San Diego, Calif. (Apr. 25th, 2003) — The guided missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) makes her way through the San Diego Bay to Naval Station San Diego. Shiloh was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Operation Iraqi Freedom is the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class (Ret) Chuck Cavanaugh. (RELEASED)
USS Shiloh (CG-67) is a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser of the United States Navy, named in remembrance of the Battle of Shiloh during the American Civil War. She was built at the Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.
With her guided missiles and guns, she is capable of facing and defeating threats in the air, on or under the sea, and ashore. She also carries two Seahawk LAMPS multi-purpose helicopters, mainly for anti-submarine warfare (ASW).
A KDC-10 refueling tanker from the commercial firm Omega Air Refueling gasses up F-16 fighters during their trip from Osan Air Base in South Korea to the Commando Sling 23 exercise in Singapore on Nov. 6, 2023. (U.S. Air Force)
The commercial refueling of F-16 Fighting Falcons from Osan Air Base in South Korea took place as part of the Commando Sling 23 joint exercise conducted in Singapore. The bilateral training event with the Republic of Singapore Air Force is sponsored by Pacific Air Forces and is intended to improve how the island nation operates with the United States.
This aerial refueling marked a major step forward for the U.S. Air Force’s efforts to broaden this capability. The service has considered augmenting its refueling operations with commercial tankers for several years. Earlier this year, a commercial tanker refueled an E-3 Sentry and an RC-135 Rivet Joint during an Air Combat Command exercise, the service said in a Nov. 9 release.
This month’s refueling during Commando Sling was carried out by a KDC-10 aircraft, the service said, and photographs showed the tanker bore the markings of Omega Air Refueling. The Virginia-based company, which formed in 2004, has been a prime contractor to the U.S. Navy for commercial refueling services since 2007. It has also supported the air forces of U.S. allies such as Australia and NATO nations.
Lt. Col. Curtis Holtman, the air mobility operations chief for Pacific Air Forces, said this refueling served as a “proof of concept” to show a commercial tanker can gas up the Air Force’s fighters during exercises and training, while keeping its own tankers available for real-world operations.
“If we can use commercial air refueling to cover the point A to point B movements for exercise participation across unit readiness training, then it frees up our warfighter tanker fleet to be ready to respond for emerging contingency requirements,” Holtman said. “This is another mechanism that we can leverage to increase our warfighter readiness.”
Photographs showed at least four F-16 jets from Osan’s 36th Fighter Squadron flying alongside the Omega tanker on their way to Singapore. The KDC-10 can carry up to 247,000 pounds of fuel to gas up other aircraft.
Holtman said this tanker carried more than 40 passengers and four pallet positions worth of cargo to show how it can also execute airlift missions. The KDC-10 can carry up to 100,000 pounds of freight or passengers.
Holtman said commercial tankers are expected to also refuel F-15C Eagle and F-22 Raptor fighters by the time the exercise ends.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Four U.S Navy (USN) Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV) arrived in Sydney, Australia, on October 24th following stops in Japan, Guam, the Marshall Islands and Papua New Guinea. USVs Ranger, Mariner, Seahawk and Sea Hunter are currently deployed to the U.S 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR) as part of Integrated Battle Problem (IBP) 23.2.
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.
The unmanned surface vessel Ranger transits underneath the Sydney Harbor bridge as part of a scheduled port visit during Integrated Battle Problem (IBP) 23.2, Oct 24, 2023. (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Pierson Hawkins)
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.
Different Vessels in the Unmanned Surface Vessel Division
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.
USV Mariner at HMAS Waterhen
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.
USS Oakland at HMAS Kuttabul in Sydney
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.
Sea Hunter Undergoing Maintenance in Australia
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 Seahawk at HMAS Waterhen
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.
.jpg?ssl=1)
_makes_her_way_through_the_San_Diego_Bay_to_Naval_Station_San_Diego%20(2).jpg?ssl=1)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/archetype/4E4PWK74TFEEJBPUSLOZD6JTRM.jpg?ssl=1)
_underway_in_the_Pacific_Ocean_on_2_March_1987_(6418742).jpg?ssl=1)
(1).jpg?ssl=1)
