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General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co.(NASSCO) has received a $12.1 million worth contract modification to exercise the option for the fitting-out availability of San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, the USS Somerset (LPD 25).

The contract includes engineering, planning, management, labor and material in support of the fitting-out availability.

Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed by December 2014.

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division delivered the amphibious transport dock Somerset (LPD 25) to the U.S. Navy on October 18th. The DD 250 document officially signifying custody transfer of the ship was signed by officials on the ship at the company’s Avondale facility.

The 24,900-ton Somerset is 684 feet in length, has an overall beam of 105 feet, and a navigational draft of 23 feet. Four turbo-charged diesels power the ship to sustained speeds of 22 knots.

The LPD incorporates both a flight deck to accommodate CH-46 helicopters and MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, and a well deck that can launch and recover landing craft and amphibious vehicles.

Somerset will provide improved warfighting capabilities, including an advanced command-and-control suite, increased lift-capability in vehicle and cargo-carrying capacity and advanced ship-survivability features. The ship is capable of embarking a landing force of up to 800 Marines.

Somerset is the ninth ship in the San Antonio (LPD 17) class of ships, slated to commission into service with the US Atlantic Fleet in 2014.
Naval Today Staff, November 21, 2013; Image: Navy

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The Aegis guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) returned home to Naval Station Norfolk Nov. 18 marking the successful completion of her nine-month maiden deployment.

Gravely deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations Feb. 15.

She supported maritime security and theater security operations in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and conducted missions in support of Operations Sharp Sentry, Atlantic Sentry, and Active Endeavor.

While on station, Gravely participated in exercises to increase interoperability between the U.S. Navy and our allies. Specific events included conducting an exercise with the Hellenic Navy and U.S. Special Operations Forces, as well as bilateral exercises with the Israeli Navy. Gravely also conducted joint naval exercises and crew exchanges with naval forces from France, Great Britain and Egypt, reinforcing the ability to operate with our partners in the region.

Throughout her maiden deployment Gravely steamed over 45,000 nautical miles, and along with her embarked air detachment, Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) 74, Detachment 1, conducted over 1,200 mishap-free hours of flight operations to include more than 400 landings and four medical evacuations.

Gravely’s ports of call included visits to Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Spain, and Portugal, where the crew was able to visit the Rock of Gibraltar, Rome’s Coliseum and Vatican, Jerusalem’s Old City and Western Wall and ancient Greek ruins. Gravely crew members also participated in community relations projects in Santorini and Souda Bay, Greece and in Haifa, Israel, building ties with members of the local communities.

Gravely, commissioned November 2010, is the 57th Arleigh Burke-Class Aegis destroyer and is named in honor of Vice Adm. Samuel L. Gravely Jr. (1922-2004), the first African American commissioned from the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps. He became the first African American to command a U.S. Navy warship [USS Theodore E. Chandler (DD-717)], to command an American warship under combat conditions [USS Taussig (DD-746)], and to command a major naval warship [USS Jouett (DLG-29)]. He was the first African-American admiral, rising to the rank of Vice Admiral, and the first African American to command a U.S. Fleet (Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet).
Press Release, November 21, 2013; Image: Wikimedia

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More than a week after Typhoon Yolanda hit Tacloban, another batch of survivors arrived in Cebu via a Philippine Navy transport vessel late afternoon Nov. 20, 2013.

BRP Tausug (AT295) transported more than 100 evacuees from Tacloban, mostly in groups, who are taking chances to start a new life in Cebu.

With shared experiences from other Navy vessels already involved in the transport mission, the Acting Commanding Officer of AT295, Lt. Arthur Yamongan said that they organized a team of medics composed of nurses who are also evacuees on board the ship. This was in anticipation of any medical emergency like what LC550 had experienced on her way to Cebu.

“Knowing that the ship will take more than 24 hours travel to Cebu, we coordinated with DSWD for some relief goods that will sustain the messing of the evacuees while the ship is underway,” Yamongan added.

The evacuees were welcomed by volunteers from different governments and private agencies who provided hot meals, medical treatment, free calling services and other relief goods.

The Philippine Navy has already transported more than 5,000 evacuees and rescue and relief teams, more then700 tons of relief goods and various heavy equipment, trucks and small vehicles.
Press Release, November 21, 2013; Image: Philippine Navy