PASCAGOULA, Miss. — The USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) was successfully launched at the Huntington Ingalls Industries Ingalls Division shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on March 28. Fort Lauderdale is the Navy’s 12th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship. On March 7, 2020, the ship was…
Marines Grapple with Maintaining Readiness Amid COVID-19 Restrictions
ARLINGTON, Va. — Restrictions imposed by the battle against the coronavirus are presenting the U.S. Marine Corps with an array of new challenges — from maintaining grooming standards to how, when and where America’s force in readiness can train safely…
Navy Orders Two More Navajo-Class Towing, Salvage, Rescue Ships
ARLINGTON, Virginia — The Navy has ordered two more Navajo-class T-ATS towing, salvage and rescue ships, the Defense Department said in a March 25 contract notice. The Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Gulf Island Shipyards LLC in Houma, Louisiana,…
More Cases on Roosevelt as COVID-19 Spreads Across Navy, Marine Corps
ARLINGTON, Va. — COVID-19 cases are on the rise among U.S. Navy personnel, including five more Sailors diagnosed with the novel coronavirus aboard the deployed aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, according to acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly. The news brings…
Marine Force Design 2030: Reduce Tube Artillery, Increase Rockets, Missiles
ARLINGTON, Virginia — The Marine Corps commandant has issued his plans for a major redesign of the Marine Corps’ force structure by 2030, with substantial reductions in some venerable weapon systems and increases in new systems. For example, traditional tube…
Polar Star Completes 123-Day Antarctic Treaty Inspection, Resupply Mission
SEATTLE — The 150-member crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star returned March 25 to their homeport of Seattle following a 123-day deployment to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze, the Coast Guard Pacific Area said. This…
Geurts: Navy Acting to Shore Up Industrial Base to Ease Virus Impact on Readiness
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy is taking active measures to ease the impact of the COVID-19 virus on the operations and finance of its defense industrial base to minimize disruptions to its acquisition and readiness, the service’s top acquisition official said. James…
Port Visits Cancelled, Submariners’ Health Monitored to Contain Coronavirus Spread at Sea
ARLINGTON, Va. — Nonessential port visits by U.S. Navy ships have been cancelled and Sailors’ health aboard the nuclear deterrent submarine force is being closely monitored, top officials said in the latest report on combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. Chief of…
Navy Ship Commissionings on Track Despite Pandemic, But Ceremonies Are Delayed
ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy plans to put two Virginia-class attack submarines in commission in April despite the COVID-19 pandemic, but the ceremonies marking the events will be delayed. “Due to public health safety and restrictions on large public events, the commissioning ceremonies…
Theodore Roosevelt Becomes First Navy Ship at Sea with COVID-19 Cases
ARLINGTON, Va. — In the first case of COVID-19 detected aboard a U.S. Navy ship at sea, three people quarantined with the coronavirus aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Pacific Ocean have been evacuated for further treatment, acting Navy…
