Navy Christens Littoral Combat Ship Wichita
The Navy will christen its newest Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, USS Wichita (LCS 13), during a 10 a.m. CST ceremony Saturday, Sept. 17 in Marinette, Wisconsin. Wichita, designated LCS 13, honors the city of Wichita, Kansas. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, the junior senator from Wisconsin, will serve as the principal speaker. Novelist and editor Kate Lehrer, the wife of former PBS news anchor and Wichita native Jim Lehrer, will serve as the ship’s sponsor. The ceremony will be highlighted by Lehrer breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow to formally christen the ship, a time-honored Navy tradition. “The christening of the future USS Wichita brings this warship one step closer to joining our nation's growing fleet,” said the Honorable Ray Mabus, secretary of the Navy.
Today in U.S. Naval History: May 21
1944 - During preparations for the invasion of Saipan an accidental ordnance blast on LST 353 sets off cataclysmic ammunition explosions at West Loch, Pearl Harbor, killing 163 and injuring 396. Six tank landing ships (LST-39, LST-43, LST-69, LST-179, LST-353, LST-480), three tank landing craft (LCT-961, LCT-963, LCT-983), and 17 track landing vehicles (LVTs) are destroyed in explosions and fires. 1964 - The initiation of the standing carrier presence at Yankee Station in the South China Sea.
This Day in Naval History – May 21
1850 - Washington Navy Yard begins work on first castings for the Dahlgren guns 1917 - USS Ericsson fires first torpedo of war 1944 - During preparations for the invasion of Saipan an accidental ordnance blast on LST 353 sets off cataclysmic ammunition explosions at West Loch, Pearl Harbor, killing 163 and injuring 396. Six tank landing ships (LST-39, LST-43, LST-69, LST-179, LST-353, LST-480), three tank landing craft (LCT-961, LCT-963, LCT-983), and 17 track landing vehicles (LVTs) are destroyed in explosions and fires. 1964 - The initiation of the standing carrier presence at Yankee Station in the South China Sea. (Source: Navy News Service)
This Day in Naval History – May 21
1850 - Washington Navy Yard begins work on first castings for the Dahlgren guns 1917 - USS Ericsson fires first torpedo of war 1944 - During preparations for the invasion of Saipan an accidental ordnance blast on LST 353 sets off cataclysmic ammunition explosions at West Loch, Pearl Harbor, killing 163 and injuring 396. Six tank landing ships (LST-39, LST-43, LST-69, LST-179, LST-353, LST-480), three tank landing craft (LCT-961, LCT-963, LCT-983), and 17 track landing vehicles (LVTs) are destroyed in explosions and fires. 1964 - The initiation of the standing carrier presence at Yankee Station in the South China Sea. (Source: Navy News Service)
This Day in Naval History - May 21
1850 - Washington Navy Yard begins work on first castings for the Dahlgren guns. 1917 - USS Ericsson fires first torpedo of war. 1944 - Accidental explosion on board an LST unloading ammunition in West Loch, Pearl Harbor, and the resulting fire and other explosions sink five LSTs. 1964 - The initiation of the standing carrier presence at Yankee Station in the South China Sea. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at http://www.history.navy.mil.
This Day in Naval History
1850 - Washington Navy Yard begins work on first castings for the Dahlgren guns. 1917 - USS Ericsson fires first torpedo of war. 1944 - Accidental explosion on board an LST unloading ammunition in West Loch, Pearl Harbor, and the resulting fire and other explosions sink five LSTs. 1964 - The initiation of the standing carrier presence at Yankee Station in the South China Sea. 1882 - Commodore Shufeldt signs commerce treaty opening Korea to U.S. trade. 1958 - Naval aircraft F4D-1 Sky Ray sets five world speed-to-climb records, May 22-23. 1967 - New York City reaches agreement to purchase Brooklyn Navy Yard, ending 166 years of construction and repair of naval vessels. 1968 - USS Scorpion (SSN 589) is lost with all hands.
