NAVAL BASE VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. — The Navy conducted a joint ground-breaking and ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 8 for the first purpose-built and co-located facilities for unmanned maritime vehicle testing, Program Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants Public Affairs said in a Dec. 14 release. 

Located on Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division, at Naval Base Ventura County, the facilities will accommodate testing, evaluation, and technology demonstration for Extra-Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle and Unmanned Surface Vessel prototypes. 

“These facilities will be the focal point of Navy learning and experimentation on the capabilities, operations and sustainment of Unmanned Maritime Vehicle prototypes to inform future programs,” said Capt. Pete Small, Program Manager, Unmanned Maritime Systems (PMS 406). 

PMS 406, within the Program Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC), oversees the XLUUV, Large USV, Medium USV programs and their advanced technology capabilities. 

The ribbon-cutting recognized completion of modifications to the existing Littoral Combat Ship Mission Package Support Facility (Building 1392) that will house the XLUUV prototypes, and personnel who will perform test and evaluation and training on the vehicles, which are in fabrication under a contract with Boeing. The ground-breaking recognized the start of construction of the modular administrative building for the newly established Unmanned Surface Vessel Division One and Unmanned Undersea Vehicles Squadron One personnel who will operate and maintain the unmanned vehicle prototypes. 

In addition to five Orca XLUUV prototypes, the NBVC Port Hueneme site will eventually accommodate one MUSV, two Sea Hunter USV and four Overlord USV prototypes. NBVC is ideally suited for these facilities with ready access to open-water instrumented ranges, multimodal expeditionary transportation capabilities, proximity to Navy and industry hubs, and synergies with other tenant commands. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The most challenging aspect of designing large unmanned surface vessels for the Navy is building reliability of its systems, a senior defense industry official said. 

“We can solve the autonomy challenge,” said Kevin Knowles, senior manager of strategic growth and USV team lead for Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, in a Dec. 14 interview with Seapower, discussing the company’s participation in the concept designs for the Navy’s Large USV and Medium USV. “How do we improve reliability, to put a ship to sea without a crew.” 

Knowles noted an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer has a crew of about 300, with a third of those devoted to keeping the ship running. Without a crew preforming the routine preventative maintenance and repairs, reliability of systems in a USV becomes even more paramount, he said. Even when optionally manned, most of the personnel on board would oversee force protection.  

The Navy is planning on adding to its fleet the LUSV and MUSV. The LUSV essentially will be a missile shooter, with banks of vertical launch systems. The smaller MUSV is intended for a reconnaissance and surveillance role, with an array of sensors, many of them in containers that can be switched out. 

Northrop Grumman is teamed with two of the design teams awarded concept design contracts for the LUSV. Not a shipbuilder, its contributions would be most notable in mission systems and payloads. The team lead primes are Austal USA, Huntington Ingalls, Lockheed Martin, Fincantieri, Bollinger and Gibbs & Cox.  

Knowles said a second challenge is the deliberate pace at which the Navy is proceeding with the programs, keeping the defense industry pressed to keep up. He noted some in Congress think the Navy is moving too fast, encouraging it to prove the technology before production. 

He said the Navy will use a land-based test site at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division to integrate and test the propulsion and other systems planned for the LUSV. 

Developments in aviation also are being factored in as solutions to design challenges. Knowles said components of systems developed for the F-35 Lightning II strike fighter can be adapted to the USVs, offering the advantages of light weight and low energy usage. 

The LUSV and MUSV likely will emerge with a common control system, he said, possible with many aspects of the Common Control System in work for the Navy’s unmanned aerial systems. 

Another challenge for LUSVs and MUSVs is repair at sea. Such concepts as fly-away teams dispatched to the vessel could be considered.  

Knowles praised the Navy’s program office, PMS-406, for keeping the prime contractors informed with the latest data and requirements needed for their designs. 

KITTERY, Maine — The U.S. Navy established Commander, Submarine Squadron 2 in an official ceremony Friday, Dec. 10, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, Submarine Readiness Squadron 32 said in a release. 

The move revives a tradition tied to the original Submarine Squadron 2, which was established in New London, Connecticut, in the late 1930s. In 1941, the Navy sent SUBRON 2 to the Pacific, where it operated during World War II. 
 
After the war, in October 1945, the squadron was back in New London, where it garnered the nickname “The Armada” because of the wide range of submarines under its oversight. 
 
The squadron oversaw some of the first and last built in the Los Angeles class fast attack submarines as well as the Navy’s only nuclear-powered deep submersible research vessel, NR-1. The first nuclear powered submarine, USS Nautilus (SSN 571) was one of nearly 100 submarines assigned to the squadron during its history as well. 
 
Among the submarines assigned to the squadron over the years were the “Fleet Boats” Grouper (SS 214), Flying Fish (SS 229), Finback (SS 230), and Raton (SS 270); diesel submarines Atule (SS 403), Quillback (SS 424) and Sarda (SS 488); and the support ship Chewink (ASR 3). 
 
The most recent previous iteration of Submarine Squadron 2 was disestablished in a ceremony in Groton, Connecticut, Jan. 13, 2012. 
 
Rear Adm. Michael Holland, now chief of staff for U.S. Northern Command, was the commodore of Submarine Squadron 2 at the time of its disestablishment. Holland returned as the keynote speaker for the establishment ceremony Friday. 
 
“The new establishment of Submarine Squadron 2 builds on a proud tradition dating back to the second World War,” said Vice Adm. William Houston, commander, U.S. Naval Submarine Forces, Submarine Force Atlantic and Allied Submarine Command. “Over seven decades in operation, this squadron wrote a history of innovation, flexibility and a fierce dedication to mission accomplishment. Now, Squadron 2 will come back with a new home and a vital new role to play, ensuring the readiness of our fast attack submarines as they complete periods of maintenance at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and return to the fleet for deployment.” 
 
Capt. Daniel J. Reiss takes over as the commanding officer of the newly reestablished squadron, while Capt. Henry M. Roenke steps into the role of deputy commanding officer for readiness. Master Chief Petty Officer Frederick J. Richter is the command master chief, the senior enlisted service person at the squadron. 
 
Squadron 2 will step in to provide administrative, manning, logistical, training, operational planning and readiness support for Los Angeles- and Virginia-class fast attack submarines homeported at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard during periods of maintenance and improvement. 
 
Since 2012, Submarine Squadrons 12 and 4 provided operational oversight of submarines at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard from their location more than 150 miles away, at Naval Submarine Base New London, in Connecticut. 
 
Capt. Matthew Boland, commanding officer of Submarine Squadron 12, was on hand at the Friday event to ceremonially relinquish oversight of the submarines currently homeported at PNSY. 
 
“I’m honored and excited to help restore this storied squadron name alongside these dedicated submarine crews and the talented and hardworking team at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard,” said Reiss. “Squadrons 12 and 4 did incredible work supporting the shipyard submarines over the last decade. And now, there is benefit to having a dedicated squadron staff on-site, focused on the unique needs of crews in this stage of their readiness cycle. These Portsmouth-based submarine crews face different challenges than those in Groton, and my team is energized to face those challenges with them. We look forward to getting these crews and their boats back in the fight, stronger and tougher than when they arrived.” 

NORFOLK — Adm. Christopher Grady was relieved by Adm. Daryl Caudle as commander, U.S. Fleet Forces in a ceremony aboard aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, Dec. 7, the command said. 

Dozens of civilian and military guests gathered to bid fair winds and following seas to Grady as he departs after more than three years in command, and to welcome Caudle as the new commander. Speakers included commander, U.S. Strategic Command Adm. Charles Richard and commander, U.S. Northern Command Gen. Glen VanHerck. 

Richard presided over the ceremony and said, “Adm. Grady’s leadership and innovation have brought to bear the full capability of the U.S. Navy in support of deterring our adversaries and assuring our allies and partners like never before. His visionary strategic approach is exactly what we need as we posture the joint force to meet today’s global challenges. I have full confidence that Adm. Caudle will pick up the ball and move it down the field.” 
   
“As the commander of Naval Forces Northern Command, Adm. Grady remained laser focused on the persistent proximate threats and the homeland defense challenges our nation faces during this period of increased global strategic competition with peers and near peers,” said VanHerck. “Adm. Grady’s numerous command tours have defined the standard across the fleet and throughout the Department of Defense for operational capability, mission success and a relentless approach to readiness.” 
   
Grady has been nominated by the White House to serve as the next vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Grady expressed his immense appreciation and pride to the Fleet Forces staff for the accomplishments they achieved under his charge. 
   
“Fleet Forces command is involved in nearly every aspect of the force-force generation, force development, force employment and in generating readiness to provide combatant commanders the resources that they need to defend our national interests at home and abroad,” said Grady. “Truly, the actions of every service member, government civilian, and contractor here at Fleet Forces, and across the waterfront, have played a critical role in supremely preparing the Navy and, to fight and win in today’s strategic environment.” 
   
Caudle joins the USFFC team after wrapping up his tour as the commander, U.S. Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Caudle is the 43rd commander of USFFC. 
   
“Admiral Grady’s warfighting vision at Fleet Forces transformed our approach to fleet readiness, operationalized our team to support two combatant commanders and protected our homeland in the maritime domain,” said Caudle. “I’m truly honored to continue to build on the successes of the Fleet Forces team, continuing to ensure our fleet is ready to bring lethality and integrated deterrence anytime, anywhere across the globe.” 

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — The U.S. Navy commissioned its newest guided-missile destroyer, USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), Dec. 8 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, according to U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs. 

More than 1,000 guests including service members, veterans, and their families witnessed as the Navy’s 69th Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer joined the fleet. 
 
The ship honors the local hero and statesman, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, a U.S. senator from Hawaii who served in Congress from 1962 until his death in 2012. During World War II, Inouye served in the U.S. Army’s 442nd Regimental Combat Team, one of the most decorated military units in U.S. history. For his combat heroism, which cost him his right arm, Inouye was awarded the Medal of Honor. 

Guest speakers for the included David Ige, governor of Hawaii, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, and Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Paparo and Del Toro spoke about the Inouye’s capabilities as a warfighting vessel in the Pacific fleet.
 
“This ship, the USS Daniel Inouye, will join the U.S. Pacific Fleet and the Indo-Pacom joint team,” said Paparo. “This ship and its crew are ready to assume its critical mission: The defense and safeguarding of the well-being and interests of our nation.” 
 
“As a former destroyer captain, I know firsthand about the ability, versatility and distributive power this ship will add to our deterrent capabilities,” said Del Toro. “There is absolutely no more of a fitting name for this ship than Sen. Inouye.” 
 
Prior to her passing on April 7, 2020, Inouye’s wife, Irene Hirano Inouye, executed her duties as the ship’s sponsor by establishing a strong bond with the crew during traditional shipbuilding milestones at Bath Iron Works. At the keel laying in 2018, she welded her initials into the keel of the ship. In 2019, she broke a bottle of champagne on the bow in a christening ceremony bestowing the name on the ship. During a “mast stepping” ceremony, she placed items special to the senator in the ship’s mast. 
 
During the ceremony, the senator’s granddaughter and ceremonial maid of honor, 11-year-old Maggie Inouye, gave the traditional order, “Man our ship and bring her to life!” 
 
After reporting the ship ready for duty, the ship’s commanding officer, Cmdr. DonAnn Gilmore recognized her crew’s hard work. 
 
“No captain could ask for more. You have embodied the motto ‘go for broke’ at every challenge,” said Gilmore. “I have to look no further than the rails of the ship behind me to renew my faith in humanity and to maintain my confidence in our country’s future.” 
 
The commissioning ceremony coincided with 80th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Remembrance commemoration events and caps a weeklong series of events celebrating the ship and its namesake. On December 7, 1941, Inouye was a 17-year-old senior at Honolulu’s McKinley High School, and rushed to a Red Cross aid station to help civilians and Sailors wounded in the attack. 
 
USS Daniel Inouye, the first U.S. warship to bear its name, is nearly 510 feet in length and has a navigational draft of 33 feet.
   

RESTON, Va. — Science Applications International Corp. has been awarded a $1.1 billion contract to produce, assemble, test and deliver the U.S. Navy’s Mk48 Mod 7 torpedo afterbody tailcones and Mk29 Mod 0 warshot fuel tanks, the company said Dec. 6.  

Under the contract from the Program Executive Officer, Undersea Warfare Systems, Undersea Weapons Program Office (PMS 404), SAIC will provide all necessary facilities, resources and management necessary to meet the contract’s integration, production, test and delivery requirements. The afterbody tailcone is the section of torpedo containing propulsion and navigations systems, with 26 major sub-assemblies requiring the integration of greater than 500 pieces and parts in each. 

“SAIC is proud of our expanded work on integration, production, assembly, test and delivery contracts that support the Mk48 heavyweight torpedo system for the U.S. Navy,” said Bob Genter, president of SAIC’s Defense and Civilian Sector. “We are confident that our proven performance on the Mk48 will continue to provide the Navy with the sea-dominance weapon it requires.” 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy will commission the future USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, during a 10:00 a.m. (HST) ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickham on Dec. 8. 

The future USS Daniel Inouye is named in honor of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who served as a Hawaii representative in the Senate from 1963 until he died in 2012.   

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro will deliver the keynote address at the ceremony. Remarks will also be provided by Hawaii Gov. David Ige; Rep. Kaiali’i Kahele (D-Hawaii); Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi; Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Ken Inouye, son of Sen. Inouye; and Ed Kenyon, director of new construction programs, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works.  

“The late Sen. Daniel Inouye spent his entire life in public service, both in uniform and out,” said Del Toro. “Sen. Inouye’s life is one to be emulated and the crew of this warship will not only be inspired by his legacy, but will stand the watch with the honor and dignity deserving of a ship bearing his name.” 

The ship’s sponsor Irene Hirano Inouye, Inouye’s wife, established a strong bond with the crew before her passing on April 7, 2020. At the keel laying in 2018, she welded her initials into the ship’s keel and, in 2019, broke a bottle of champagne on the bow in a christening ceremony. During a “mast stepping” ceremony, she placed items special to Inouye in the ship’s mast.

The commissioning ceremony coincides with the 80th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Commemoration events. On Dec. 7, 1941, Daniel Inouye was a 17-year-old senior at Honolulu’s McKinley High School and rushed to a Red Cross aid station to help civilians and Sailors wounded in the attack. 

On April 21, 1945, while serving with the 442nd Infantry Regiment Combat Team in Italy during World War II, an exploding grenade shattered his right arm during an assault. Despite the intense pain, he refused evacuation. He remained at the head of his platoon until they broke the enemy resistance and his troops deployed in defensive positions, continuing to fight until the regiment’s position was secured. Later in life, he received the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism during the assault. 

Cmdr. DonAnn Gilmore, of Anniston, Alabama, is the ship’s commanding officer and leads a crew of 329 officers and enlisted Sailors. Gilmore is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University. She previously commanded Mine Countermeasures Crew Exultant. 

“This crew put a tremendous amount of work into preparing to bring USS Daniel Inouye to life on Dec. 8. We all share a deep sense of pride and honor to represent our namesake, the late senator and U.S. Army Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Inouye and those he represented for 53 years in the House and Senate,” said Gilmore. “Through USS Daniel Inouye’s service to our nation, every Sailor aboard will strive to make ours the preeminent ship on the waterfront. We embody the ship’s motto, a battle cry adopted from Sen. Inouye’s Army unit, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. We will ‘go for broke!’ as Daniel Inouye did on the battlefield and in halls of the Senate.” 

The ship is nearly 510 feet long and has a navigational draft of 33 feet. As a Flight IIA destroyer, DDG 118 is equipped with Aegis Baseline 9, which provides improved, integrated air and missile defense capabilities, increased computing power, and radar capable of quickly detecting and reacting to modern air warfare and ballistic missile defense threats. 

Built by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, Daniel Inouye was christened June 22, 2019, and delivered to the Navy on March 8, 2021. USS Daniel Inouye’s homeport is Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. 

The ceremony will be livestreamed at: https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/27385. The link becomes active approximately 10 minutes before the event (9:50 a.m. HST). 

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division officially started fabrication Dec. 6 of the Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) destroyer George M. Neal (DDG 131), the company said in a release. 

“Start of fabrication is our first opportunity to formally celebrate and reflect on our contributions as shipbuilders,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson said. “We are very proud of what we do here for the country and endeavor to do our part in building and activating what will be the newest Flight III destroyer.” 

Ingalls has delivered 33 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the Navy. Other destroyers currently under construction include Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), Ted Stevens (DDG 128) and Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129). 

The new destroyer’s name honors a Korean War veteran, Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class George M. Neal, who was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions while attempting to rescue a fellow service member. Neal volunteered as crewman to fly in a helicopter deep into North Korean mountains to attempt the rescue of a Marine aviator who had been shot down and was trapped by the enemy. During the rescue attempt, under heavy enemy fire, Neal’s helicopter was disabled and crashed. He assisted his pilot and the rescued aviator in evading enemy forces for nine days before being captured and held as a prisoner of war. Neal was eventually released and returned to the U.S. with more than 320 fellow POWs in 1952. 

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division delivered the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) to the U.S. Navy during a signing ceremony Nov. 30. This milestone officially transfers custody from HII to the U.S. Navy. 

“I am again very proud of our DDG team today,” said Kari Wilkinson, Ingalls Shipbuilding president. “Not only have they completed another major program milestone, but they have done so in the face of a pandemic. This team, and all of our shipbuilders across our entire portfolio, are what shipbuilding is all about.” 

Delivery of DDG 121 marked the 33rd destroyer Ingalls has built for Navy, with four more currently under construction, including Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), Ted Stevens (DDG 128) and Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129). 

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are highly capable, multi-mission ships and can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, all in support of the United States military strategy. Guided missile destroyers are capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles. The ship contains myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century. 

DDG 121 is named for Frank E. Petersen Jr., who was the U.S. Marine Corps’ first African-American aviator and general officer. After entering the Naval Aviation Cadet Program in 1950, Petersen would go on to fly more than 350 combat missions during the Korean and Vietnam wars. 

SAN DIEGO — Construction started on the fifth Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB), the future USS Robert E. Simanek (ESB 7), at General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. in San Diego during a small ceremony, Dec. 1, Team Ships Public Affairs said in a release. 

The ESB ship class is highly flexible and used across a broad range of military operations supporting multiple operational phases, similar to the Expeditionary Transfer Dock class. Acting as a mobile sea base, they are part of the critical access infrastructure that supports the deployment of forces and supplies to provide prepositioned equipment and sustainment with flexible distribution. 

“ESBs are optimized to support the core capabilities of aviation facilities, berthing, special operations, equipment staging support, and command and control operations,” said Tim Roberts, Strategic and Theater Sealift program manager, Program Executive Office Ships. “The ESBs have demonstrated their ability to enhance the fleet’s flexibility and capability as they operate around the world. The addition of the future USS Robert E. Simanek will help continue to provide critical access in the maritime domain.” 

The ship is named in honor of Marine Corps veteran Robert E. Simanek, who was awarded the Medal of Honor after he threw himself on an enemy grenade shielding his fellow Marines during the Korean War. 

In 2019, the Navy made the decision to commission all Expeditionary Sea Base ships to allow them to conduct a broader and more lethal mission set, compared to original plans for them to operate with a USNS designation. ESBs are commanded by a Navy O-6 with a hybrid-manned crew of military personnel and Military Sealift Command civilian mariners. This designation provides combatant commanders greater operational flexibility as to how the platform is employed. 

GD-NASSCO has delivered three other ESBs and is currently constructing the future USS John L. Canley (ESB 6).