Marine Link
Friday, March 29, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Jon Padfield News

05 Nov 2008

USS Cape St. George, Benfold, Halsey Return

USS Cape St. George (CG 71), USS Benfold (DDG 65) and USS Halsey (DDG 97) returned to San Diego Nov. 3 following a six-month deployment as part of the Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group (PELESG). PELESG ships, which deployed from San Diego May 4, conducted maritime security operations (MSO) and theater security cooperation activities in the 5th and 7th Fleet Areas of Operation. Capt. Jon Padfield, commander, Amphibious Squadron 3 (COMPHIBRON 3) and leader of the PELESG, said that Cape St.

16 Jul 2003

Northrop Grumman to Christen Amphibious Ship

ships being built for the U.S. Navy, during a 10 a.m. Saturday, July 19, 2003. Operations, alongside the Mississippi River near New Orleans, La. Antonio, Texas. Hutchison, U.S. senator, State of Texas. Mrs. Trisha Wilson and Mrs. Peggy Carr, both of Dallas, and Mrs. breaks a bottle of Texas sparkling wine across the new ship's bow. Gen. Michael W. Hagee, Commandant of the U.S. will deliver the principal christening address. Landrieu, U.S. Jefferson, U.S. Hansford T. Johnson, acting secretary of the Navy; Rear Adm. Charles S. Hamilton II, Program Executive Officer, Ships; Capt. John R. USN, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion & Repair, New Orleans; Dr. Ronald D. Sugar, CEO and president of Northrop Grumman Corporation; Dr. Philip A. Grumman Ship Systems; and George R.

14 Jul 2003

Amphibious Ship San Antonio to be Christened

The lead ship of the Navy’s newest class of amphibious warship, San Antonio (LPD 17), will be christened during ceremonies July 19 at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Avondale Operations in New Orleans. Gen. Michael W. Hagee, commandant of the Marine Corps, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas will serve as ship's sponsor. In the time-honored Navy tradition, Hutchison will break a bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen the ship, named for the city of San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio is the first surface ship ever designed in "virtual reality,” using computer modeling to design most of the ship before any steel was cut.

29 Aug 2005

USS San Antonio Steps Mast

As part of crew move aboard, the crew of the future USS San Antonio (LPD 17) officially “stepped” their Advanced Enclosed Mast/Sensor System (AEM/S) recently. Normally, a ship’s Mast Stepping occurs earlier in conjunction with ship christening, but delaying this event until now enabled all of future San Antonio’s crew to be present. The ancient custom of “stepping the mast,” by placing coins under the step or bottom of a ship’s mast during construction, dates from antiquity. One belief from Greek Mythology is that should the ship be wrecked during passage, the coins would ensure payment of the crew’s wages for their return home. Since at least the construction of USS Constitution, this tradition has been passed on as a symbol of good luck for U.S. Navy ships.