NASSCO Launches the USNS Soderman
National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, has joined with the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army to launch the USNS Soderman (T-AKR 317), the eighth and final Strategic Sealift ship to be built for the Navy by NASSCO. At a length of 950 ft. and with a beam of 105 ft., the strategic sealift ships are the largest ships ever launched down a sliding ways in the United States and the largest ships that can fit through the Panama Canal. The nighttime launch of the Soderman took place at 9:20 p.m., as the ship was released from its inclined building ways into San Diego Bay, accompanied by a cheering crowd of NASSCO employees and spectators and a fireworks display.
Navy to Christen RoRo at NASSCO
The Department of the Navy will christen USNS Soderman (T-AKR 317), its newest RoRo cargo ship, to honor a U.S. Army Medal of Honor recipient on April 26, 2002 during a 8:40 p.m. ceremony at National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO), San Diego, Calif. The ship will be named to honor Army Pfc. William A. Soderman, (1912-1980), a native of West Haven, Conn. Pfc. Soderman was assigned to Company K, 9th Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division during World War II. On Dec. 17, 1944, Pfc. Soderman defended a key road junction near Rocherath, Belgium. Under severe artillery barrage, mortar and machine gun fire, he remained at his post and successfully held off German counter offenses by disabling three enemy tanks with a bazooka at point blank range before being wounded.
NASSCO Delivers the USNS Soderman
National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD), today announced the delivery of the USNS Soderman (T-AKR 317) to the U.S. Navy. The Soderman is the eighth and final new construction ship completed by NASSCO under the U.S. Navy's Strategic Sealift Program. "Delivery of the Soderman concludes a very successful long-term contract for the Navy," said Richard Vortmann, President of NASSCO. "All eight strategic sealift ships were completed prior to their contract delivery dates and delivered below their target cost at an unprecedented level of quality. The eight newbuilds were completed at NASSCO from 1993 to 2002 under the Navy's 20-ship Strategic Sealift Program. All of the ships were named for U.S. Army Medal of Honor recipients.
