Chester Nimitz News

Bollinger Delivers USCGC William Sparling

Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the USCGC William Sparling to the U.S. Coast Guard in Key West, Fla. This is the 180th vessel Bollinger has delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard over a 35-year period and the 54th Fast Response Cutter (FRC) delivered under the current program.The USCGC William Sparling will be the fifth of six FRCs to be homeported in Sector Boston, which is known as "The Birthplace of the Coast Guard." The sector is responsible for coastal safety, security, and environmental protection from the New Hampshire-Massachusetts border southward to Plymouth…

Bollinger Delivers USCGC Glen Harris

Louisiana shipbuilder Bollinger Shipyards said it has delivered the USCGC Glen Harris to the U.S. Coast Guard in Key West, Fla. The vessel is the 167th Bollinger has delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard over a 35-year period and the 44th Fast Response Cutter (FRC) delivered under the current program.The USCGC Glen Harris is the third of six FRCs to be home-ported in Manama, Bahrain, which will replace the aging 110’ Island Class Patrol Boats, built by Bollinger Shipyards 30 years ago, supporting the Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA), the U.S.

Bollinger Delivers USCGC Harold Miller

Bollinger Shipyards on Thursday delivered the USCGC Harold Miller to the U.S. Coast Guard in Key West, Fla. This is the 161st vessel Bollinger has delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard over a 35 year period and the 38th Fast Response Cutter delivered on the current program. The USCGC Harold Miller is the third of three FRCs to be home-ported in Galveston, Texas. “We are very proud to announce our latest FRC delivery, especially given the unprecedented times and challenges which we’re facing as a nation,” said Bollinger President & C.E.O. Ben Bordelon.

Honour for Select Coral Sea Veterans

Surviving Australian veterans of the Battle of the Coral Sea will be flown to New York next month to commemorate the battle’s 75th anniversary. Staff Officer Heritage Research at the Sea Power Centre Lieutenant Commander Desmond Woods said Australian veterans of the battle were being sponsored by the American Australia Association. “The president of the Association, John Berry, is holding a dinner on board the Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Intrepid for Australian and US veterans,” he said. Lieutenant Commander Woods said the battle was a turning point for Australia in the Second World War. He said Australians would rightly honour Australian troops who in August 1942, were making their heroic stand, fighting and dying, at Isurava and on the Kokoda Track battlefields.

This Day In Naval History - February 19

1900 - President William McKinley signs an Executive Order placing Tutuila (Samoa) and nearby islands under the Navy Department. 1942 - The Japanese attack Darwin, Australia in the largest attack by a foreign power on that country. USS Peary (DD 226), as well as an Army transport and freighter sink in the raid, as well as a number of Australian and British vessels. 1942 - The overnight Battle of Badoeng Strait begins when the allied naval force (ABDA) commanded by Dutch Rear Adm. W.F.M. Doorman engaged the Japanese in an attempt to stop the invasion force in Bali.

Fabrication of Aegis Destroyer 'John Finn' Starts at Inglalls

Huntington Ingalls Industries starts work on the 29th 'Arleigh Burke'-class destroyer to be built at its Ingalls Shipbuilding Division. The start of fabrication milestone signifies that 100 tons of steel have been cut for DDG 113. Ingalls uses state-of-the-art robotic cutting machines to ensure the steel is cut and fabricated to exact Navy specifications. John Finn is expected to be delivered to the Navy in the third quarter of 2016. Ingalls also has a contract to build a 30th destroyer, Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), with start of fabrication scheduled for 2013.

Navy Names Five New Ships

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced today the next five Navy ships; three Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyers, the USS John Finn, the USS Ralph Johnson, and the USS Rafael Peralta, and two littoral combat ships (LCS), the USS Sioux City and the USS Omaha. Mabus named the three destroyers after Navy and Marine Corps heroes whose actions occurred during different conflicts which spanned several decades, but were united in their uncommon valor. The littoral combat ships were named after two American communities. John Finn, who retired as a lieutenant, received the Medal of Honor from Adm. Chester Nimitz for displaying "magnificent courage in the face of almost certain death" during the Japanese attack on military installations in Hawaii during Pearl Harbor. Marine Corps Pfc.

Navy Christens Virginia-Class Sub Missouri

With the spray of bubbly from a champagne bottle, PCU Missouri (SSN 780), the Navy's newest Virginia-class attack submarine, was christened during a late morning ceremony at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Conn., Dec. Missouri, the fifth Navy ship to be named in honor of the people of the "Show Me State," is "a link in the honored chain of ships to bear the name; another chapter in the storied history of the Naval service," said Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus. SECNAV and Secretary of Defense Robert M.

Navy Confirms Sunken Submarine is Grunion

Commander, Submarine Forces Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC), Rear Adm. Douglas McAneny announced today that a sunken vessel off the coast of the Aleutian Islands is in fact the World War II submarine USS Grunion (SS 216). "I am honored to announce that, with records and information provided by the Abele family and assistance from the , USS Grunion has been located," said McAneny. "We are very grateful to the family of Grunion's Commanding Officer Lt. Cmdr. Mannert L. Abele for providing the underwater video footage and pictures that allowed us to make this determination.

This Day in Naval History - April 03

From the Navy News Service 1797 - Capt. Thomas Truxtun issues the first known American signal book using numerary system. 1942 - Adm. Chester Nimitz is named commander-in-chief, Pacific Ocean Areas, a joint command, and retained his other title, commander-in-chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. 1992 - The first five coed recruit companies from Naval Training Center Orlando, Fla., graduate.

SECNAV Names Three New Virginia Class Attack Submarines

Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Donald C. Winter announced Jan. 30 the names of three Virginia class submarines -- the Missouri, California and Mississippi. The selection of Missouri honors the continuous support of the military by the people of the "Show Me State," and its leaders. Designated SSN 780, Missouri is the fifth ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the U.S. state. The last Missouri (BB 63), a U.S. Navy battleship, saw action in World War II, Korean War and the 1991 Gulf War. Missouri was also the site where Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz and Gen. Douglas MacArthur, and many other U.S. and Allied officers, accepted the unconditional surrender of the Japanese at the end of World War II on Sept. 2, 1945.

Nimitz Gets Underway for Western Pacific Deployment

USS Nimitz (CVN 68) departed San Diego Jan. 24 with commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11 on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment. Nimitz is deploying under the Navy's Fleet Response Plan (FRP) and will operate in the Western Pacific Ocean in support of U.S. commitments in the region while the forward-deployed USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) undergoes scheduled maintenance in Yokosuka, Japan. FRP was designed to allow the United States the ability to rapidly respond with flexible and sustainable forces to any global commitment on short notice. "Our mission will be to ensure security and stability in the region," said Capt. Michael Manazir, Nimitz' commanding officer. The Nimitz CSG, commanded by Rear Adm.

Nimitz Carrier Strike Group Set to Deploy

From Commander, U.S. Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG), with more than 7,000 Sailors and Marines, will deploy Jan. 24 while the forward-deployed USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) undergoes scheduled maintenance in Yokosuka, Japan. Nimitz CSG is deploying under the Navy's fleet response plan (FRP) and will operate in the Western Pacific in support of U.S. commitments in the region. The FRP provides the United States with the ability to respond to any global commitment with flexible and sustainable forces and the ability to rapidly respond to a range of situations on short notice. The Nimitz CSG, commanded by Rear Adm. Terry Blake, is comprised of Commander…

Willard Assumes Command of U.S. Pacific Fleet

Adm. Robert F. Willard, former Vice Chief of Naval Operations, salutes as he’s piped through the sideboys during a change of command ceremony for Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet on board Naval Station Pearl Harbor. Willard assumed command of U.S. Pacific Fleet from Adm. Gary Roughead during the ceremony. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. From U.S. Adm. Robert F. Willard relieved Adm. Gary Roughead as commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet during a change of command ceremony held May 8 at Naval Station Pearl Harbor. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Mullen presided over the ceremony, which overlooked the historic memorials of USS Arizona and USS Missouri.