Mesa Verde News

Major naval drills about to start in the Baltic Sea involving some 30 ships and more than 3,000 Western service members will for the first time practice how to respond to a Russian assault in the region, Germany's navy chief said on Friday."We are sending a clear message of vigilance to Russia: Not on our watch," Vice-Admiral Jan Christian Kaack told reporters in Berlin. "Credible deterrence must include the ability to attack."The two-week Northern Coasts exercise, set to start Sep 9…

The U.S. Navy on Thursday announced it has relieved the commanding officers of two of its U.S. East Coast warships, USS Carney (DDG 64) and USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19).In separate statements, the Navy said it relieved Cmdr. Alexa Jenkins and Capt. Michael D. Nordeen, citing loss of confidence in their ability to command.Jenkins, who served as commanding officer of the USS Carney (DDG 64) since June 2022, was relieved by Capt. Jennifer Blakeslee, commodore, Naval Surface Squadron 14 (CNSS 14).Jenkins will be temporarily reassigned to the staff of Commander, Naval Surface Squadron 14, and Capt.

The U.S. Navy's new aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) on Monday underwent its third explosive event off the coast of Jacksonville, Fla., rounding out the ship’s Full Ship Shock Trials (FSST) and validating its shock hardness and ability to sustain operations in a simulated combat environment using live ordnance. During the four-month testing evolution, the first-in-class aircraft carrier withstood the impact of three 40,000-pound underwater blasts, released at distances…

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.

The USS Mesa Verde, a U.S. Navy amphibious transport dock ship, is steaming toward Haiti to support relief efforts after Hurricane Matthew killed more than 500 people and left thousands homeless in the Caribbean country, the Navy said on Friday.   A Navy spokesman said the ship would bring a large set of capabilities, including three CH-53 heavy lift helicopters, bulldozers and fresh water delivery vehicles. The ship can produce 72,000 gallons of fresh potable water per day and is stocked with pallets of food, medicine, baby formula, diapers, first aid supplies and other key items.   The ship has a surgical team which can work out of two operating rooms on board. (Reporting by Phil Stewart)

Ships of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) transited the Suez Canal Oct. 2, 2014, marking the beginning journey homeward. Deployed since February 8, 2014, the Bataan ARG/MEU is comprised of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44), and embarked Marines from the 22nd MEU. The Bataan ARG/MEU is specifically purposed to execute maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts to enhance regional security and stability. While tasked to U.S.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel today ordered the amphibious transport dock ship 'USS Mesa Verde' into the Arabian Gulf, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said. The ship has completed its transit through the Strait of Hormuz, the admiral said in a statement. "Its presence in the Gulf adds to that of other U.S. naval ships already there - including the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush - and provides the commander in chief additional options to protect American citizens and interests in Iraq, should he choose to use them," Kirby said. USS Mesa Verde is capable of conducting a variety of quick-reaction and crisis response operations, the press secretary said, and it carries a complement of MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.

the U.S. Navy's amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) returned to Naval Station Norfolk Friday morning following a brief underway as part of the ship's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). Sailors aboard Mesa Verde have spent months preparing for the upcoming deployment and those preparations have included extensive and exhaustive checks, equipment testing and, of course, cleaning. The ship's inspection falls after completing both Amphibious Ready Group Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercises (ARGMEUEX) and Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) earlier in 2013…

Naval Surface Force Atlantic announced that the ship, delivered prematurely and tormented by years of mechanical malfunctions and mishaps, has been awarded the Battle Efficiency award, or Battle “E” — a coveted honor given annually to units that demonstrate the highest standards of performance and efficiency. “Everyone who believes that San Antonio is still broken and on the sidelines will now realize that we are not,” said the ship’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Neil Koprowski, quoted in a SURFLANT press release. The award caps a remarkable turnaround for the ship.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (April 29, 2011) Sailors and Marines assigned to the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) conduct a visit, board, search and seizure exercise. Mesa Verde is deployed as part of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Josue L. Escobosa/Released)

The future USS Anchorage (LPD 23) launched Feb. 12 from Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's Avondale, La., shipyard, marking a key milestone in the ship's construction process. Due to extensive pre-outfitting efforts, Anchorage will be the most complete ship in the class at the time of launch. "We started construction on the first ship of the LPD 17 class 11 years ago." said Jay Stefany, LPD 17 program manager for the Navy's Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. Anchorage is the seventh ship of the San Antonio-class of landing platform docks and is named for the largest city in Alaska. The ship's sponsor is Annette Conway, wife of U.S. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway. She will christen the ship this May in a traditional Navy ceremony.

At approximately 5:00 a.m. local time April 10, USS Ashland (LSD 48), was fired upon by a skiff manned by suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden, approximately 330 nautical miles off the coast of Djibouti. During the attack, Ashland received small arms fire on the port side from the six man crew of suspected pirates aboard the skiff. Ashland, in accordance with her rules of engagement, returned fire. USS Ashland fired two rounds at the skiff from her MK-38 Mod 2, 25mm gun. The skiff caught fire and the suspected pirates abandoned the skiff.

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 LPD 17 class, the Navy’s newest class of amphibious transport docks, has reached Initial Operating Capability. With the first three ships of the class commissioned, achieving IOC is an important accomplishment for this transformational class of amphibious warships. “We’ve had some challenges to overcome with LPD 17,” said Rear Adm. Charles Goddard, program executive officer for ships. “But reaching this milestone is a testament to the collaborative efforts between the Navy and shipbuilding industry.”  USS San Antonio, the first of the LPD 17-class of amphibious transport dock ships, completed a Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) underway material inspection Nov. 26-30, 2007, at Naval Station Norfolk. INSURV found that was fit for sustained combat service in the Fleet.

Invisible to approximately 5,000 people witnessing the USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) commissioning ceremony, Dec. 15, a newly modernized landing craft air cushion (LCAC) 39 sat certified and ready for transport within the well deck of the Navy's newest amphibious ship. Mesa Verde had already finished its requisite LCAC certification Dec. 7, which qualify the ship to recover an LCAC and embark on the ship's mission of transporting Marines, their supplies, and equipment, according to Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Panama City Division Project Engineer Rhett Plash. Plash works with NSWC PCD LCAC in-service engineering activity and operations. "We're actually a part of the team that performs well deck certifications," Plash said.

Cdr. Shawn Lobree, commanding officer, USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), thanks his crew, their families, and a tremendous commissioning committee for their support. The ship is named after Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado, a significant archaeological and anthropological site that in 1906 Congress established as the first cultural park in the National Park Systems. U.S. Navy photo by Cdr. More than 300 Sailors and a platoon of Marines manned the rails of USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), the newest San Antonio class ship…

LPD 19's Marine contingent prepare to board the U.S. Navy amphibious transport dock ship Saturday morning during the commissioning ceremony in Panama City. Northrop Grumman-built Mesa Verde was commissioned into the U.S. Navy's Atlantic Fleet on the Florida Gulf Coast. Speaking to a crowd of more than 4,000, former U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado congratulated the shipbuilding team and future crew of the amphibious transport dock ship. sailor-friendly ships ever built. Saturday's ceremony. Command, placed the ship in commission. forward presence from the sea. maritime force.

The future USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) successfully “sailed away” from Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS) Ingalls Operations Dec. 3 on its maiden voyage manned for the first time by the ship’s crew. Before transiting to its homeport of Norfolk, Va., the ship will sail to Panama City, Fla., for its commissioning ceremony. This milestone marks the government/industry team’s production completion of LPD 19, the first of this class of amphibious transport dock constructed completely at the Pascagoula, Miss. shipyard. The ceremonial commissioning of Mesa Verde is schedule to occur on Dec. 15 at 11:00 a.m. in Panama City, when the sponsor, Mrs. Linda Campbell, will give the first order to "man our ship and bring her to life!" Her husband, former Sen.

The U.S. 23), the sixth and seventh San Antonio class amphibious transport dock ships. shapes, pipe, cable and other major equipment. said Philip A. LPD ships. advance procurement contracts for both ships. $207 million for LPD 23. man-hours. LPD 17 program are under contract to Northrop Grumman. locations: New Orleans, and Pascagoula and Gulfport, Miss. mid-2005. and LST 1179 classes of amphibious ships. ability to carry and launch the U.S. Vehicle. the sailors and marines. such, offers unparalleled amphibious warfighting capabilities. network of fleet support offices in the U.S. and Japan. the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and international navies.

The steel profile of San Antonio, the first ship of the LPD 17 class, can now be seen rising along the banks of the Mississippi River at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in Avondale, La. technologies that will enhance the amphibious fleet's operational flexibility. Osprey. The San Antonio construction program enjoyed some recent successes, thanks to a new incentive program established by NAVSEA's LPD-17 program office. The program provides incentives to the shipyard to enhance efficiencies and complete construction phases on schedule and within budget. San Antonio construction achieved its 10 percent completion milestone in February 2002 and is quickly nearing its 20 percent production objective. schedule. There is significant progress in other areas as well.

Northrop Grumman Corporation was awarded $100.4 million by the U.S. long-lead time materials for San Diego (LPD 22), the sixth amphibious transport dock ship in the transformational San Antonio class LPD 17 program. Long-lead materials for LPD 22 consist of steel plates and shapes, pipe, cable and other major equipment. Advance procurement funding is necessary to secure all necessary ship equipment at the best possible purchase price prior to construction. To date, the first five ships awarded in the 12-ship LPD 17 program are under contract to Northrop Grumman Ship Systems. All are in various stages of construction at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems' locations in New Orleans, and Pascagoula and Gulfport, Miss.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded $100.4 million by the U.S. Navy for advance procurement of long-lead time materials for San Diego (LPD 22), the sixth amphibious transport dock ship in the transformational San Antonio class LPD 17 program. "We are heartened to see a commitment to the sixth ship of the San Antonio class," said Dr. Philip A. Dur, Northrop Grumman corporate vice president and president of the company's Ship Systems sector. Long-lead materials for LPD 22 consist of steel plates and shapes, pipe, cable and other major equipment. Advance procurement funding is necessary to secure all necessary ship equipment at the best possible purchase price prior to construction.

On September 9, 2003, remnant steel from the World Trade Center twin towers will be cast into the future USS New York amphibious transport dock ship, LPD 21. The ship is named for the state of New York and recognizes the courage and commitment of New Yorkers during the 9/11 tragedy. Amite Foundry and Machine in Amite, LA, a subcontractor to the shipbuilder Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, will perform the casting. Thousands of pounds of steel transported from the debris field in Staten Island, NY, will be melted down and poured into the bow stem cast of New York. As part of the bow, the stem and WTC steel will always be the first part of the ship to sail into future 21st Century expeditionary warfare missions.