Tag Archives: US Navy
USS Freedom Limping Toward Singapore – The US Navy’s Sorry LCS Saga Continues
The USS Freedom, the first of the US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), is on her way to Singapore. The press has reported that the ship is intended to show the US’s commitment to counter China in the region. Before … Continue reading
Starbucks Returns to Sea on USS Boxer
There is virtually no place on earth beyond its reach. No, not the US Navy. Starbucks. The coffee seller is now even opening a store on a navy warship, the amphibious assault ship, USS Boxer. The “Starboxer” is the first … Continue reading
Update: USS Guardian – Will Be Broken Up But Why Was it Near the Reef in the First Place?
The Navy has announced that the minesweeper, USS Guardian, which ran up on Tubbataha reef in the Philippines Sula Sea two weeks ago, will be cut up in place and hauled away. The reason given is that the approach will “involve … Continue reading
Navy’s Scary Anti-Bath Salts PSA – How Serious is the Navy’s Designer Drug Problem?
In February 2001, we posted about the problem that the US Navy has been having with the “synthetic marijuana” often referred to as “spice.” Since then the Navy has discharged over 200 sailors for use of the “spice.” Earlier this month, … Continue reading
“Superstorm” Sandy Sending Ships out to Sea and to Harbors of Refuge
Tropical Storm Sandy returned to hurricane strength on Saturday morning as it heads toward the U.S. northeast coast. The US Navy as ordered 24 of the larger ships in southeastern Virginia bases, including the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, out to sea to avoid the storm. … Continue reading
The Navy’s MMOWGLI (Massive Multiplayer Online Wargame Leveraging the Internet)
The US Navy’s newest strategic weapon may be a Massive Multiplayer Online Wargame. If it works for HALO and gears of War, why not the Navy? The project is a joint effort between the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) and Institute … Continue reading
Damn the Right Whales, Full Speed Ahead? Judge Hears Case on Navy & Right Whales
The US Navy wants to install a $100 million offshore training range, which would include an undersea array of cables and sensors for training warships, submarines and aircraft about 50 miles off the Atlantic coast of southern Georgia and northern Florida. Environmentalists … Continue reading
New Navy Litoral Combat Ship to be Named for Gabrielle Giffords
The Navy newest Littoral Combat Ship will be named the USS Gabrielle Giffords in honor of the former Arizona Congresswoman who survived an assassination attempt one year ago. The USS Gabrielle Giffords will be the 17th ship to be named … Continue reading
Hawaii Superferries, Marad, Title XI and the US Navy – Taxpayers Still Foot the Bill
Pity the poor taxpayer. The headline was short and simple - U.S. Navy Buys Hawaii Superferries. For only $35 million dollars, the US Navy is buying two aluminum, high-speed, ro/ro ferries built for Hawaii Superferry for inter-island service in Hawaii. The ferries were … Continue reading
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is No More – A Navy Marriage and New Places to Recruit
The US military’s previous policy toward gay service members; “don’t ask, don’t tell; officially came to an end yesterday. Naval officer, Lt. Gary Ross, chose the day to marry his partner of eleven years, Dan Swezy, in Duxbury, Vt. In Tulsa, … Continue reading
Update: Captain Owen Honors Can Stay in Navy Despite Lewd Video Scandal
Last January we posted that Captain Owen Honors had been relieved of duty on USS Enterprise after it was revealed that he produced a series of lewd videos when he was XO (Executive Officer) on the nuclear powered aircraft carrier. Today a Navy panel voted … Continue reading
Roboship Unveiled in Virginia
I am not sure that this is necessarily a good idea. The US Navy is developing unmanned robotic guard ships which could be used to patrol coastal waters. An interesting idea, but getting the deployment right will be a real … Continue reading
USNS Bejanmin Isherwood and the USNS Henry Eckford – From the Shipyard to the Scrapyard Without a Day of Service
Twenty five years ago, the US Navy contracted to build two fleet oilers, the USNS Bejanmin Isherwood and the USNS Henry Eckford. The Navy spent at least $300 million dollars on their construction. Due to shipyard defaults and various … Continue reading
Navy Trademarks “Navy Seals” and “Seal Team”
Last week we posted about Disney filing three trademark applications for the rights to the phrase “SEAL Team 6.” Proving that they are only a step or two behind Mickey Mouse, the US Navy has now trademarked the phrases … Continue reading
Happy Birthday, U.S. Submarine Force: 111 Today
One hundred and eleven years ago today the US Navy accepted its first successful submarine, the USS Holland. The previous November, in New York harbor, the Holland passed the Navy’s tests. She ran for one mile underwater, surfaced, fired a torpedo then … Continue reading
A Spice Problem in the Navy?
“Spice” is apparently the generic name for so-called “synthetic marijuana” or “fake pot.” In most states, it is still perfectly legal, though that may be changing. ”Spice” is, however, not OK with the US Navy. At the end of last … Continue reading
Navy Electromagnetic Railgun Annihilates Targets 100 Miles Away In Six Minutes
This is fascinating and terrifying at the same time. The US Navy is testing an electromagnetic railgun capable of hitting a target 100 miles away. Navy Electromagnetic Railgun Annihilates Targets 100 Miles Away In Six Minutes In the near future, US Navy ships … Continue reading
Stealth Submarines – Concerns in Asia & Flaking Tiles in the US
Aren’t all submarines supposed to be stealthy? I suppose some are stealthier than others. The South China Morning Post in Hong Kong is reporting concerns by China’s neighbors that China may have already built a stealth submarine. On the other side of … Continue reading
Sagres in San Diego and San Diego in Pascagoula
Last week, one of my favorite tall ships, the Portuguese Sail Training Ship Sagres visited San Diego, California. This weekend, on the Gulf Coast in Pascagoula, Mississippi, the US Navy christened the USS San Diego, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship. Not to be too critical … Continue reading
Women Submariners – Pioneers Facing Many Challenges
The US Navy announced recently that by January 2012 19 women will be assigned to four ballistic missile submarines. The women officers will be facing challenges of logistics, operations and culture. Women submariners: Trailblazers by timing, sub sailors by choice … Continue reading
