Page 8. MAINE COASTAL NEWS December 2016 U. S. N N
Great White Fleet. In January 1941, she was renamed Prairie State (IX-15) and served through World War II as a midshipmen’s training school. Illinois has the capability to attack tar-
gets ashore with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles and conduct covert long-term surveillance of land areas, littoral waters or other sea-based forces. Other missions in- clude anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, mine delivery and minefi eld mapping. It is also designed for special forces delivery and support. Virginia-class submarines are 7,800
GROTON, CT Sailors assigned to the Virginia-class attack submarine Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Illinois (SSN 786) salute after bringing the ship to life during a rehearsal for the submarine’s upcoming commissioning ceremony scheduled for Oct 29. Illinois is the U.S. Na- vy’s 13th Virginia-Class attack submarine and the fourth U.S. Navy ship named for the state of Illinois. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Offi cer Darryl I. Wood/Released)
Navy to Commission Submarine Illinois From Department of Defense
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy will commission its newest fast attack subma- rine, the future USS Illinois (SSN 786), during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, Oct. 29, at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. Adm. John Richardson, chief of naval
operations, will deliver the ceremony’s prin- cipal address. First Lady Michelle Obama is serving as the ship’s sponsor. In a time-hon- ored Navy tradition, she will give the order to “man our ship and bring her to life!” “USS Illinois is one of the most techno-
logically advanced platforms in the world,” said the Honorable Ray Mabus, secretary of the Navy. “This submarine represents not only the Navy’s lasting connection to the state of Illinois but also the American
innovation and manufacturing skill that have given us such a powerful advantage, making us the most powerful expeditionary fi ghting force the world has ever known.” Illinois is the 13th Virginia-class fast
attack submarine and the third Virginia-class block III submarine. This next-generation attack submarine provides the Navy with the capabilities required to maintain the nation’s undersea supremacy well into the 21st century. The submarine is only the second U.S.
Navy ship to be commissioned with the name Illinois. The previous Illinois (BB 7), a battleship, was built at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, laid down in 1897 and was the lead ship of a class of three 11,565-ton battleships. In Decem- ber 1907, Illinois steamed out of Hampton Roads, Virginia, to begin a voyage with the
tons and 377 feet in length, have a beam of 34 feet and can operate at more than 25 knots submerged. They are built with a reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship-reducing lifecycle costs while increasing underway time.
F-35 Lightning II Testing Begins on USS America
From USS America (LHA 6) Public Aff airs
PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Five Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II aircraft landed on the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) on Friday, October 28. America will embark seven F-35Bs
-- two are scheduled to begin the third ship- board phase of developmental test (DT-III) and fi ve are scheduled to conduct operation- al testing.
America, the fi rst ship of its class, is an aviation-centric platform that incorporates key design elements to accommodate the fi fth-generation fi ghter. The ship’s design features several avia- tion capabilities enhanced beyond previous
amphibious assault ships which include an enlarged hangar deck, realignment and expansion of the aviation maintenance fa- cilities, a signifi cant increase in available stowage of parts and equipment, as well as increased aviation fuel capacity. America is capable of accommodating
F-35Bs, MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, and a complement of Navy and Marine Corps helicopters. The third test phase will evaluate F-35B
Short Take-off Vertical Landing (STOVL) operations in a high-sea state, shipboard landings, and night operations. The cadre of fl ight test pilots, engineers, maintainers, and support personnel from the F-35 Patux- ent River Integrated Test Force (ITF) are assigned to Air Test & Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. “It’s exciting to start the execution
phase of our detachment with VMX-1 (Ma- rine Operational Test and Evaluation Squad- ron 1) on USS America,” said Lt. Col. Tom “Sally” Fields, F-35 Patuxent River ITF Government Flight Test director assigned to VX-23. “During the next three weeks, we will be completing critical fl ight test for both Developmental Test (DT) and Operational Test (OT). The F-35 Pax River ITF and VX-23 will be conducting DT work that will establish the boundaries of safe operation for the F-35B in the 3F confi guration. VMX-1 will be conducting OT operations focused on preparing maintenance crews and pilots for the fi rst deployment of the F-35B aboard USS Wasp (LHD 1), scheduled to start in just over a year.” The operational testing will also include
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MAINE BOATBUILDER’S SHOW 24, 25 and 26 March 2017
NEW LOCATION!
512 Warren Avenue, Portland 04103, Portland Sports Complex 1000 to 1800 Friday and Saturday and 1000 to 1600 on Sunday
Come see the fi nest wood and fi berglass boats in the Northeast! Come and meet the builders. Sail, power, canoes, kayaks and skiff s will all be on display.
Come see the boats, sail, power and paddle! Presented by Portland Yacht Services - (207) 774-1067
Come see the Accessories!
www.portlandcompany.com
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