The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Los Angeles (CA-135) returns to the Korean theater for its second tour of combat duty with UN Naval Forces, 13 October 1952. Note that the ship’s Jack and National Ensign are flying at half-mast.
She was sponsored by Mrs. Fletcher Bowron and commissioned on 22 July 1945, with Captain John A. Snackenberg in command.
HMS Reclaim a deep diving and submarine rescue vessel was the last British warship to have sails. Although rarely used, they could add half a knot to her speed. HMS Reclaim also served as a filming location for the Doctor Who serial “The Sea Devils” in 1971
She was originally intended to be the King Salvor-class ocean salvage vesselSalverdant[2] and was fitted with specialised equipment including underwater television cameras and sonar and echosounding apparatus. She was also equipped for submarine rescue work.
At the time of her commissioning in 1949, Reclaim was the Royal Navy’s only vessel capable of carrying out deep diving operations. Upon completion Reclaim was attached to HMS Vernon, Portsmouth as a diving tender.
1948: diving from Reclaim, Petty Officer Wilfred Bollard set a world deep diving record of 535 ft (163 m).
1951: on 14 June 1951 Reclaim found the submerged wreck of the submarine HMS Affray, missing since 17 April, during which operation her new underwater television apparatus was used. One of the divers from Reclaim working on the Affray was Lionel “Buster” Crabb, who later became famous when in 1956 he disappeared in Portsmouth harbour.
1956: Lt. George Wookey of the Royal Navy’s Clearance Diving Branch dived from HMS Reclaim to set a new deep diving record of 600 ft (180 m) in Sor Fjord, Norway on 12 October 1956.
1960:Reclaim was assigned to HMS Lochinvar, Port Edgar for service as a Mine Counter Measures Support Ship and Diving Trials Ship. From January and May 1961 she carried out diving trials in the Canary Isles. She was later relieved as Mine Counter Measures Support Ship by the minelayerHMS Abdiel, which enabled her to concentrate on her roles as deep diving support vessel.
1962: Deep Diving Trials programme begun, culminating in ten dives off Toulon in 1965 to 600 ft (180 m).
1968:Reclaim took part in the salvage operation on the Air Lingus Viscount 803 Aircraft EI-AOM, the “Saint Phelim”, which had crashed into the Irish Sea off Tuskar Rock on 24 March 1968. Over a period of 26 days, divers working from the Reclaim performed 91 dives in depths of 250 ft (76 m), managing to salvage a third of the aircraft’s wreckage. Unfortunately, when Reclaim attempted to raise the fuselage to the surface using straps instead of nets, the wreckage broke apart upon reaching the surface and sank.
1974:Reclaim despatched to Harstad in Norway in May to recover a ditched Wessex helicopter from HMS Hermes. The Wessex was only located when Reclaim, using its underwater camera capability snagged the helicopter with the camera. A largely successful operation was spoiled when the gearbox and engine pulled out of the body of the aircraft.
1977:Reclaim attended the 1977 Silver Jubilee Fleet Review off Spithead. Reclaim was the only ship to attend both the Coronation and Silver Jubilee reviews.[3]
1979:Reclaim (at that time the oldest ship in the Navy), was paid off, to be replaced by the new Seabed Operations Vessel Challenger.
15 May 1982 arrived at Bruges, Belgium for demolition.[1]
Royal Australian Navy warships HMAS Derwent DE-49, and HMAS Swan DE-50, alongside the US Navy’s nuclear powered cruiser, USS Long Beach in Australia
Guided Missile Cruiser USS Long Beach anchored off Fremantle Western Australia in August 197
Hull of Long Beach sitting in Puget Sound Naval Shipyard awaiting recycling in March 2011. Picture taken from top of hill in Port Orchard looking north across the water to the shipyard.
An aerial view of the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock shipyard on the James River in Newport News, VA. In drydock #11 is the USNS Gilliand (T-AKR-298) prior to her conversion to a roll-on/roll-off rhip. In the drydock to the right of AKR-298 is the nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser USS Long Beach (CGN-9) while undergoing deactivation. Image dated 17 Oct 1994.
Long Beach, viewed from the deck of USS Truxtun(CGN-35), in the Persian Gulf, 1991
USS Long Beach c.1989.
RIM-2 Terrier missile launch from USS Long Beach, October 1961
Operation Sea Orbit: on 31 July 1964, USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) (bottom), USS Long Beach (CGN-9) (center) and USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25) (top) formed “Task Force One,” the first nuclear-powered task force, and sailed 26,540 nmi (49,190 km) around the world in 65 days. Accomplished without a single refueling or replenishment, “Operation Sea Orbit” demonstrated the capability of nuclear-powered surface ships.
The U.S. Navy nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser USS Long Beach (CGN-9) under constuction at the Bethlehem Steel Coompany’s Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts (USA), on 2 July 1959. The guided missile destroyer USS Macdonough (DLG-8) is visble on the right. Macdonough was launched on 9 July, Long Beach on 14 July 1959.
She was the third Navy ship named after the city of Long Beach, California.
She was the sole member of the Long Beach-class, and the last cruiser built for the United States Navy to a cruiser design; all subsequent cruiser classes were built on scaled-up destroyer hulls (and originally classified as destroyer leaders) or, in the case of the Albany-class, converted from already existing cruisers.[citation needed]
Long Beach was laid down 2 December 1957, launched 14 July 1959 and commissioned 9 September 1961 under the command of then-Captain Eugene Parks Wilkinson, who previously served as the first commanding officer of the world’s first nuclear-powered vessel, the submarine USS Nautilus (SSN-571). She deployed to Vietnam during the Vietnam War and served numerous times in the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. By the 1990s, nuclear power was deemed too expensive to use on surface ships smaller than an aircraft carrier in view of defense budget cutbacks after the end of the Cold War. Long Beach was decommissioned on 1 May 1995 instead of receiving her third nuclear refueling and proposed upgrade. After removal of the nuclear fuel, superstructure, and sections of the bow and stern, the hull segment containing the reactor and machinery spaces was moored at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and sold for scrapping.
Configuration
Long Beach was originally intended to be a smaller frigate, but was then redesigned and expanded to a cruiser hull, allowing for an open space just aft of the bridge “box”. This open space was first planned to accommodate the mounting of a Regulus nuclear-armed cruise missile, but was then changed to four launch tubes for the Polaris missile. However, the space was eventually occupied by the 5″/38 caliber gun mounts and the ASROC system.[4] Long Beach was the last cruiser built with a World War II-era cruiser hull style,[5][6] as later new-build cruisers were built with different hull forms, such as the converted frigates Leahy (DLG-16), Bainbridge (DLGN-25), Belknap (DLG-26), Truxtun (DLGN-35), and the California and Virginia classes, or the Ticonderoga-class cruiser that was built on a Spruance-class destroyer hull.[citation needed]
The high box-like superstructure contained the SCANFAR system, consisting of the AN/SPS-32 and AN/SPS-33 phased array radars. One of the reasons Long Beach was a single-ship class was because she was an experimental platform for these radars, which were precursors to the AN/SPY-1 phased array systems later installed on Aegis equipped Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Photos taken at her commissioning and for some time thereafter, show that the taller, narrower AN/SPS-33 panels were not installed on the superstructure until a later date. At the time, Long Beach had the highest bridge of any ship smaller than an aircraft carrier.[citation needed]
Artist’s concept of nuclear powered cruiser design from 1956.
In addition to steel, Long Beach was built with 450 tons of structural aluminum.[7] Because of this unusually high quantity of aluminum, she was assigned the voice radio call sign “Alcoa”.[7] The ship was propelled by two nuclear reactors, one for each propeller shaft, and was capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots (56 km/h). The ship was originally designed with “all-missile” armament, but was fitted with two 5″/38 caliber gun mounts amidships on the orders of President John F. Kennedy.
Holland was built at former Navy Lieutenant Lewis Nixon’s Crescent Shipyard of Elizabeth, New Jersey for John Holland’s Holland Torpedo Boat Company, which became the Electric Boat company in 1899.[3] The vessel was built under the supervision of John Philip Holland, who designed the vessel and her details. Holland‘s keel was laid at Nixon’s Crescent Shipyard with both men present. The two men worked together using many of John Holland’s proven concepts and patents to make the submarine a reality, each man complementing the other’s contributions to the development of the modern submarine. John Holland was the inventor for US Patent 702,729 for the design of a submarine boat. Testing and training first took place at the Holland Torpedo Boat Station from 1899 to 1900.[4] Important contributions were also made by Arthur L. Busch (or Du Busc), Crescent’s superintendent.
Holland VI included many features that submarines of the early 20th century would exhibit, albeit in later, more advanced forms. There was a conning tower from which the boat and her weapons could be directed. Also, she had all the necessary ballast and trim tanks to make precise changes in depth and attitude underwater. Her crew was six men and maximum diving depth was 75 feet (23 m).[5]
For armament, she had a reloadable 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tube with three Whitehead Mark 2 torpedoes and an 8.425-inch (214.0 mm) pneumatic dynamite gun in the bow (the dynamite gun’s projectiles were called “aerial torpedoes”).[6] A second dynamite gun in the stern was removed in 1900 to make room for an improved engine exhaust, prior to delivery to the Navy.[7]
She had both an internal combustion engine (specifically, a 4-stroke Otto gasoline engine of 45 bhp (34 kW)) for running on the surface and charging batteries, and an Electro Dynamicelectric motor of 50 shp (37 kW) for submerged operation, with one shaft.[8] A 66-cellExidebattery powered the electric motor when submerged.[5] This allowed speeds of 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) surfaced and 5.5 knots (10.2 km/h; 6.3 mph) submerged. Surfaced range was 200 nmi (370 km; 230 mi) at 6 kn (11 km/h; 6.9 mph), while submerged range was 30 nmi (56 km; 35 mi) at 5.5 kn (10.2 km/h; 6.3 mph).[5] There is significant variation in references as to the vessel’s horsepower and speed, for example the Register of Ships of the U. S. Navy gives horsepower figures of 45 bhp (34 kW) surfaced and 75 shp (56 kW) submerged, with 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced and 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged.[6]
Holland VI eventually proved her validity and worthiness as a warship and was ultimately purchased by the U.S. government for the sum of $150,000 on 11 April 1900. She was considered to be the first truly successful craft of her type.[by whom?] The United States Government soon ordered more submarines from Holland’s company, which were to be known as the Plunger class. These became America’s first fleet of underwater naval vessels.
Holland VI was modified after her christening, and was renamed United States Submarine Torpedo Boat Holland (Submarine-1) when she was commissioned by the US Navy on 12 October 1900, at Newport, Rhode Island, with Lieutenant Harry H. Caldwell in command.[2]
During her commissioned life in the USN, the Holland did not carry the hull designation SS-1. The designation system currently in use was placed into Naval Regulations on 17 July 1920.[9] Thus, the Holland would have never been assigned SS-1. She would have been designated Submarine-1 or simply S-1 under the system in place between 1895 and 1920. Most historians, including official Navy sources,[2] have retroactively applied both the prefix USS and the designation SS-1 to avoid confusion.
Holland was the first commissioned submarine in the US Navy[10] and is the first of the unbroken line of submarines in the Navy. She was the fourth submarine to be owned by the Navy, however. The first submarine was Propeller (also known as Alligator), the second was Intelligent Whale and the third was Plunger, an experimental submarine, built in 1895, which is not to be confused with USS Plunger (SS-2).
Holland under construction, 1900
On 16 October 1900, in order to be kept serviceable throughout the winter, Holland left Newport under tow of the tug Leyden for Annapolis, Maryland,[10] where she was used to train midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy, as well as officers and enlisted men ordered there to receive training vital in preparing for the operation of other submarines being built for the Fleet.[2]
Holland proved valuable for experimental purposes in collecting data for submarines under construction or contemplation. Her 166 mi (267 km) surface run, from Annapolis to Norfolk, Virginia from 8–10 January 1901, provided useful data on her performance underway over an extended period.[2]
Holland (briefly in 1899, on trials)[7] and five Plunger class Holland-type submarines were based in New Suffolk, New York on the North Fork of Long Island from 1899 to 1905, prompting the hamlet to claim to be the first submarine base in the United States.[11]
Except for the period from 15 June to 1 October 1901, which was passed training cadets at the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island, Holland remained at Annapolis as a training submarine until 17 July 1905 when she was decommissioned.[2]
Holland finished her career in reserve at Norfolk, Virginia. Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 21 November 1910.[1] This revolutionary submarine was sold as scrap to Henry A. Hitner & Sons of Philadelphia on 18 June 1913 for $100. Her purchaser was required to put up $5,000 bond as assurance that the submarine would be broken up and not used as a ship.[2]
About 1915, the hulk of the Holland, stripped of her external fittings, was sold to Peter J. Gibbons. As of October 1916 she was on display in Philadelphia.[12] In May 1917 she was moved to the Bronx, New York as a featured attraction at the Bronx International Exposition of Science, Arts and Industries.[13]
Holland was on display for several years in Paterson, New Jersey until she was finally scrapped in 1932
A General Atomics Mojave Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS) drone has taken off and safely landed back on board HMS Prince of Wales in the first trial of its kind conducted off the east coast of the United States on 15th November.
Moved into position ready for the first trial on board a Queen Elizabeth Class Carrier.Note the white line angled off the centreline marked on the deck for the trial.
The take-off was conducted at an angle across the deck and did not utilise the ramp. The longer-term challenge would be to define the safe operating envelope for the aircraft when loaded with fuel, weapons and sensors and operating in less benign conditions. Recovering an unarrested air vehicle without any form of arrestor gear will present an interesting safety case when there are other aircraft parked on deck.
The Mojave was controlled by an aircrew from a control station onboard the ship. The demonstration included takeoff, circuits, and approaches and ended with a landing back onto the carrier.The Mojave is 9m long, with a wingspan of 17m (six metres wider than an F-35B).
Mojave is a variant of the MQ1C Gray Eagle which is adapted for short take-off and landing from runways even shorter than the QEC flight deck but is a much larger and more complex aircraft. GA has also developed a wing kit for its SeaGuardian derivative of the MQ-9B similar to the Protector that is just entering RAF service. This includes folding wings and STOL-optimised tail and propellers and maybe a better long-term solution for the RN if it decides to adopt this capability.
Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS) such as these would offer the carrier a persistent ISR capability and could even be armed. SeaGuardian derivative of the MQ-9B has a range of 6,000nm, is able to stay on station for up to 25 hours and has nine hard-points for a sensor or weapon payload of up to 2,100 kg. SeaGuardian can be equipped with a variety of maritime radar and EO sensors and even conduct ASW when equipped with a sonobuoy dispenser.
The Mojave trial is a European first – the first time that a Remotely Piloted Air System of this size has operated to and from an aircraft carrier outside of the United States (Photo: General Atomics).
Delegates from the Pentagon and General Atomics were briefed in the hangar including Lieutenant General Cederholm USMC and CEO of GA, Mr Linden Blue. Spanish, Italian, Australian and Japanese observers were also on board.
The Mojave drone is the largest uncrewed vehicle to have flow from a non-US Navy carrier and many international partners are interested in the results of the trials.
Pictured: Mojave aircraft moves from the hanger to the flight deck in the early hours of the morning.In the hangar while alongside in Norfolk.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Mogami-class frigate JS Noshiro operating with the US Navy in the Philippine Sea in October this year. Credit: US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Caroline H. Lui
Akey element of Japan’s planned defence budget spending, currently under strain through a national currency devaluation shock, will be the manufacture of two additional Mogami-class frigates, also known as the Future Frigate Multirole (FFM) platform.
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Japan earmarked $50bn for defence in 2023, directing substantial investments towards naval vessels and surface combatant development. Despite economic challenges, Japan’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has proposed a 17.2% increase in the 2024 defence budget.
According to analysis from GlobalData’s latest report, “Naval Vessels and Surface Combatants Market Size and Trend Analysis by Segments, Programs, Competitive Landscape and Forecast to 2033,” Japan’s Mogami-class procurement programme will account for about 10% of the total spending on frigates segment by countries in Asia-Pacific region over the period 2023-33.
Akash Pratim Debbarma, aerospace and defence analyst at GlobalData, stated: “China’s growing maritime influence over Japanese offshore territories and maritime boundaries poses a major threat to Japan’s strategic interests.
A photo allegedly showing the Russia’s missile cruiser Moskva, the flagship of its Black Sea fleet, before sinking.
KYIV, Nov 17 (Reuters) – Ukraine‘s military said on Friday its operations had resulted in the destruction of a total of 15 Russian naval vessels in the Black Sea since the start of Russia’s invasion and that 12 other vessels had been damaged.
Ukraine has stepped up its attacks in the Black Sea and on Crimea, which Russia seized and annexed in 2014. Kyiv has reported a series of strikes on warships on and near Crimea this autumn, including a large landing vessel and a submarine.
“You can count the ones that have already been disabled. These are 15 destroyed and 12 damaged ships. Not all of this is the result of drone work, but they also have quite a lot of damaged ships to their credit,” navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said in televised comments.
He described Ukraine as “the driver of a new type of naval warfare” that had made Russia move its naval forces to positions more difficult to reach for what Kyiv has in its capacity.
Russia is also suffering logistical problems, he said, due to having to relocate vessels to Novorossiysk and periodically to Tuapse, both ports on the eastern flank of the Black Sea to the southeast of Crimea and further from Ukraine.
Reuters could not independently verify the reports. Russia usually does not acknowledge damage to its military assets and says it repels most Ukrainian attacks.
Ukraine’s military said its operations carried out in the Black Sea so far have included strikes on the Russian Black Sea Navy headquarters in Sevastopol and the shipyard in Kerch, which damaged a vessel that had not yet joined the fleet.
In April 2022, shortly after the start of the war, Ukraine’s forces said it hit the Moskva missile cruiser, flagship of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, with domestically produced a Neptune anti-ship missile. Russia never acknowledged the attack, saying the ship sank following a major fire onboard.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy recently said Kyiv had managed to shift the balance of power in the Black Sea, seizing the initiative from Moscow which regards Crimea as strategically vital to its interests.
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