbey Island Decommissioned

USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) (Photo: Rachael L. Leslie / U.S. Navy)

Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship namesake, USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) held a decommissioning ceremony at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va. on July 22 before its inactivation next month.The ship’s decommissioning ceremony was held on the quay wall, alongside the moored USS Whidbey Island. The ceremony was attended by nine of her previous Commanding Officers and over 50 plankowners. “The last crew of Whidbey Island performed with great dignity and resiliency,” said Cmdr. Matt Phillips, the ship’s final commanding officer.

10 Jan 2019

Grounded Bulk Carrier Refloated near Virginia

(U.S. Coast Guard photo by Nathan Reynolds)

A 958-foot bulk carrier has refloated after running aground about 2.5 miles east of Virginia Beach, Thursday morning.Crew members aboard the vessel, JSW Salem, contacted U.S. Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads watchstanders in Portsmouth after the Panamanian flagged ship ran aground near Cape Henry Buoy #4.The ship's crew reported there were 120,000 metric tons of coal and 26 people aboard the ship.A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Station Little Creek launched and arrived on scene to assist.

13 Sep 2018

Navy, Coast Guard Assets Repositioned as Florence Threatens

Preparations underway all along the Eastern Seaboard. As Hurricane Florence threatens a wide swath of the U.S. East Coast, the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard are taking no chances as the dangerous storm advances westward. As that happens, most Navy ships are departing ports in Virginia. As many as 30 vessels from Naval Station Norfolk and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek on Monday. Following close behind, the Coast Guard’s medium endurance cutter Bear could also be seen heading for sea.As all Navy installations in the Hampton Roads area were making preparations for the storm’s possible arrival, further south in North Carolina, commercial ports were making similar arrangements.

02 Apr 2018

RB-M: the Coast Guard's Durable Workhorse

Petty Officer 2nd Class Nathan Reynolds stood on a wooden Coast Guard pier looking to the water’s edge at an orange and silver boat used for saving lives and assisting mariners in distress, and bears the numbers 45601, as a small smile appeared on his face. “I’d rather have that boat than any other in the fleet,” he said, admiring its functionality and capability. Reynolds, a Boatswain’s Mate at Station Little Creek, is speaking about 45601, the first 45-foot Response Boat – Medium (RB-M) that was delivered to Coast Guard crews. Since 2008, over 170 RB-Ms have been delivered to over 100 boat stations throughout the Coast Guard. Station Little Creek holds the title of being the first unit to conduct missions on RB-M…

14 Jun 2017

US Navy: Bigger is Better, but at What Cost?

U.S. Navy forces and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force routinely train together to improve interoperability and readiness to provide stability and security for the Indo-Asia Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Z.A. Landers)

The U.S. Navy has a balanced fleet, but it wants to grow bigger and better. Will the budget allow both? Maritime Reporter's March 2017 cover story on the U.S. Navy was all about the numbers. There exists several plans to grow the fleet beyond the current number of 308 ships, the Mitre recommendation of 414 ships, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment 340-ship proposal, and the Navy’s decision to grow the fleet to 355 ships, and the Trump administration’s 350. With so many numbers being bandied about, there are even more suggestions on how to get there.

14 Dec 2016

New US Ballast Water Research Lab Opened

Traveling across the globe from port to port, the U.S. Navy fleet transports sailors and Marines, aircraft, and supplies. Unfortunately, ships can also unintentionally transport stowaways, small organisms which live in ballast water. Most people would not look at small organisms like mitten crabs or zebra mussels and think they are a major threat to the environment – and in their natural habitats they pose no threat. But what happens when these organisms are introduced into a new ecosystem? According to Rachel Jacobs, a chemical engineer in the Wastewater Management Branch at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, the results of introducing non-native species into a new environment can be disastrous for the ecosystem…

08 Jun 2016

This Day In Naval History: June 8

USS Cole (DDG 67) (U.S. Navy photo by Christopher L. Clark)

1830 - The sloop of war USS Vincennes becomes the first US Navy warship to circle the globe when she returns to New York. She departs on Sept. 3, 1826, rounds Cape Horn and cruises the Pacific protecting American merchantmen and whalers until June 1829. 1880 - Congress authorizes the Office of Judge Advocate General. Vice Adm. Nanette M. Derenzi currently serves as the 42nd Judge Advocate General of the Navy. 1937 - Capt. Julius F. Hellweg commands the Navy detachment that observes a total eclipse of the sun.

09 May 2016

This Day In Naval History: May 9

USS Ashland (LSD 48) (U.S. Navy photo)

1860 - While off the Isle of Pines (now named Isla de la Juventud) near the south coast of Cuba, the screw gunboat Wyandotte captures the slaver William, which carries 570 Africans. 1926 - Lt. Cmdr. Richard E. Byrd and Chief Aviation Pilot Floyd Bennett report reaching the North Pole in their heavier-than-air-flight aircraft. Both receive the Medal of Honor for this event. 1942 - USS Wasp (CV 7) launches 47 RAF Spitfires, British carrier Eagle accompanies Wasp and launches 17 additional Spitfires.

20 Oct 2015

NTSB: El Faro Investigation Continues

NTSB Issues Update on Investigation Into Sinking of Cargo Ship El Faro. On February 13, 2015, El Faro successfully completed the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) class and statutory surveys, meeting all rules and regulations as applicable. All deficiencies identified were rectified prior to completion of the surveys. None of the deficiencies were associated with El Faro’s main propulsion systems. The annual inspection of El Faro, required by the United States Coast Guard (USCG), was completed by qualified USCG inspectors in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on March 6, 2015. In June 2015, a qualified ABS surveyor examined and tested the main, auxiliary and emergency systems as part of the continuous machinery survey program and found them to be satisfactory.

12 Jun 2015

Sunken 48-foot Sports Fisher Vessel Salvaged

USCG photo

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) monitored the salvage of the sunken  Bigbi Thursday, two miles north of Little Creek, Va. The Bigbi sank at approximately 5:40 a.m., Saturday. The four-man crew of the Bigbi activated their emergency personal indicating radio beacon, donned lifejackets and survival suits, abandoned their boat and boarded a 12-foot Boston whaler, where they were assisted by a good Samaritan. A Coast Guard 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Little Creek met with the good Samaritan and transported the four boaters to shore.

29 Mar 2015

USNS Spearhead Delivers Materials to Ghana Charities

The U.S. Navy’s joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) delivered wheelchairs and medical supplies to Ghanaian non-governmental organizations March 26, 2015. The materials were delivered under the U.S. Navy’s Project Handclasp program, which accepts humanitarian, educational and goodwill donations, contributed by the American private sector, and transports them to foreign nations on a space-available basis aboard U.S. Navy vessels. Spearhead delivered 168 of these three-wheeled, hand-cranked wheelchairs, with 154 being adult sized and 14 being for children. The shipment weighed more than 15,600 pounds, with an estimated total worth of $42,000. The humanitarian items are from charities in the United States.

26 Mar 2015

100 Yrs and Ticking - USCG Salutes

They were dubbed the greatest generation, and after spending an hour or so with Linwood Thumm, known more affectionately as "Tick," it's easy to understand why. Two weeks shy of his 100th birthday, his recollection of his service in the Coast Guard during WWII are as vivid as if he just left the battle. Humble about his service yet excited to share his memories, this is just a brief glimpse into the story of Tick Thumm. Thumm’s military service began in 1942 with the U.S. Navy, when he answered America's call after WWII broke out. His service in the Navy, however, didn't extend any further than the entrance process when, according to Thumm, he was turned down because he didn't have three matching molars. Not willing to take no for an answer, Thumm turned to the U.S. Coast Guard.

12 Dec 2014

US Navy Tests Unmanned Underwater Vehicle

The GhostSwimmer vehicle, developed by the Chief of Naval Operations Rapid Innovation Cell project Silent NEMO, undergoes testing at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story. Project Silent NEMO is an experiment which explores the possible uses for a biomimetic device developed by the Office of Naval Research. (U.S. Navy photo by Edward Guttierrez III)

The U.S. Navy completed tests on the GhostSwimmer unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story (JEBLC-FS), Dec. 11. GhostSwimmer is the latest in a series of science-fiction-turned-reality projects developed by the chief of naval operations' Rapid Innovation Cell (CRIC) project, Silent NEMO, an experiment that explores the possible uses for biomimetic, unmanned underwater vehicles in the fleet. Over the past several weeks, Boston Engineering's tuna-sized device has been gathering data at JEBLC-FS on tides…

06 Dec 2014

73rd Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Attack

Dec. 7, 1941 is a day that America will never forget. Claiming more than 2,400 American lives, 21 ships sunk or damaged, and more than 300 aircraft lost, the attack on Pearl Harbor goes down as one of the worst attacks on American soil. The Japanese attack came in two waves. During the first wave, six Japanese carriers launched 181 planes carrying torpedo bombers, dive bombers, horizontal bombers and fighters. Only 30 minutes later 170 more aircraft launched their attack on the Harbor. The U.S. was able to repair all but three of the ships sunk or damaged. The three ships that were beyond repair were USS Arizona (BB-39), USS Oklahoma (BB-37), and USS Utah (AG-16). This year marks the 73rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

23 Oct 2014

Chief of Naval Personnel Visits Naval Special Warfare

Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP) Vice Adm. Bill Moran visited Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Sailors during an all hands call on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Oct. 21. Moran discussed a variety of topics, including enlisted retention boards, retirement, and compensation. "I don't often get to see and talk with NSW Sailors for a lot of reasons, mostly because you're always deployed," Moran said. One of the topics Moran addressed was Sailors' concerns about the possibility of another enlisted retention board (ERB). The ERB was a manpower reduction tool that resulted in a force reduction of nearly 3,000 Sailors in 2011. Moran said, "We didn't do a very good job communicating about the ERB and the program was not executed very well.

18 Oct 2014

USCG Rescue Two from Their Diabled Sailboats

The Coast Guard rescued two people Friday after both of their sailboats became disabled approximately five miles west of the Chesapeake Bridge Tunnel near Hampton. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads received a call from Hampton Police dispatch at approximately 3:50 a.m., who informed the Coast Guard of a 911 call from a man aboard one of two disabled sailboats. The watchstanders called the boater via cell phone and were informed that both sailboats were at anchor five miles west of the Chesapeake Bridge Tunnel. Communication was limited to cellphone, for neither of the boats had working marine radios or GPS. A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium (RB-M) crew from Coast Guard Station Little Creek was dispatched to search for the two boats.

11 Aug 2014

Cutter Vigorous Arrives at New Home Port

(U.S. Coast Guard photo by 2nd Class Walter Shinn)

Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous marked its official arrival at its new homeport at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia Beach, Friday. Vigorous is the first of two Medium Endurance Cutters from Cape May, New Jersey to be relocated to Little Creek. The Coast Guard Cutter Dependable is scheduled to arrive in 2015. “Cape May was a wonderful home for Vigorous over the past 21 years and we thank the community for its steadfast support,” said Cmdr. Terry Johns, Vigorous commanding officer.

04 May 2014

USNS Spearhead First Deployment Judged a Success

The U.S. Navy informs that its first -in-class joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) has left the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, after more than three months of operating in the European and African theaters. "I am extremely proud of the work Spearhead has achieved in theater, primarily for her efforts in supporting Africa Partnership Station and the pillars that program represents," said Vice Adm. Phil Davidson, commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, who recently visited the ship during a port visit in Gabon. "I commend the Sailors and civilians who performed superbly over the course of their work here in U.S. 6th Fleet. Since entering the theater in late January…

01 Apr 2014

MACC Registration to Open April 3

Registration for the Multi-Agency Craft Conference (MACC) 2014 will open at 12:00 EDT on Thursday, April 3. To comply with new government regulations for access to military installations, there are certain pieces of information ASNE will require when an individual registers. Everyone wishing to attend MACC 2014 in any capacity - from exhibitors to attendees to presenters - must register. The registration rate for attendees and exhibit personnel is $235. ASNE offers complimentary registration for active-duty military and government employees (non-contractors). Exhibiting companies will receive two complimentary registrations per exhibit space purchased. •    U.S. •    U.S. •    U.S.

09 Mar 2014

Is This a Record? 93-Year-Old Medevaced From Cruise Ship

45ft RBM: Photo credit USCG

The U.S. Coast Guard inform of the medical evacuation of an injured  93-year-old male passenger (with his wife) from the cruise ship 'Grandeur of the Seas' in the Lower Chesapeake Bay. Grandeur of the Seas contacted Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads Command Center watchstanders via VHF-FM to request medical assistance for the elderly passenger who had suffered a head injury. A 45-foot Response Boat - Medium from Coast Guard Station Little Creek was despatched to assist, and in the early hours of Sunday morning the patient and his wife were transferred to the cutter…

27 Feb 2014

On Patrol with the U.S. Coast Guard

Building programs continue, spanning the full range of missions, despite budget concerns. Amidst all the talk of Beltway budget cutbacks and sequestration, the U.S. Coast Guard is quietly investing approximately $30 billion in major acquisition projects to modernize its physical assets. The process of recapitalizing these older and difficult-to-maintain assets has never been an easy task, and the Coast Guard has seen its share of bumps along the way. For example, the initially messy Deepwater debacle initially kicked off what has evolved into today’s more successful recapitalization process, now run by the Coast Guard’s Acquisition Directorate, which stood up in July 2007.

28 Jan 2014

Ugly Ducklings & Steaming the Way to Victory in WWII

The S.S. Patrick Henry was the first of the Emergency Class Liberty  ships to be built and launched. The  famous quote by its namesake helped to give this class of ships its name. (Photo Credit: Library of Congress)

The design and construction of WWII Liberty cargo ships revolutionized shipbuilding by overhauling the blueprint process and standardizing on commonality of parts, welding, pre-fabrication and assembly line construction. Give me Liberty, or give me death!” a rallying cry of the Revolutionary War, got a second act in World War II. “Built by the mile and chopped off by the yard,” Roosevelt promised the no-frills Liberties would form a “bridge of ships” across the Atlantic. And they did. An exaggeration perhaps, but in truth, the Liberty wasn’t much to write home about.

16 Jan 2014

Navy's Newest Vessel on Maiden Deployment

U.S. Navy photo

The Navy's first joint high-speed vessel departed Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Ft. Story today on its maiden deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility. USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) is expected to remain in U.S. 6th Fleet until May 2014 and sail to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility through the end of fiscal year 2014. While deployed, the ship will undergo planned experimentation and testing to determine the ship's capabilities. "The JHSV ship class will play an important part in the future of our joint forces in terms of affordability…