15 years in Royal New Zealand Navy
Originally called a “destroyer leader” or frigate (DLG-23), on 30 June 1975 she was redesignated a cruiser (CG-23) in the Navy’s ship reclassification.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Halsey_(DLG-23)
from Blogger https://ift.tt/KmMYeFb
via IFTTT
NEW YORK – The Amphibious Assault Ship USS New York (LPD 21) arrived in New York Harbor, Nov. 8, kicking off the week-long 2023 Veterans Day New York celebration.
The USS New York will be in New York City for five days. While in New York City, the ship’s crew, along with Marine and Coast Guard personnel, will engage in a range of activities throughout the week to pay tribute to the service and sacrifices of our nation’s veterans. These activities include participating in the annual NYC Veterans Day Parade, conducting a wreath-laying ceremony, volunteering at the NY State Veterans Home in Queens, and joining in various community relations events.
“We’re thrilled to be here in New York City for Veterans Week, and the entire crew of the USS New York is incredibly excited to participate in these events,” said Capt. Benjamin Oakes, commanding officer of the USS New York (LPD-21). “It’s an honor to be part of such a meaningful celebration, and we’re grateful for the warm welcome and the opportunity to show our appreciation for our nation’s veterans right here in this amazing city.”
The New York has the primary mission of carrying Marines and equipment anywhere in the world. It can remain under the radar and place many Marines on the beach very quickly to build combat power ashore before the enemy is even aware.
New York, whose motto is “Strength Forged through Sacrifice, Never Forget” is one of three amphibious transport dock ships named in honor of the victims of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The ship’s bow stem was cast using 7.5 tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center. The Navy named the eighth and ninth ships of the class USS Arlington and USS Somerset in honor of the victims of the attacks on the Pentagon and United Flight 93.
Several memorials to its namesake can be found throughout the ship including uniforms from the first responders of the 9/11 attacks, the original name plate from the previous ship to bear its name, and memorabilia from various Broadway musicals and New York City sports teams. These serve the crew as daily reminders of the ship’s deep, patriotic heritage.
To stay informed about all the 2023 NYC Veterans Week events, please visit our website at https://ift.tt/0nFe79a. You can also follow us on social media for updates: Facebook @FleetWeekNewYork, Instagram @FleetWeekNYC, and X @FleetWeekNYC.
from Blogger https://ift.tt/RFW0rzm
via IFTTT
She was launched by William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Company, Philadelphia 22 April 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Clark Wallace Thompson. The cruiser’s construction was suspended when nearly complete on 24 June 1946; and the hull assigned to the Philadelphia Group of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She was reclassified CLG-93 on 4 February 1956; then reclassified to CLG-3 on 23 May 1957; and commissioned at Philadelphia 28 May 1958.
https://ift.tt/zKGbARY
from Blogger https://ift.tt/7zA6nyI
via IFTTT
Apollo was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders of Scotstoun. She was launched on 15 October 1970 and commissioned on 28 May 1972, making her the penultimate Leander.
Both Apollo and Ariadne are easily distinguished from the other Leanders by their ‘witches hat’ – fitted to the top of the foremast as a part of the electronic warfare array.
https://ift.tt/6gGQihZ
from Blogger https://ift.tt/36v94DF
via IFTTT
HMS Euryalus was a Dido-class cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was laid down at Chatham Dockyard on 21 October 1937, launched on 6 June 1939, and commissioned 30 June 1941. Euryalus was the last cruiser built at the dockyard.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Euryalus_(42)
from Blogger https://ift.tt/5381neT
via IFTTT
USV Ranger and Mariner at HMAS Waterhen
Ben Felton 09 Nov 2023
The four USVs, which make up Unmanned Surface Vessel Division One, were accompanied to Sydney by the Independence variant Littoral Combat Ship USS Oakland (LCS-24) and a chartered crew boat.
Commander Jerry Daley, Commanding officer of Unmanned Surface Vessel Division One, told Naval News that their visit to Australia was partially a result of an invitation from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to take part in Exercise Autonomous Warrior 2023.
The USVs, plus USS Oakland, were the largest vessels of their respective classes to yet take part in the landmark RAN exercise which brings together many countries, companies and units to push the limits of unmanned and autonomous systems.
While all four USVs are different, they can be broadly split into two types; Sea Hunter-type trimaran platforms and Ranger-type conventional vessels. While the former were designed from the ground up to support unmanned operation, the latter were modified later in life for that purpose.
Within both groups there are also a number of differences between the vessels. Mariner, for example, has a number of systems installed internally that have to be carried externally in containers aboard Ranger. Similarly, Seahawk has a more sophisticated rail system for handling containers than its predecessor Sea Hunter.
Mariner, which is the newest of the four USVs, is also the only vessel in the group equipped with an autonomy system developed by L3 Harris, rather than Leidos.
Because of these differences each vessel has been putting different concepts to the test during IBP 23.2.
Sea Hawk and Sea Hunter, for example, have been working closely with USS Oakland to demonstrate how crewed vessels can operate as “Afloat Control Units (ACU)” for USVs with minimal modification.
During one test, CDR Daley said, a crew of six personnel from Unmanned Surface Vessel Division One embarked aboard USS Oakland and controlled the two USVs from Oakland’s Combat Information Centre (CIC). This, he said, required only the addition of several boxes of hardware which were assembled in the CIC.
Mariner and Ranger, meanwhile, have been testing more advanced autonomy features under the supervision of a civilian crew which is under orders to observe, but not interfere unless absolutely necessary. The two vessels have also been testing not just autonomy but various Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) payloads which are mounted in containers aft. While the USN declined to discuss the details of the payloads, Naval News understands that they include radars, communication systems and other ISR tools.
The deployment, however, has not gone off without a hitch. Shortly after arriving in Australia from its trans-oceanic voyage, Sea Hunter sustained damage that necessitated an unplanned drydocking at HMAS Kuttabul.
USV Mariner has also looked better, with paint missing from the forward hull, though Naval News understands that that is the responsibility of the relevant civilian contractor rather than the USN.
Military.com | By Blake Stilwell
You might be thinking to yourself, “Didn’t we fight a whole war to keep American sailors from working under a British flag?” Well, it’s been a long time since the War of 1812, and relations between the United States and the United Kingdom have changed significantly since then. Not only is this warship the only vessel in the U.S. Navy‘s fleet to fly a foreign flag, but it’s also the only ship with an officer from Britain’s Royal Navy aboard as a permanent member of the ship’s company to ensure proper navigation — all meant to honor the “British Bulldog,” Winston Churchill.
Commissioned in 2001, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill was named for the famous prime minister who led Britain through World War II and has been permitted to fly the Royal Navy’s White Ensign — a red St. George’s Cross on a white field with a Union flag in the canton — during special occasions.
Advertisement
A ship’s ensign is the largest flag flying aboard the vessel and denotes the nationality of the ship. When the USS Winston Churchill flies the Royal Navy’s ensign, it’s hoisted from the port side of the mast, with the American flag on the starboard side. During its normal operations, only the Stars and Stripes are raised.
At the time of its commissioning, the Winston Churchill cost $1 billion and was one of the most advanced destroyers in the fleet. Like the other 73 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, it’s designed to be able to deliver a high-intensity ass-kicking to targets in the air, on land or at sea while defeating anti-ship missiles and torpedoes and jamming enemy radar — an impressive armament worthy of the ship’s namesake.
https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=militarydotcom&creatorUserId=14692385&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=true&id=1719873371461108186&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.military.com%2Fhistory%2Fonly-us-navy-warship-authorized-fly-foreign-flag-sea.html&sessionId=b86aa672a0f20f55ed183082d772201f83ab62c2&siteScreenName=militarydotcom&siteUserId=14692385&theme=light&widgetsVersion=01917f4d1d4cb%3A1696883169554&width=550px
The Churchill is the fifth ship in the U.S. Navy to be named in honor of a Briton, though the former prime minister was made an honorary American citizen in 1963, two years before his death. It’s also the first to be named for an Englishman since the end of the American Revolution. Churchill’s daughter, Lady Mary Soames, was present at the ship’s commissioning ceremony in Norfolk, Virginia, and served as an honorary sponsor for the United Kingdom. Its motto, “In war: Resolution. In peace: Good Will” is drawn from the epigraph of Churchill’s book, “The Second World War.”
Churchill’s Royal Navy officer was originally part of an exchange. The United States kept one of its naval officers aboard the Royal Navy’s HMS Marlborough, until that ship was decommissioned in 2005. The Type 23 frigate was named for John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, of which Winston Churchill is a descendant. The Marlborough had the distinction of being the first ship on the scene to assist the USS Cole after it was attacked in 2000. Today, Prime Minister Churchill’s own descendants maintain close contact with the USS Winston Churchill and its crew.
Though it’s one of the older Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the Churchill is likely to remain in service for years to come, having just completed a multimillion-dollar modernization effort in 2023. Although 19 more destroyers of its class are planned or under construction, it’s likely to be the only one flying the Royal Navy’s white ensign – – unless we can think of another Briton on par with Winston Churchill.
— Blake Stilwell can be reached at [email protected]. He can also be found on Facebook, X or on LinkedIn.
Whether you’re thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox.
As we pay tribute to those who have given their lives in service of their country, here we look at one example from the thousands of sacrifices made by the sailors of the Royal Navy.
HMS Holcombe was a Hunt class destroyer ordered as part of the war emergency construction programme and launched in Glasgow in April 1942. She is the only RN warship to have carried the name and had a career lasting less than two years, one of 132 British destroyers lost during the Second World War.
On 12th December 1943, a Sunday afternoon, almost 80 years ago, HMS Holcombe and her gallant crew were in action in the Mediterranean. She was one of six naval escorts for a slow convoy of merchant ships that had departed from Gibraltar on 9th December 1943 bound for Egypt. Her sister ship HMS Tynedale, part of the same convoy escort, had been torpedoed with the loss of 7 officers and 63 men earlier that day.
While north-east of Bougie, Algeria and hunting for the submarine that had conducted the attack, Holcombe signalled she had an ASDIC contact and was altering course. A minute later the ship was struck by a Gnat (homing torpedo) fired from a German U-boat, U-593. An explosion blew her stern off and a second magazine explosion accelerated her sinking. She went down rapidly stern-first with her bow sticking up vertically. It took just 4 minutes and 17 seconds for HMS Holcombe to disappear taking 81 men with her. The 87 surviving crew were rescued by American destroyer USS Wainwright.
The names of those lost on the Holcombe are recorded on the Plymouth Naval Memorial and are listed here, the youngest three sailors being just 19 years old.
The following day, USS Wainwright and HMS Calpe located U-593 and depth charged her to the surface. The crew of the U-boat were extremely fortunate as all 51 on board were rescued, becoming prisoners of war. Overall the casualty rate for U-Boat crews was something like 75%. Of around 37,000 German submariners who served, 28,000 were lost and 5,000 were taken prisoner.
In an act of friendship and reconciliation, the survivors of HMS Tyndale invited the CO of U-593, Kapitänleutnant Gerd Kelbling and one of his former crew to the 50th-anniversary commemoration of the sinking held in 1993 in Hexham, England.
 |
Armistice Day commemorated the agreement to end hostilities in World War I–signed by the Allied nations and Germany on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. In 1954, Representative Ed Rees (KS) introduced a bill into Congress to establish the holiday to honor all veterans. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed HR7786 into law on 1 June 1954 and issued the first Veterans Day Proclamation on 8 October 1954. The first Veterans Day was celebrated that November. This is an image of the naturalization procedure that occurred on board the USS Missouri (BB-63) on that first Veterans Day in 1954. It was the first time a federal court session was held on board a battleship. Immigrants soon to be naturalized can be seen seated in the foreground. When this photograph was taken, the Missouri was at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. She arrived there in mid-September 1954 and remained there during the inactivation period until her decommissioning on 26 February 1955. The photograph was given to the Institute by Mrs. Sybil-Carmen North (wife of Commander James North, the Missouri’s last commanding officer before the 1955 decommissioning) and used in the Naval Institute Press book Battleship Missouri by Paul Stillwell (page 234). We at the Naval Institute salute all those who served and are serving still in the far corners of the earth!  Peter H. Daly VADM, USN (Ret.), CEO & Publisher Life Member and member since 1978 |
