Uss Tucson News

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.

1838 - The Exploring Expedition led by Lt. Charles Wilkes embarks on a world cruise. 1908 - The first Navy Nurse Corps superintendent, Esther Voorhees Hasson, is appointed. Under her leadership, 19 additional nurses are recruited and trained for naval service during 1908. 1943 - USS Philadelphia (CL 41) and USS Boise (CL 47) and four destroyers shell Gioia, Taura, and Palmi on the Italian mainland. 1966 - The first ship-to-shore satellite radio message is sent from USS Annapolis (AGMR 1) in the South China Sea to Pacific Fleet Headquarters at Pearl Harbor.

USS Tucson (SSN 770) returned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor Monday, Dec. 15, following a 23-month absence that included a modernization period in Norfolk, numerous sea trials and a port visit in San Diego. "Everybody is happy to be back in Pearl Harbor," said Cmdr. Paul Spear, USS Tucson commanding officer. The submarine just completed a major overhaul in Norfolk. "Tucson has a new fire control system and a totally refurbished engine room as well as a lot of new gear on board," said Ensign John Chester Jr., Tucson junior officer.

General Dynamics, Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn., is being awarded a $6,000,000 cost-plus-fixed-fee order (L8-92) under previously awarded Basic Ordering Agreement (N00024-05-G-4117) to support submarine repair work at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. This effort will accomplish maintenance and repair work on USS Scranton (SSN 756) during its Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability, USS Alaska (SSBN 732) during its Engineered Refueling Overhaul, and USS Tucson (SSN 770) during its Depot Modernization Period. Work will take place in Norfolk, Va. (99 percent) and Groton, Conn. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by January 2008. Contract funds in the amount of $6,000,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) and Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Phoenix are partnering to celebrate Tucson Navy Week, from March 14 through March 20. Tucson Navy Week is a week-long series of awareness events held in conjunction with Major League Baseball Spring Training and Aerospace & Arizona Days. Participating Navy assets include: the Blue Angels; a namesake visit by crew members of USS Tucson (SSN 770); F/A-18 flight simulator; Navy dive tank and Navy Band Southwest. Vice Adm. Evan Chanik, U.S. 2nd Fleet Commander, will also be participating at events during the week. “We’re extremely excited and proud of the Navy assets that will be visiting Tucson and surrounding communities,” said Cmdr. Pamela Holland, commanding officer, NRD Phoenix.

The nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Tucson (SSN 770) departed on a Western Pacific deployment from its homeport of Pearl Harbor March 21. According to Cmdr. James Pitts, Tucson’s commanding officer, the crew prepared by conducting standard pre-deployment upkeep and maintenance. “In the last few months we went through a fairly sizable maintenance period. We needed to make sure the equipment is up to standards for deployment,” said Pitts. He said overall, the crew handled the maintenance and training superbly. Pitts added that Tucson is one of the more advanced 688 improved-class submarines on the waterfront. They have one of the most advanced fire control systems…