SAN DIEGO – The keel for the future USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206), the Navy’s second John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler, was laid at General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (GD NASSCO), Sept. 3, the Program Executive Office – Ships said in a release. 

Due to ongoing health concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the keel was authenticated without ceremony. However, to commemorate the milestone, remarks were recorded for compilation and later release. 

A keel laying is the recognition of the start of a ship’s construction. It is the joining together of a ship’s modular components and the authentication or etching of an honoree’s initials into a ceremonial keel plate. The ship’s sponsors, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and Paula Neira, had their initials etched into the keel plate by NASSCO welders Kyle Meinert and Julio Abril. 

“The ship will significantly contribute to our Combat Logistics Force, serving as the primary fuel pipeline from resupply ports to ships at sea,” said Rear Adm. Tom Anderson, Program Executive Officer – Ships. “This ship will ensure our warfighters stay supplied at sea, keeping them in the fight and combat ready.” 

As critical elements of the Navy’s Combat Logistics Force, Fleet Replenishment Oilers directly contribute to Adm. Gilday’s Future Navy efforts to make naval logistics more agile and resilient by enabling the employment of forces in dispersed and forward environments. 

Harvey Milk will be operated by the Navy’s Military Sealift Command and is the first ship named after the Navy veteran and civil and human rights leader who became the first openly gay elected official in California when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. 

NASSCO is also in construction on the future USNS John Lewis (T-AO 205) with an additional four Fleet Replenishment Oilers on contract. The Navy’s program of record calls for the eventual procurement of 20 Fleet Replenishment Oilers to replace the aging T-AO 187 class. 

ALAMEDA, Calif. – In coordination with the Ecuadorian navy, the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf (WMSL 750) recently completed a joint patrol to detect and deter potential Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in the vicinity of the Galapagos Islands, the Coast Guard Pacific Area said in a Sept. 3 release. 

From Aug. 25-29, Bertholf patrolled over 3,000 square nautical miles of Ecuadorian and international waters and conducted joint operations with the Ecuadorian naval vessel LAE Isla San Cristobal (LG-30), providing persistent presence and surveillance of fishing activity throughout the region. 

The joint operation highlights a significant Coast Guard partnership with a South American country to detect, deter and ensure adherence to international maritime norms for fishing. 

Information gathered during the operation was shared with Ecuador to strengthen future compliance efforts and gain greater shared awareness of potential IUU fishing activity. 

“It was a unique opportunity to sail together with the Ecuadorian navy, and we were impressed by their professionalism and dedication to the fight against illegal fishing,” said Capt. Brian Anderson, Bertholf’s commanding officer.  “This joint operation demonstrates the effectiveness and importance of our international partnerships.” 

IUU fishing is a global security, economic, and environmental threat that undermines national sovereignty and weakens the international rules-based order.  

Up to 27 million tons of fish are caught illegally each year, which accounts for 20-30% of total global annual catch. Economic losses from IUU fishing are estimated to be as much as $23.5 billion per year. 

“The United States remains committed to the international effort to combat IUU fishing and the illegal exploitation of the ocean’s fish stocks,” said Vice Adm. Linda Fagan, the Pacific Area commander.  “The U.S. Coast Guard will continue to safeguard our national interests and build lasting international partnerships that promote the rule of law and sovereignty for all nations.” 

MOBILE, Ala. – The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the twelfth Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessel, USNS Newport (T-EPF 12), Sept. 2, the Navy’s Program Executive Office – Ships said in a Sept. 3 release. 

EPFs are designed to operate in shallow waterways and are capable of a wide range of activities. The vessels are versatile, non-combatant, transport ships that are being used for high-speed transportation of troops, military vehicles, and equipment. Their missions include overseas contingency operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, support of special operations forces, theater security cooperation activities and emerging joint sea-basing concepts.  

“Today’s delivery marks the twelfth EPF delivered to the Navy, and I’m proud to be a part of delivering this highly-capable ship that can successfully meet a wide range of missions,” said Tim Roberts, Strategic and Theater Sealift program manager, Program Executive Office – Ships. “Newport will continue to provide flexible warfighting capabilities around the globe.” 

T-EPF 12 will be owned and operated by Military Sealift Command. EPFs are capable of transporting 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots. Each vessel includes a flight deck to support day and night aircraft launch and recovery operations. The ships are capable of interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, as well as on/off-loading vehicles such as a fully combat-loaded Abrams Main Battle Tank. 

 Austal USA is in production on the future USNS Apalachicola (EPF 13) and is under contract to build the future USNS Cody (EPF 14). 

REDZIKOWO, Poland – The U.S. Navy’s newest shore installation, Naval Support Facility (NSF) Redzikowo, was officially commissioned on Sept. 3 at a ceremony in front of U.S. and Polish dignitaries, the commander, Naval Region Europe, Africa Public Affairs said in a release. 

The ceremony, based on traditional Navy ship commissioning events, celebrated the official turnover of NSF Redzikowo’s newly completed support facilities from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the Navy. 

It also marked another significant milestone for NSF Redzikowo, which was established in 2016 as the first U.S. installation in Poland. 

Redzikowo will be the second operational location for the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System (AAMDS), part of the United States’ contribution to NATO ballistic missile defense. The AAMDS site at Redzikowo, currently under construction, is estimated to be operational no earlier than Fiscal Year 2022. 

“In the years to come, Redzikowo will play a critical role in the defense of Europe, as an important operational asset,” said Rear Adm. Scott Gray, commander of Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central (EURAFCENT), who presided over the ceremony. “And in the Navy’s tradition, this is why we chose not to simply dedicate this installation, but to commission it … to man our ‘ship’ and bring it to life.” 

Gray and Słupsk Mayor Barbara Dykier conducted a ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the installation’s main campus. 

Gray and Dykier were joined by the installation’s two commanding officers, Capt. Eric Williams of NSF Redzikowo and Cmdr. Derek Johnson of AAMDS Poland, as well as Col. Radoslaw Sułek of the Polish Army’s Force Protection Battalion and Col. Patrick Dagon, commander of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Europe District. 

The new additions to NSF Redzikowo include the base’s administrative offices and a Multi-Purpose Facility (MPF) with housing and dining facilities, as well as security and public works buildings, a general purpose warehouse, a fire station and athletic facilities. Williams and Johnson started moving their personnel into the new workspaces during the summer. 

“Within just three days of my assuming command of U.S. Naval Support Facility Redzikowo, this event – the commissioning ceremony and all the accomplishments within – were mere visions scribbled on a piece of paper and carried in my ‘playbook’ still today,” said Williams, who has commanded NSF Redzikowo since November 2019. “The vision was that this was meant to happen and then, that it would happen … I’m excited, and my entire crew of Sailors and civilians are excited.” 

Located at a former military and civilian airfield 225 miles northwest of Warsaw, NSF Redzikowo is operated in conjunction with the Polish Force Protection Battalion. 

Sailors assigned to NSF Redzikowo and AAMDS Poland conduct regular training events with the Force Protection Battalion and local emergency services departments. They also participate in local outreach projects in the surrounding communities, including Redzikowo and Słupsk. 

“Through regular community outreach at local schools and training with Polish first responders, you have proven you are truly a part of this community,” Gray said. “The relationship you’ve built is not just a reflection of the trust and partnership between the Navy and our Polish allies, but also between the United States and Poland and our long-standing friendship.” 

Once complete, NSF Redzikowo will be the second Navy facility to employ Aegis Ashore; the first, Naval Support Facility Deveselu, Romania, was established in October 2014. 

Aegis Ashore is part of the European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA), the voluntary U.S. contribution to NATO’s BMD system. EPAA’s main purpose is to protect NATO allies and U.S. deployed forces against ballistic missile threats emanating from outside the Euro-Atlantic region. 

First conceived in 2009, EPAA became a reality in 2011 with the deployment of Aegis-equipped Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to Naval Station Rota, Spain and a forward-based TPY-2 radar system to Turkey. 

The next step came in May 2016, when the AAMDS site at NSF Deveselu achieved operational certification through a series of unit- and theater-level tests and exercises. That same month, ground was broken on the second AAMDS facility at the former Słupsk-Redzikowo Airport, and NSF Redzikowo was officially established on Nov. 30, 2016 under the command of Capt. Rick Gilbert. 

Upon completion, the AAMDS site at NSF Redzikowo will consist of a fire-control radar “deckhouse” with an associated Aegis command, control and communications suite. Separately, it will house several launch modules containing SM-3 (Standard Missile-3) missiles. These capabilities will be identical to those at NSF Deveselu. 

Aegis Ashore uses a defensive system almost identical to that used on the Navy’s Aegis-capable guided-missile destroyers and cruisers at sea. The system is designed to detect, track, engage and destroy ballistic missiles in flight using the Aegis SPY-1 radar and the SM-3 missile interceptor. SM-3 missiles have no offensive capability and only target incoming ballistic missiles launched by hostile countries. 

Concurrent with construction of the AAMDS section of the base, the Navy worked with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Missile Defense Agency to construct facilities capable of supporting more than 200 U.S. military personnel, government civilians and contractors who will man the AAMDS site and support its operations. 

“We are incredibly proud to be able to construct and deliver the newest U.S. Navy base,” said Dagon. “Not only does it strengthen NATO’s defensive posture in this part of the world, but it also demonstrates the valuable and effective partnerships between the U.S. and Poland.” 

Following acceptance of the new support facilities by the Navy earlier this year, NSF Redzikowo and AAMDS Poland began the process of relocating from temporary offices into the administration building and MPF in late June. Sailors will transition from off-base housing into new living quarters at the MPF in early 2021. 

NSF Redzikowo’s operations enable the responsiveness of U.S. and allied forces in support of Navy Region EURAFCENT’s mission to provide services to the fleet, fighter, and family throughout the European, African and Central Command theaters of operation. 

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Coast Guard Cutter Robert Yered (WPC-1104) repatriated 20 of 21 migrants to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel Sept. 2, following the interdiction of an illegal migrant voyage in the Mona Passage west of Puerto Rico. 

The remaining migrant was turned over to U.S. Border Patrol agents to face possible criminal immigration and migrant smuggling charges in Puerto Rico. The interdiction is the result of ongoing multiagency efforts in support of Operation Caribbean Guard and the Caribbean Border Interagency Group. 

“The crew of the cutter Robert Yered’s response led to a swift interdiction and safe recovery of all the migrants in this case,” said Cmdr. Beau Powers, Sector San Juan chief of response. “The danger migrants face during this and mostly all attempted illegal voyages is quite real, especially when they trust their safety to ruthless smugglers who embark them aboard grossly overloaded and unseaworthy vessels with little or no lifesaving equipment aboard. These vessels are known for taking on water throughout the entire voyage and could easily capsize at any given moment.” 

While on a routine patrol Sept. 1, the crew of the cutter Robert Yered detected and interdicted an illegal migrant voyage, approximately 14 nautical miles northwest of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. 

The migrant group was traveling aboard a 28-foot makeshift boat that was transporting 20 men and a woman, who claimed to all be Dominican Republic nationals. The crew of cutter Robert Yered safely embarked the migrants for safety of life at sea concerns, while a Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Borinquen provided rescue support overhead.  

After embarking all migrants, the crew conducted biometrics processing for the group, which were analyzed by the National Counterterrorism Center. The records checks revealed a criminal and immigration history for one migrant, who is under further investigation and faces federal prosecution.     

Once aboard a Coast Guard cutter, all migrants receive food, water, shelter and basic medical attention. Throughout the interdiction, Coast Guard crewmembers were equipped with personal protective equipment to minimize potential exposure to any possible case of COVID-19. There were no migrants in this case reported to have any COVID-19 related symptoms. 

Cutter Robert Yered transported the remaining migrants to Dominican Republic territorial waters off Punta Cana, where the transfer and repatriation of the migrants to Dominican Republic navy authorities was completed. 

Cutter Robert Yered is a 154-foot fast response cutter homeported in Miami. 

ARLINGTON, Va. —Two U.S. Navy nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSNs) have arrived at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, this week in a change of homeports for both. 

According to images on the Defense Department’s DVIDS imagery website, the Los Angeles-class SSN USS Newport News arrived on Aug. 31, and the Virginia-class SSN USS Texas arrived on Sept.1. 

The Newport News was commissioned in 1989. It was built as the last of the basic Los Angeles class which is not equipped with vertical launch tubes. It can launch torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles from its four torpedo tubes. 

The Texas is the second built of the Block I of the Virginia class. It can launch torpedoes and Tomahawk missiles from its four torpedo tubes and Tomahawks from its 12 vertical launch tubes. The Texas was commissioned in 2006 and was homeported in Groton and then Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, before its return to Groton. 

HOUSTON — KBR has been awarded a $75 million recompete contract by Naval Facilities Engineering Command Europe Africa Central to enhance infrastructure at multiple bases in Djibouti, Africa, the company said in a release. 

Under this five-year, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, KBR will provide engineering, design, construction, renovations, repairs, maintenance, demolition and other services at both Camp Lemonnier, and its associated Chabelley Airfield. 

This work complements KBR’s premier base operating support throughout Africa. Notably, the company has provided base operating support services at Camp Lemonnier since 2013, with work in the region dating back to 2002. 

While performing key services in Africa, the KBR team has achieved more than 25 million hours without a lost-time safety incident, a salute to KBR’s commitment to sustainability and safety. 

“KBR will continue its legacy of delivering trustworthy results and expertise to the U.S. Navy through this award,” said Byron Bright, KBR Government Solutions president. “We are proud to be a part of strengthening these bases for our troops and allies.” 

KBR provides solutions for base and contingency operations, asset management, prepositioned stocks and operations maintenance for U.S. and allied forces globally. 

BOSTON — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Seneca departed Coast Guard Base Boston on Sept. 2, en route to their new homeport in Portsmouth, Virginia, the Coast Guard 1st District said in a release. 

After 33 years homeported in Boston, Seneca will continue service with six other 270-foot, medium-endurance cutters, homeported at Coast Guard Base Portsmouth. This will allow the Coast Guard to better leverage efficiencies gained by clustering vessels of the same class. 

Seneca was formally commissioned in Boston on May 9, 1987. Since then, Seneca’s crew has conducted nearly all of the Coast Guard’s missions throughout New England, the Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, all while calling Boston home. 

In the late 1990s, Coast Guard Cutter Seneca, along with Coast Guard Cutter Galatin, was part of Operation New Frontier, a counter-narcotics operation that tested the use of high-speed pursuit boats and armed helicopters. The operation was successfully completed March 13, 2000, and lead to the creation of the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron in Jacksonville, Florida. 

More recently, Seneca’s crew assisted in the rescue of 187 Haitian migrants approximately 17 miles southwest of Turks and Caicos Islands on December 22, 2019. The Coast Guard, Royal Bahamas Defense Force, and Turks and Caicos Islands Police worked together to rescue all 187 people after they were spotted onboard a single 30-foot vessel. 

Seneca shares its name with the Revenue Cutter Seneca, the first cutter to engage in official ice patrol duties after the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912, and one of five Coast Guard cutters that made up Squadron 2 of Division 6 of the Atlantic Fleet Patrol Forces during World War I. 

Despite the COVID 19 pandemic, Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2) is on the move, participating in exercise Dynamic Move 20-2.

Even though the exercise had fewer participants this year in order to reduce risk in the training rooms, 11 nations are involved in the event, planned and executed by the NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM).

“Dynamic Move is the principal biannual computer assisted exercise aimed at building international staff capabilities in conducting a full range of mine countermeasures operations,” said MARCOM press officer Vitnija Saldava.

This phase of Dynamic Move is being hosted by the Italian Mine Warfare Forces Command at La Spezia, Italy. Participating nations include Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Turkey, and the US.  The exercise will run until September 11.

According to Saldava, the exercise is controlled by naval mine warfare experts and other subject matter experts including maritime scientists, NATO Shipping Centre officers, legal advisors and media experts as well as personnel from École de Guerre des Mines, the NATO Naval Mine Warfare Centre of Excellence, the Italian Mine Warfare Training Centre (MARICENDRAG) and the NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE).

SNMCMG2 is one of four standing forces that comprise the maritime component of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), which is part of the NATO Response Force (NRF). These forces can be augmented by additional forces in contingencies to provide timely support to NATO operations.

“Dynamic Move 20-2 is an excellent opportunity to cooperate and train with officers from Allied nations in the field of mine countermeasures operations and thus developing and maintaining highly trained forces that can integrate seamlessly,” said Hellenic Navy Commander Dimitrios Katsouras, Commander of SNMCMG2.

ALHAMBRA, Calif. — EMCORE Corp. has been awarded a contract by Raytheon Technologies valued at $3.6 million to deliver SDI500 IMUs (Inertial Measurement Units) for the MK 54 lightweight torpedo program, the company said in an Aug. 31 release. The units are expected to be delivered by September 2021. 

The Mk54 is an advanced anti-submarine torpedo designed and developed by Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in collaboration with the U.S. Navy. It can be launched from surface ships, fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters for use in both deep and shallow waters and in various acoustic environments. The Mk54 can track, classify, and attack underwater targets using sophisticated processing algorithms to analyze information, edit out false targets or countermeasures, and then pursue identified threats. 

EMCORE’s COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) SDI500 IMU delivers true tactical grade performance with <1º/hr bias stability across a full temperature range with class leading 0.02º/hr angle random walk and 1 mg accelerometer bias performance. The compact, low power, high-quality SDI500 IMU enables superior guidance and control of the Mk54 torpedo during in-water maneuvers, plus improves system cost-effectiveness, reduces obsolescence, and increases sustainability for Raytheon and its customers. 

“We have a long, proud history supporting Raytheon’s important defense programs at EMCORE, and previously at Systron Donner Inertial. Raytheon played a big part in helping Systron deliver 5,000 SDI500 tactical grade IMUs to customers globally,” said David Hoyh, director, Sales & Marketing for EMCORE. “EMCORE’s mission for its innovative and growing line of tactical grade products is to deliver superior inertial bias and noise performance under environmental conditions with smaller, lighter, more reliable and cost-effective product solutions than traditional tactical grade technologies or competitors.”