US Navy Christens Submarine Indiana
The U.S. Navy christened its newest Virginia-class fast attack submarine, the future USS Indiana (SSN 789), during a ceremony Saturday, April 29, at Huntington Ingalls Shipyard in Newport News, Va. Vice President Mike Pence, who previously served as the 50th governor of Indiana, delivered the ceremony's principal address. “[President Trump]sent me here today on this historic occasion as a sign of his deep commitment to the Armed Forces of the United States of America, and to his commitment to make the strongest fighting force in the world even stronger still,” Pence said.
New Facility for Virginia-Class Submarine Sailors at Newport News Shipbuilding
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced today that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has opened a new facility that provides workspace for the crews of Virginia-class submarine (VCS) pre-commissioning units (PCUs) while their submarines are under construction. The facility is collocated with Newport News’ submarine final outfitting and assembly facilities, thereby increasing the crews’ ability to access and train with the ship systems during the final stages of construction. To provide convenient offices and training space, the building’s second floor provides separate sections for the three PCU crews that are on-site in an overlapping manner as a result of the two-per-year VCS construction pace.
Recent Warship Collision Investigators Named
US Fleet Forces Command (USFF) names Rear Adm. Ann Phillips, & Rear Adm. Joseph Tofalo to enquire into 'San Jacinto/Montpelier' collision. U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF) assigned a flag officer to lead an administrative investigation and established a safety board to review the facts and circumstances Oct. 15 that led to the collision between the Navy submarine USS Montpelier and Aegis cruiser USS San Jacinto off the coast of Florida Oct. 13. Vice Adm. Michelle Howard, deputy commander of USFF, appointed Rear Adm.
USS Columbia Recognized for Last Deployment
USS Columbia (SSN 771) received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for its last deployment, Sept. 5, just minutes before setting the maneuvering detail and departing for another. Commander, Submarine Squadron 3, Capt. Joseph Tofalo, presented the Meritorious Unit Commendation to Columbia’s crew as they said their goodbyes to their loved ones at Pearl Harbor and prepared to leave for a surge deployment to the Western Pacific. In the award citation, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Cmdr. Gene Sievers, Columbia’s commanding officer, said his crew did an “extraordinary” job keeping the submarine in a ready status, despite returning from the deployment only six months ago. “Normally after you return, you stand down and move into maintenance period,” said Sievers.
