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The Navy was modernized as 1998 ended with the commissioning of the second Seawolf-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) and the 25th Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided-missile destroyer (DDG).

The USS Connecticut (SSN 22), built by Electric Boat, has been commissioned at Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn.; she will be the last submarine to be commissioned in the U.S. Navy this century. The billion-dollar submarine--armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles and Mk48 advanced-capability torpedoes--is the fifth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name Connecticut. The first, a gunboat (1776), participated in the battle of Valcour Island; the second (1799-1801) was a sloop of war that participated in the Quasi War with France; the third, a steamer (1861-1865), participated in the blockade of the Confederacy during the Civil War; the fourth, a battleship, cruised with the "Great White Fleet."

The principal speaker at the 11 December 1998 commissioning ceremonies was Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.). The ship's sponsor, Mrs. Patricia Rowland, wife of Connecticut governor John G. Rowland, gave the order to "man our ship and bring her to life." Capt. Larry H. Davis is the first commanding officer of the 353-foot Connecticut and her crew of 14 officers and 120 enlisted men.

The USS Donald Cook--the 15th Burke-class DDG built by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine--was commissioned on 4 December 1998 in ceremonies at historic Penn's Landing in Philadelphia, Pa. Gen. Henry H. Shelton, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was the principal speaker at the ceremonies.

The ship is named for Col. Donald G. Cook, a Marine who was awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary courage while a prisoner of war in Vietnam. In December 1964, Cook--assigned to the 3rd Marine Division--volunteered to conduct a search mission for a downed helicopter. Upon arrival at the crash site, he was wounded in the leg and captured. Despite deprivation, exposure, malnutrition, and disease, Cook inspired his fellow prisoners at a camp near the Cambodian border, sharing his meager food and medicine, leading daily exercises, and providing first aid to his fellow POWs. Cook is believed to have succumbed to malaria on 8 December 1967.

The ship's sponsor, Mrs. Laurette Cook, widow of Col. Cook, gave the order to "man our ship and bring her to life." Cdr. James F. McCarthy is the first commanding officer of the USS Donald Cook.

Action Over Iraq Marks Many "Firsts," One "Last"

Operation Desert Fox and subsequent air actions over Iraq included several "firsts" in U.S. naval warfare in terms of weapons, command and control, and personnel.

The Desert Fox strikes against Iraq marked the Navy's first combat use of the LANTIRN targeting system and the 2,000-pound GBU-24 laser-guided bomb by the F-14 Tomcat strike fighter. F-14s had dropped bombs in Bosnia in 1995, but Desert Fox marked the Tomcat's first action using bombs guided to their targets by the Tomcat's own systems.

Desert Fox also marked the first combat strikes launched by the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise--on hand at the outset of the operation and which launched the majority of the strikes--is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War and of Operation Praying Mantis (Persian Gulf, 1988).

The F-14D Super Tomcat--assigned to Fighter Squadron 213 on board the USS Carl Vinson--saw its first action when Iraqi MiG-25 interceptors challenged the southern no-fly zone over Iraq early last month. No aircraft on either side are believed to have been damaged in the incident, which marked the Navy's first combat use of the AIM-54 Phoenix missile, designed over 25 years ago to counter Soviet bombers and cruise missiles.

The AGM-84E SLAM (Standoff Land-Attack Missile), available to strike planners on board the Enterprise, apparently was not used in Desert Fox, according to Aviation Week magazine.

The Enterprise Battle Group is the Navy's first to be completely equipped with IT-21 (Information Technology for the 21st Century) systems, which dramatically speed up data processing for decision makers. All battle group ships are linked to the same network, and thus are able to contribute more effectively to the battle group commander. The Air Tasking Order, which during 1991's Operation Desert Storm had to be flown by courier aircraft to the battle group commander, can now be rapidly transmitted by e-mail to strike planners on board the aircraft carrier.

Desert Fox also marked the first time that female Navy fliers participated in combat strikes.

The deployments of the Enterprise and the Carl Vinson also were in all probability the last for the Navy's ES-3A Shadow carrier-based electronic reconnaissance aircraft. The Shadows are being retired this year and the two ES-3A squadrons, VQ-5 and VQ-6, are scheduled to be deactivated in July and September 1999, respectively. The expense of upgrading the aircraft systems to make them interoperable with other signals intelligence aircraft and networks was deemed too great. Battle groups will rely in the future on land-based reconnaissance aircraft such as the EP-3E Orion (Aries II), and on space-based sensors.

Bath Launches First Flight IIA Burke DDG

Bath Iron Works has launched the first Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided-missile destroyer, the Oscar Austin (DDG 79), christened on 7 November 1998 by her sponsor, Mrs. Dianne Reason, wife of Adm. J. Paul Reason, commander in chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. The Flight IIA DDG differs from earlier Burke-class DDGs in that it is equipped with helicopter hangars, designed to shelter two SH-60 helicopters. The Oscar Austin--the 17th Burke DDG built by Bath Iron Works--is also the first Burke DDG to have been built largely with computer-aided design.

The Oscar Austin is named for a Marine, Private First Class Oscar Austin, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life to save the life of a fellow Marine during combat in Da Nang, Vietnam, in February 1969. During an attack by a large North Vietnamese force, Austin--an assistant machine gunner--left his concealed position and crossed fire-swept terrain to assist an unconscious wounded Marine. Austin shielded the Marine from the detonation of a grenade and was mortally wounded when he threw himself into the line of fire of an enemy soldier attempting to shoot the unconscious Marine.

Cdr. Paul C. Smith is the prospective commanding officer of the DDG, which will be commissioned in 2000 and based in Norfolk, Va.

Orions Over Kosovo Support NATO Operations

Navy P-3C Orion patrol planes, designed for open-ocean surveillance, are ranging far inland over the Bal-kans, operating their sensors in support of the NATO air-verification agreement in Kosovo.

P-3s have operated inland in support of joint commanders for much of the decade, particularly over Somalia, Bosnia, and Rwanda. The aircraft, operating on 10-to-12-hour missions out of Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, have been requested to patrol over Kosovo to give NATO commanders real-time video and radar images of the situation on the ground via the aircraft's downlink and advanced communications suite to the commanders' desktop computers.

The P-3s also are equipped with synthetic-aperture radars that can receive images in darkness and through clouds and camouflage, and with high-resolution electro-optical camera systems that enable the Orion aircrews to conduct surveillance at standoff distances well beyond the range of potentially hostile air defenses.

Marinette Launches Seventh Keeper-Class Tender

Marinette Marine has launched the seventh Keeper-class buoy tender (WLM) for the Coast Guard at the company's Marinette, Wis., shipyard. The 175-foot cutter was named the USCGC Frank Drew (WLM 557); Drew was the keeper of Green Island Light, only four miles from Marinette.

Christening the Frank Drew was the ship's sponsor, Mrs. Lillie Wadel Basso, wife of the keynote speaker, Peter "Jack" Basso Jr., assistant secretary for the office of budget and programs of the Department of Transportation. Also in attendance at the 5 December 1998 side-launching were Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and Coast Guard Commandant Adm. James M. Loy.

Equipped with a Z-drive propulsion and the global positioning system, the Frank Drew is capable of maintaining exact position while battling extreme currents and winds when placing or servicing navigation aids. The cutter--which will be based in Portsmouth, Va., when placed in service--also is assigned the missions of environmental protection and search and rescue.

In a related development, Marinette delivered the Keeper-class buoy tender USCGC Joshua Appleby to the Coast Guard on 20 November 1998. The cutter, commanded by CWO Ray Sisk, is homeported in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Sea-Service Units Aid Hurricane Survivors

Active and reserve units from the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard were called into action in the effort to relieve suffering and repair damage in Central America in the wake of Hurricane Mitch, which killed an estimated 10,000 people and left many more homeless.

C-13OT Hercules aircraft from reserve fleet logistics support squadrons VRs 53, 54, and 62 and KC-130Ts from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 452 ferried food, clothing, and medical supplies to Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. Two Coast Guard HC-130H aircraft from Air Station St. Petersburg, Fla., also flew in supplies to Honduras.

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Seven--based in Gulfport, Miss., and deployed to Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico--sent two detachments (almost 200 personnel) to Honduras to assist that nation in repairing roads and bridges and in clearing debris.

Four Navy preventive medicine units were deployed to countries in the region to check water sources for potability, initiate mosquito control programs, carry out food inspections, and compile infectious disease diagnostics data. Navy Environmental and Preventive Units Two and Five (from Norfolk, Va., and Jacksonville, Fla., respectively) and Disease Vector Ecology and Control Center units from Bangor, Wash., and Jacksonville, Fla., were among the Navy medical detachments sent to the region.

The Military Sealift Command provided ships and craft to deliver relief supplies from ports in the United States. The tug Dauntless towed the barge Lanai, which carried more than 20,000 square feet of supplies, including several thousand feet of girder bridges. The MV Strong American (an integrated tug/barge) carried 40,000 square feet of Navy heavy construction equipment from Roosevelt Roads.

The MSC also activated some of the Maritime Administration's Ready Reserve Force (RRF) ships to carry heavy equipment and relief supplies to the stricken areas. The MV Cape Vincent and MV Cape Victory carried heavy construction equipment from Beaumont, Texas; the MV Cape Ducato transported heavy equipment, and the MV Cape Edmont carried construction material, from Wilmington, N.C.

The MSC also voyage-chartered the tug Jaguar, which towed two barges loaded with 35,000 square feet of supplies to El Salvador.

Sea Service Notes

The transfer of the Atlantic Fleet's F/A-18 Hornet squadrons to Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., from Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Fla., has begun. Strike Fighter (VFA) Squadrons 131 and 136 moved to Oceana on 4 December 1998; the remaining VFA squadrons will make the move to Oceana, and to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., by October 1999.

Sen. John H. Glenn (D-Ohio), who retired from the Senate at the end of the 105th Congress, has been awarded the Distinguished Public Service Award by USMC Commandant Gen. Charles C. Krulak. Glenn, a Marine Corps combat veteran of World War II and the Korean War, the first American to orbit the Earth, and an astronaut on a space shuttle mission last year, was honored for his more than 50 years of public service.

Two Navy ships based in San Diego, Calif. are scheduled to be transferred to bases in Japan next summer, but their crews will remain homeported in San Diego by trading ships with crews of similar ships leaving Japan. The Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Gary and the amphibious transport dock USS Juneau will be based in Yokosuka and Sasebo, respectively, replacing the Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Thach and the amphibious transport dock USS Dubuque. The crew switch--which will take place over a six-week period in Japan--will save the Navy an estimated $5 million by eliminating the cost of moving the crews and their dependents, and will improve morale by reducing personnel and family disruptions.

Edwards Air Force Base will be the new home base of two Marine Corps Reserve helicopter squadrons. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 769 (HMH-769) and Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 764 (HMM-764)--which fly the CH-53E and CH-46E, respectively--will move to Edwards AFB during summer 1999 from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Calif., which is scheduled to close this year. The two squadrons and their parent command, Marine Aircraft Group 46 Detachment B, will bring almost 400 Marines to Edwards.

The government of Turkey has requested the sale of three decommissioned Perry-class guided-missile frigates (FFGs) and eight Knox-class FFs, as well as ammunition, spare parts, and support services, at a cost of $205 million. The Perry FFGs would be restored to a "safe-to-steam" condition before the transfer. Turkey already has three Perry-class FFGs in service, and is operating the Knox-class FFs under a lease previously approved.

The government of Greece has requested a lease/sale arrangement for the Navy's four Kidd-class guided-missile destroyers, which recently have been decommissioned. The $742 million arrangement would include: (a) support services; (b) the sale of missiles, torpedoes, and other ammunition; and (c) the "hot transfer" of one ship and the reactivation to a "safe-to-steam" condition of the other three hulls. The principal U.S. contractors involved in the arrangement are BAV, Hughes Missile Company, Boeing, and Alliant Techsystems.

Several sea-service units participated in an annual search and rescue exercise conducted by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department. The participants included a Navy P-3C Orion patrol aircraft on detachment to Kadena, Japan; the Hamilton-class high-endurance Coast Guard cutter USCGC Rush (with an HH-65A helicopter embarked); and Coast Guard personnel from the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The roll-on/roll-off containership MV Sea Fox has been chartered by the Military Sealift Command for its Afloat Prepositioned Ship Program. The ship--which can carry nearly 2,000 containers--will be assigned to Maritime Prepositioned Ship Squadron Two at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. The Sea Fox will be renamed for a recipient of the Medal of Honor before entering service in August 1999.

The Military Sealift Command has contracted with Moran Towing Co. of Baltimore, Md., to provide harbor tug services to Naval Station Norfolk and Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va. Eight tugs will replace the Navy's aging yard tugs at the ports beginning this month. The contract is expected to save the Navy an estimated $4.3 million over the next five years.

The National Maritime Union (NMU) has affiliated with the Seafarers International Union of North America (SIUNA), ending a 60 years division between the two unions. The NMU, founded in 1937, represents unlicensed mariners; its affiliation brings SIUNA membership to 18 autonomous unions representing more than 80,000 members. 

NAMES ASSIGNED TO 13 NAVY SHIPS

Before leaving office, Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton announced his decision to assign names to 13 new Navy ships: one Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), four Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided-missile destroyers (DDGs), a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock (LPD), a Cyclone-class patrol coastal (PC) ship, and seven large medium-speed roll-on/roll-off ships (T-AKRs).

Following are the names assigned and a brief background on each:

Texas (SSN 775), the second Virginia-class SSN, honors the state of Texas and is the fourth ship to bear the name Texas.

McCampbell (DDG 85) honors Navy Capt. David McCampbell (1910-1996), the Navy's top ace with 34 confirmed aerial victories and recipient of the Medal of Honor for his heroic exploits as commander, Air Group 15, USS Essex (CV 9) during the Battle of the Philippine Sea (19 June 1944) and the Battle of Leyte Gulf (24 October 1944). During the first encounter, McCampbell's force "virtually annihilated" an attacking force of 80 Japanese carrier-based aircraft, of which he personally shot down seven. In the Battle of Leyte Gulf he daringly attacked a formation of at least 60 Japanese land-based aircraft. McCampbell shot down at least nine of them, forcing the remainder to abandon the attack.

Mason (DDG 87) honors two previous ships of that name. The first (DD 191) (1920-1941) was named for John Young Mason, a political leader and diplomat who was secretary of the Navy under Presidents John Tyler, 1844 to 1845, and James K. Polk, 1846 to 1849. As minister to France, he joined James Buchanan and Pierre Soul'e, ministers to Great Britain and Spain, respectively, in issuing the famous 18 October 1854 Ostend Manifesto, which justified the U.S. seizure of Cuba if Spain would not sell the colony to the United States. The second Mason (DE 529) (1944-1945) was named for Ens. Newton Henry Mason, who, while assigned to Fighting Squadron 3, died following aerial combat against Japanese forces during the Battle of the Coral Sea, 8-9 May 1942. Mason was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his skill and courage in battle.

Shoup (DDG 86) honors Gen. David M. Shoup (1904-1983), 22nd commandant of the Marine Corps and Medal of Honor recipient for his actions during the initial landings on Betio, Tarawa Atoll, 20-22 November 1943. While in command of the Second Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, he exposed himself to withering enemy fire despite suffering a serious leg wound which had become infected.

Preble (DDG 88) honors Commodore Edward Preble, a Revolutionary War Navy hero who, while later commanding the 3rd Squadron in 1803, with Constitution as his flagship, sailed for the Barbary Coast where he promoted a treaty with Morocco and established a blockade off Tripoli. Five previous ships have borne the name Preble.

New Orleans (LPD 18) honors the largest city in Louisiana. New Orleans was the site of a key naval action in the Civil War, in which Adm. David Farragut opened the southern Mississippi to Union forces. Three previous ships have borne the name New Orleans.

Tornado (PC 14), like other Cyclone-class patrol coastal ships, is named after a weather phenomenon. The Civil War-era monitor Winnebago was briefly renamed Tornado in 1869.

Mendonca (T-AKR 303) honors Army Sgt. Leroy A. Mendonca (1932-1951), awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for defending against a night assault by a numerically superior hostile force near Chich-on, Korea, on 4 July 1951. When his platoon was outflanked and ordered to withdraw, Mendonca voluntarily remained in an exposed position to cover the movement. Although under heavy fire, he fought on, using his rifle butt and bayonet, until he fell mortally wounded. It is estimated that Mendonca accounted for 37 enemy casualties and enabled the platoon to assume a defensive position from which it repelled the enemy attack and maintained possession of a vital hilltop.

Pililaau (T-AKR 304) honors Army Pfc. Herbert K. Pililaau (1928-1951), awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for the valiant defense of his position near Pia-ri, Korea, on 17 September 1951. While defending a key piece of terrain on "Heartbreak Ridge," his company repulsed enemy assaults until ordered to withdraw due to a shortage of ammunition. Voluntarily remaining behind to cover the withdrawal, Pililaau fired his remaining automatic weapons ammunition and grenades, then fought hand-to-hand with trench knife and bare fists until he was mortally wounded. When the position was subsequently recaptured, 40 enemy dead were found nearby.

Brittin (T-AKR 305) honors Army Sgt. 1st Class Nelson V. Brittin (1920-1951), awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for leading his squad in an attack on a hill near Yonggong-ni, Korea, on 7 March 1951. Wounded by a grenade during his squad's advance through murderous fire, Brittin refused medical attention and hurled grenades into enemy positions. When his weapon jammed, he leapt into a foxhole where he killed the occupants with rifle butts and bayonet. He continued to clear foxholes and single-handedly eliminated a machine-gun nest. When a camouflaged machine gun opened fire upon his squad, Brittin charged the position before he was killed by a burst of machine gun fire. He accounted for 20 enemy casualties and silenced four automatic weapons before he was killed.

Red Cloud (T-AKR 313) honors Army Cpl. Mitchell Red Cloud (1924-1950), awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for actions during the defense of a ridge in front of his company command post in Korea, on 5 November 1950. As the first to detect the approach of enemy forces, Red Cloud gave the alarm and initiated devastating automatic rifle fire as the enemy charged from less than a hundred feet away. His fire allowed the company to organize a defense. He maintained his position despite being severely wounded, wrapping his arm around a tree to allow him to continue firing upon the enemy until mortally wounded. His heroic actions prevented his company from being overrun. One previous ship (YT 268) (1943-1986) was named Red Cloud in honor of an American Indian chief (1822-1909).

Watkins (T-AKR 315) honors Army Master Sgt. Travis E. Watkins (1920-1950), awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his gallant leadership when an overwhelming enemy force broke through and isolated 30 men from his unit in Korea from 31 August to 3 September 1950. After taking command of the surrounded position, Watkins killed five enemy soldiers. When others gained a position from which they hurled grenades into the perimeter, Watkins rose from his foxhole to engage them and despite being immediately hit by a burst of machine gun fire continued to fire, killing the assailants. Paralyzed from the waist down, he refused food to save it for his fellow soldiers. When the situation became hopeless, he ordered his men to leave him and escape to friendly lines. His small force killed nearly 500 of the enemy before abandoning their position.

Charlton (T-AKR 314) honors Army Sgt. Cornelius H. Charlton (1929-1952), awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for bravery during an attack on a heavily defended position in Korea, on 2 June 1951. When his platoon leader was wounded, Charlton assumed command and rallied his men for an assault against enemy positions on a commanding hill. He personally eliminated two hostile positions, killing six of the enemy with rifle and grenades. When the unit became pinned down, he led his men forward before he suffered a severe chest wound from an enemy grenade. Charlton refused medical attention and led another daring charge despite being mortally wounded.

Pomeroy (T-AKR 316) honors Army Pfc. Ralph E. Pomeroy (1930-1952), awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions while manning a machine-gun in Korea on 15 October 1952. Protecting his platoon's flank, Pomeroy opened fire on enemy soldiers as they advanced toward his firing position, causing severe casualties and halting the attack. He maintained heavy fire despite increasingly intense artillery and mortar fire. After a mortar burst wounded him and destroyed his gun mount, Pomeroy cradled the machine gun in his arms and raked the attacking forces with fire. When he expended his ammunition, he used the machine gun as a club in hand-to-hand combat until mortally wounded.
 

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