Ship Ceremonies
USS Savannah (LCS 28) Christened
Ships’ sponsor Mrs Dianne Isakson (centre) was ships sponsor for the christening ceremony of the future USS Savannah (LCS 28), held at Austal USA’s Mobile Alabama over the weekend. (Image: Austal USA) Original article appears courtesy of Austal USA. The future USS Savannah (LCS 28) has been christened at ...
USS Montana Christened
Former Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, right, christens the Virginia-class submarine USS Montana, also known as SSN 794, as the ship’s commanding officer Capt. Michael Delaney, left, and Newport News Shipbuilding President Jennifer Boykin, look on during its christening ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 12,...
USS St. Louis (LCS 19) Commissioned
NAVAL STATION MAYPORT (Aug 8, 2020) The crew of the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS St. Louis (LCS 19) renders honors during the ship’s commissioning ceremony at Naval Station Mayport. LCS 19, the seventh ship in naval history to be named St. Louis, will be...
USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) Commissioned
PORT CANAVERAL (Sept. 26, 2020) – Mrs. Ima Black, widow of Delbert D. Black, looks on to the ship and crew during the commissioning ceremony of the Navy’s newest guided-missile destroyer, USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119). DDG 119 honors the first Master Chief Petty...
Beloit Keel Laying
Major General Marcia M. Anderson (U.S. Army, Ret.) This article originally appears courtesy of the City of Beloit, WI. Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine marked the beginning of construction on Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 29, the future USS Beloit, with a ceremony in Marinette. As part...
USS Kansas City Commissioned
SAN DIEGO (June 20, 2020) – Cmdr. R.J. Zamberlan, the commanding officer of the Navy’s newest littoral combat ship, USS Kansas City (LCS 22), reads his orders during the ship’s commissioning ceremony. The Navy commissioned LCS 22, the second ship in naval history to be...
USS Tripoli Commissioned
https://youtu.be/cGUf8wQ5oPA This article appears courtesy of the Department of Defense. The U.S. Navy commissioned USS Tripoli (LHA 7) on July 15, 2020. Although the Navy canceled the traditional public commissioning ceremony due to public health and safety restrictions on large public gatherings, the Navy commissioned the USS Tripoli...
USS Delaware Commissioned
(The Maritime Executive) Original article appears courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense The U.S. Navy commissioned USS Delaware (SSN 791), the 18th Virginia-class attack submarine, today, April 4, 2020. Although the traditional public commissioning ceremony was cancelled due to public health safety and restrictions of large public gatherings,...
USS Vermont Commissioned
The assistant navigator informs the commanding officer, executive officer and chief of the boat that the commissioning pennant has been fully raised aboard USS Vermont (SSN 792), bringing the ship to life during a small commissioning ceremony held by the crew. Vermont is the 19th Virginia-class fast-attack submarine. In...
Navy Lays Keel of Future USS Savannah (LCS 28)
The ship’s sponsor, Dianne Isakson, wife of U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, authenticated the keel for the 14th Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) during the ceremony. The U.S. Navy held a keel-laying and authentication ceremony for the future USS Savannah (LCS 28) at Austal USA’s shipyard Mobile, Ala., on Sept. 20....
Keel Laid for USS Nantucket
Original article appears courtesy of WLUK/Marinette, WI A keel-laying ceremony is held at Marinette Marine in Wisconsin for the future USS Nantucket, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019. (WLUK/Jessie Basinski) A keel laying ceremony in Wisconsin marked the ceremonial start of construction of the next ship to carry...
Keel Laid for First-in-Class USNS Navajo
Gulf Island Shipyard held a keel laying ceremony on Oct. 30 for the future USNS Navajo (T-ATS 6), the lead ship of the Navy’s new class of Towing, Salvage, and Rescue vessels. The ceremony was held at the Houma Terrebonne Civic Center in Houma, Louisiana. (U.S. Navy...
Huntington Ingalls Industries Authenticates Keel of Guided Missile Destroyer Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125)
Ship’s Sponsors (left to right) Catherine B. Reynolds and Ruby Lucas trace their initials onto a steel plate that will be welded inside the guided missile destroyer Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125). Looking on is Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, who spoke at the ceremony. Photo by Derek...
USS Canberra Keel Laying
Marise Payne, minister for foreign affairs in Australia, welds her initials into the keel of the USS Canberra at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Austal picture. Original article appears courtesy of Naval News The future USS Canberra will be the 30th Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) for...
U.S. Navy Christens Expeditionary Fast Transport Newport
Dignitaries, guests, officials and other community members celebrate at the christening ceremony of the USNS Newport (EPF-12) built by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama, United States of America, Saturday, November 9, 2019. (Photo provided by Austal USA) The Navy christened its newest expeditionary fast transport, the future...
More than 20,000 Attendees Ship’s Sponsor Christens PCU John F. Kennedy
President John F. Kennedy’s daughter, the Honorable Caroline Bouvier Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassador to Japan and the ship’s sponsor, smashes a champagne bottle over the hull of the John F. Kennedy. On Dec. 7, 2019, the John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) was christened at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport...
Future USS Mobile (LCS 26) Christened
(Image Courtesy of Times San Diego) An audience of over a thousand dignitaries, community leaders, and Austal USA employees celebrated the christening of the future USS Mobile (LCS 26) today at Austal’s advanced ship manufacturing facility. This is the third U.S. Navy ship christened here in 2019 and...
USNS Miguel Keith Christened at General Dynamics NASSCO San Diego
Rear Adm. Thomas Wettlaufer, Commander, Military Sealift Command, addresses attendees of the christening ceremony for MSC’s newest ship, USNS Miguel Keith (T-ESB 5), at the General Dynamics, NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. (Military Sealift Command Pacific) This article appears courtesy of Military Sealift Command Pacific Expeditionary sea base...
Navy Commissions USS Cincinnati (LCS 20)
GULFPORT, Miss. (Oct. 5, 2019) – The crew of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship, USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) mans the ship during the commissioning ceremony in Gulfport, Miss. LCS 20, the fifth ship in naval history to be named Cincinnati, will be homeported at Naval Base San...
Navy Commissions Littoral Combat Ship Indianapolis
BURNS HARBOR, Ind. (Oct. 26, 2019) Dick Thelen, a veteran seaman 2nd class and a survivor of the sinking of USS Indianapolis (CA 35), hands the long glass (telescope) to Lt. Julian Turner, navigator of the first watch, during the commissioning ceremony of USS Indianapolis...
Woody Williams (ESB 4) Commissioned
Hershel Woodrow Williams, Retired Chief Warrant Officer Four and Medal of Honor recipient, salutes as he is introduced to the stage along with other members of the ship commissioning committee, March 7, 2020 in Norfolk, VA. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Fernando Moreno)...
USS Cooperstown (LCS 23) Christened
https://youtu.be/2f_TMCfBcpE Article originally appears courtesy of Fox 11 News (March 1, 2020) A celebration was held at the at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard to honor the littoral combat ship’s next significant production milestone. “It all starts with the work that you do every single day...
USNS Cherokee Nation Keel Laying
Tribal leaders from the Cherokee Nation, U.S. Navy officials from Program Executive Office Ships and executives from Gulf Island Shipyards look on as the initials of the Principle Chief of the Cherokee Nation, The Honorable Chuck Hoskins, Jr. and the Deputy Speaker of the Cherokee...
USS Oregon (SSN 793) Christened in Connecticut
The U.S. Navy’s newest attack submarine, the future USS Oregon, is christened in a ceremony at Electric Boat in Groton, Conn., on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. Politicians, shipyard leaders and Navy officials gathered for the ceremony at the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard, where they spoke...
USS Basilone Keel Laying
BATH, Maine (Jan. 10, 2020) Ship sponsor Ms. Ryan Manion welds her initials into a steel plate during a keel authentication ceremony for the future USS John Basilone (DDG 122). (Photo courtesy of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works) Original article appears courtesy of U.S. Navy/NAVSEA The...
USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) Brought to Life
The crew of the Navy’s newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117), brings the ship to life during its commissioning ceremony. Paul Ignatius is the 67th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and the first warship named for the former Secretary of the Navy who...
USS Billings (LCS 15) Commissioned
KEY WEST, Fla. (Aug. 3, 2019) Naval Air Station Key West color guard parades the colors during the commissioning ceremony of USS Billings (LCS 15). Billings is the 17th littoral combat ship to enter the fleet and the eighth of the Freedom variant. It is the first ship named...
Navy Christens USS Lyndon B. Johnson DDG 1002
BATH, Maine (April 27, 2019) Capt. Jeremy Gray, left, prospective commanding officer of the the future Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1003); Luci Baines Johnson and Lynda Johnson Robb, ship’s sponsors and daughters of former President Lyndon B. Johnson, the ship’s namesake; and Dirk Lesko,...
USNS Guam (T HST 1) Christened
Bruni Bradley, sponsor to Military Sealift Command’s high-speed transport USNS Guam (T-HST 1), breaks a bottle during the christening ceremony of USNS Guam, April 27. Bradley, a 25-year Navy veteran, officially declared the Guam christened after breaking a bottle of sparkling wine against the ship’s side railing of the main...
Guided-missile destroyer USS Daniel Inouye christened in Maine
Irene Inouye, the wife of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, christens the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer named after the World War II hero and one of the country’s longest-serving senators. (Bath Iron Works photo) (Article Appears Courtesy of UPI) A U.S. Navy destroyer bearing the...