Rescue swimmers … are awesome
December 19th, 2011 | Amphibious operations COMPTUEX Navy Photos Rescue swimmers Ships Training | Posted by Bill McMichael
No matter what the service, military rescue swimmers are a pretty remarkable bunch. In addition to being skilled at their normal rating duties, they’re able — and willing — to be lowered into some pretty hair-raising situations that most normal folks would regard as out of the realm of possibility.
The Atlantic waters looked to be fairly calm when the dock landing ship Gunston Hall conducted a man-overboard drill last week, as you can see:
Engineman 3rd Class Michael E. Kenyon, a Gunston Hall search and rescue swimmer, gets lowered into the water Dec. 15 for a shipboard recovery man-overboard drill. Gunston Hall is underway participating in Composite Training Unit Exercise, a major requirement for the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group certification for deployment. // U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Lauren G. Randall
That’s a long way down, though. In addition, the water temperature was on the cool side. According to the National Oceanographic Data Center, the average water temp off the Virginia coast this time of year is in the mid-to-high 40s. Not so extreme on this day — it was 65 degrees, according to Lt. Megan Shutka, spokeswoman for Amphibious Squadron 8.
Still, not exactly shower-warm! Put yourself in Kenyon’s place in this pic:
Kenyon rescues 'Oscar', the ship's man-overboard prop. // U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Lauren G. Randall
No word on what Oscar thought of the conditions …
A new Old Salt
December 15th, 2011 | Chief of naval operations Fleet Forces Command Navy Norfolk Naval Station Officers Photos The Old Salt | Posted by Bill McMichael
By custom, the surface warfare officer with the earliest Officer of the Deck qualification is recognized as the Navy’s “Old Salt” — an award initiated in 1988 by the Surface Navy Association.
On Friday, that distinction will be bestowed on Adm. John Harvey, commander of Fleet Forces Command, in a ceremony aboard the amphibious transport dock ship San Antonio at Naval Station Norfolk.
The current Old Salt is the recently retired Adm. Mike Mullen, who stepped back into civilian life Sept. 30 following four years as the nation’s top military officer and 43 years of service. There was no interim Old Salt, according to Ted Brown, a Fleet Forces Command spokesman.
Harvey, who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1973, earned his OOD qual on Oct. 11, 1977, aboard the nuclear-powered cruiser Bainbridge. He assumed command of Fleet Forces in July 2009.
Dec. 20 CLARIFICATION: According to Brown, Harvey earned his surface warfare officer or SWO pin in October 1977. He earned his OOD qual in the spring of that year.
Here’s the Old Salt and the Old Salt-to-be back in 2005, when Mullen, then the chief of naval operations, promoted Harvey to vice admiral.
Rear Adm. John Harvey, left, is promoted to vice admiral by then-Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen on Nov. 22, 2005. Harvey assumed the duties as Chief of Naval Personnel/Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education. Harvey is now a full admiral and commander of Fleet Forces Command. // U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Johnny Bivera
Celebrating the Wrights, and naval aviation’s 100th
December 8th, 2011 | Aviation Historical Naval aviation centennial Photos Wright Brothers | Posted by Bill McMichael
East Coast aviation buffs should mark their calendars for Saturday, Dec. 17, when the 108th Celebration of Powered Flight will be held at the Wright Brothers National Monument in Kill Devil Hills, N.C. Well, it’s probably not exactly the 108th celebration … no one likely paid any attention to such things for a few decades. But this event does promise to be special.
It starts at 8:30 a.m. and, weather permitting, there’ll be a military aircraft flyover at exactly 10:35 a.m. — precisely when the Orville Wright “powered” off a 60-foot monorail guide and flew the brothers’ biplane a total of 120 feet.
Orville Wright's famous first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C., on Dec. 17, 1903. The site is now the city of Kill Devil Hills, south of present-day Kitty Hawk. That's Wilbur Wright on the right.
No details yet on which aircraft will be involved. But given that the event’s also billed as marking the 100th anniversary of naval aviation — and given that Vice Adm. Bill Gortney, director of the Joint Staff at the Pentagon and a veteran Navy jet pilot, will be giving the keynote address — here’s guessing there’ll be a Navy jet or two involved.
DEC. 15 UPDATE: The military flyover will be all Navy: F/A-18 Hornets from Carrier Air Wing 7, according to the First Flight Society.
In addition, the first Navy ace, Lt. David Ingalls, will be inducted into the First Flight Shrine.
Lt. David Ingalls, the Navy's first ace.
You can read about his World War I exploits here.
A separate flyover by civilian aircraft will take place later in the day. And descendants of those who witnessed the first flight will lay wreaths at the marker where the flight occurred.
Wright Brothers National Memorial Park entry fees are waived for the morning of December 17th, so attending the ceremony will be free of charge. For more information about his year’s event, visit the event page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FirstFlightCelebration.
It’ll be good day — weather permitting, of course.
End of an era
December 6th, 2011 | 6th Fleet Amphibious operations Amphibious Ready Group Combat support Commanding officers Flight deck certification Homecoming leadership Marine Corps Marine Expeditionary Unit Maritime operations Mine warfare Navy Norfolk Naval Station Odyssey Dawn Photos Ponce Ships The Middle East | Posted by Bill McMichael
On May 7, 1970, the Beatles released their last single: “The Long and Winding Road.”
Last week, the amphibious transport dock Ponce, launched 13 days after the song and commissioned in July 1971, completed its own long journey, coming home for the last time after four decades of service.
Sailors prepare to handle lines on Naval Station Norfolk's Pier 2 as the amphibious transport dock Ponce makes its final return to homeport. Ponce will now begin the long process that will result in the ship's decommissioning early next year. // U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stevie Tate
Those years were filled with significant events. Ponce helped evacuate nearly 300 mostly U.S. and British Westerners from Lebanon during the 1976 civil war, and supported 6th Fleet air strikes on pro-Syrian militia positions in defense of U.S. Marines ashore. It supported military disaster relief in Florida following 1992′s devastating Hurricane Andrew. It took part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, serving as the flagship of a minesweeping task group that opened the key port of Umm Qasr. Most recently, Ponce, as part of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, supported the NATO strikes on Libya that played a key role in helping rebel forces drive Moammar Gadhafi from power.
It was during that last cruise that the ship’s commanding officer and executive officer were fired by Vice Adm. Harry Harris, then-commander of 6th Fleet — Cmdr. Etta Jones for what investigators said were abuses of power, and Lt. Cmdr. Kurt Boenisch for not standing up to Jones. Jones apologized to the crew in a statement released by her lawyer the same day Ponce returned home last week, saying that she hoped the public “will not overlook their positive story.”
Ponce spent its final operational week supporting air operations for II Marine Expeditionary Force’s air-ground task force. One sailor said he took a lot of pride in being one of the last to man the ship’s flight deck.
“This underway is the last time anyone will fly on Ponce,” Aviation Support Equipment Technician 3rd Class Morgan Butkus was quoted by Ponce’s public affairs office as saying. “How many years have people been here with stuff happening, and this is the last of it.”
Four decades on Ponce, by the numbers: It was served by more than 18,400 sailors and embarked by more than 24,500 Marines; it landed and launched aircraft more than 39,000 times; it was involved in more than 25 major operations; it was commanded by 28 different commanding officers.
The ship will be decommissioned in early 2012 and placed in long-term storage at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia.
Quartermaster 2nd Class Shixi Zhang mans a telescopic alidade on the starboard bridge wing of the amphibious transport dock ship Ponce as the ship gets underway from Naval Station Norfolk for its final scheduled underway period. // U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Nathanael Miller
Navy’s fingers are crossed on this one
November 21st, 2011 | Board of Inspection and Survey LPD-17 Photos San Antonio class | Posted by Bill McMichael
The sixth San Antonio-class ship completed its acceptance trials last week, and the Navy is sure hoping that the future USS San Diego can jump out of the gates after its December delivery without the problems that have plagued the rest of the class.
Dock Landing Ship 22 has something going for it: It wasn’t built at Avondale, La. While all five previous 17s have had issues, one, the Mesa Verde, overcame its initial power plant problems and shock trial issues. The Pascagoula, Miss.-built ship is now on its second full deployment, replacing San Antonio, which had to stay home so the finishing touches could be put on a two-year repair job for fixes too numerous to mention. The other Avondale-built 17s had serious issues: New Orleans (propulsion, steering, elevators), Green Bay (steering, engine contaminants), New York (lube oil, bent crankshaft).
The amphibious transport dock ship Pre-Commissioning Unit San Diego. // U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding by Ron Elias
San Diego was also built at Pascagoula. According to Naval Sea Systems Command, during the acceptance trials, Huntington Ingalls Industries, the builder, “successfully demonstrated” systems ranging from main propulsion engineering and ship control systems to combat systems, communications systems, damage control, food service and crew support, and the Shipboard Wide Area Network.
During the at-sea portion of the trials, San Diego “successfully completed” a four-hour full power run, self-defense detect-to-engage exercises, rapid ballasting and deballasting, steering, quick reversal, and anchoring, NAVSEA said.
“The ship fully performed as expected, successfully completing all of the required demonstrations in port and at sea with some of the highest scores seen in this class to date,” said Rear Adm. David H. Lewis, program executive officer for ships. “These trials reflect the hard work the LPD-17 class team has accomplished in order to prepare this capable warship for delivery to the fleet.”
Problems in the first editions of military ships, jets and ground vehicles show up more often than not. But after five of these things, you’d think the design and construction issues would have finally been ironed out. Time will tell.
Haze gray in Charm City
November 16th, 2011 | Community relations Historical Navy Photos Ships Surface Force Atlantic War of 1812 | Posted by Bill McMichael
Next year marks the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, and the Navy is helping the state of Maryland kick off its multi-year commemoration with a two-ship visit to Baltimore’s beautiful Inner Harbor. The war with Great Britain that gave us the Star-Spangled Banner and “Don’t give up the ship!” was declared on June 18, 1812, and lasted another 2 1/2 years.
Two patrol coastals, Hurricane and Monsoon, arrived at Baltimore's Inner Harbor Tuesday morning. The two ships are in town to take part in Maryland's Star-Spangled Bicentennial Launch, slated for Wednesday morning. // U.S. Navy photo
The Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard will be marking the bicentennial through 2015 with week-long events, parades of sail, public visits and numerous other community relations activities in Baltimore, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Boston, and the Great Lakes ports of Milwaukee, Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland, Detroit and Buffalo, according to Naval Surface Force Atlantic.
The kickoff ceremony will be held Thursday at 11:30 a.m. in Baltimore’s Bicentennial Plaza.
Remembering the captain
November 15th, 2011 | Carriers Commanding officers Memorial service Norfolk Naval Shipyard Norfolk Naval Station Photos | Posted by Bill McMichael
The photo says it all:
Family, friends and shipmates gathered together on board the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower during the Tuesday afternoon memorial service at Naval Station Norfolk for Capt. Tushar Tembe. Tembe, the commanding officer of the carrier Harry S. Truman, died unexpectedly Nov. 8 after collapsing as he was debarking his ship at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Tembe, 49, a naval aviator, assumed command of Truman last August. // U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Rob Rupp
Tembe memorial service
November 14th, 2011 | Carriers Memorial service Naval Air Force Atlantic Navy Norfolk Naval Shipyard Norfolk Naval Station Photos | Posted by Bill McMichael
The Navy will hold a memorial service at Naval Station Norfolk Tuesday at 1 p.m. aboard the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower to honor Capt. Tushar Tembe, who died suddenly Nov. 8 after collapsing at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va., as he was debarking his ship, the carrier Harry S. Truman.
“For 27 years, Capt. Tembe has proudly served his country in the United States Navy,” Naval Air Force Atlantic said in a statement announcing the service. “We pause to reflect on the contributions he has made.”
The ceremony will include remarks from sailors “who have had the pleasure of serving with him,” AIRLANT said.
The Truman continues undergoing scheduled maintenance at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
A nice touch
November 11th, 2011 | Carriers Commanding officers Golf Morale Naval Air Station Oceana Navy Norfolk Naval Shipyard Photos Sports | Posted by Bill McMichael
Capt. Tushar Tembe was an avid golfer and was no doubt looking forward to playing in a local tournament he’d help plan that would pit golfers from his carrier, the Harry S. Truman, against players assigned to the carriers Dwight D. Eisenhower, Theodore Roosevelt and Enterprise.
Tembe, sadly, collapsed Nov. 8 while debarking the Truman at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va., and subsequently died — two days before the scheduled one-day tourney at Naval Air Station Oceana. Rather than postpone or cancel the event, the East Coast carrier commanders taking part — the Norfolk-based carrier George H.W. Bush is deployed — decided to honor Tembe by playing as scheduled Nov. 10 and by naming the tournament and top prize in his honor.
“This was the most appropriate thing to do,” said Capt. William C. Hamilton Jr., commanding officer of Enterprise, and a close friend of Tembe’s. “He planned this for us, and he would be so upset if we didn’t play. We’re here to honor him and I am proud to be here.”
“Capt. Tembe came up with the idea for this tournament,” said Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Jeffery Crawford, leading petty officer of Truman’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation department. “He was involved in every last detail of planning this event, and that’s why we decided to name it for him.”
Before hitting the green, the players held a moment of silence for Tembe and his family.
“Personally, this is a huge loss,” said Hamilton. “He was my golf buddy … my Navy buddy. We played golf together all over the world for the past 16 years. I’ll never swing another club now without thinking about him.”
Fittingly, Truman’s team won the inaugural Tembe cup. “We played inspired golf today,” said Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Scott Rossi, assigned to Truman’s Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department. “Working with and knowing Capt. Tembe made a big impact on me, and I was thinking of him all day as were my teammates and, probably, everyone out here today.”
Dive for that loose ball!
November 9th, 2011 | Basketball Carrier Classic Life at Sea Marine Corps Navy Photos Veterans Day | Posted by Bill McMichael
When the Navy agreed to hold an NCAA basketball game on the flight deck of the carrier Carl Vinson, one probably could have gotten decent odds against the prospect of rain in San Diego on Veterans Day. Now there’s an 80 percent chance, and it’s looking like the highly anticipated North Carolina-Michigan State game could get bumped downstairs to the much smaller hangar deck. That’s bad news for some ticket holders — just about all of them military personnel — because only 4,000 or 5,000 of the 7,000 who could attend topside would be able to squeeze into the hangar deck.
On top of that, an entire basketball court and stands had been erected topside. Workers are now feverishly assembling a second court on the hangar deck, my colleague Gidget Fuentes tells me.
But really, now: Who needs a wooden basketball court? The players are playing for veterans. Wouldn’t it be more interesting to let them play on the non-skid-covered deck, like sailors at sea do?
Sailors and Marines participate in a "3 on 3" basketball tournament in the hangar bay aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), on March 2, 2003, during fund raising efforts to support the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society. Kearsarge was in the Persian Gulf, operating in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. // U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Alicia Tasz.
That stuff is ROUGH.
It would make for some interesting play-by-play commentary over what might appear to be a reticence to dive for loose balls …