January 2017 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 21. U. S. N N Continued from Page 18. Thresher was built at the Portsmouth


Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine and homeported in Groton, Connecticut. The Navy believes a leak sprayed sea water on an electrical panel, which caused Thresher’s nuclear reactor to shut down. Thresher’s loss resulted in the SUBSA-


FE program which led to a series of design modifi cations, training improvements, and submarine safety criteria. The program, which was established approximately two months after the loss of Thresher, is still in place today.


USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) Arrives in San Diego


From USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) Public Aff airs


SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Navy’s most technologically advanced surface combat- ant, USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), completed her journey to San Diego Thursday, Dec. 8. Zumwalt’s arrival to her new Southern


California homeport concluded a nearly four-month transit from Bath, Maine, which included training operations, various port calls, and a commissioning ceremony in Bal- timore. Zumwalt departed Bath Iron Works shipyard Sept. 7 and made several port visits to eastern U.S. Navy fl eet concentration areas, such as Norfolk and Mayport, Florida. “We have looked forward to pulling


in to San Diego for a long time,” said USS Zumwalt Commanding Offi cer Capt. James A. Kirk, about the crew’s excitement to ar- rive in San Diego. “I can’t express enough, how proud I am of the crew’s hard work in bringing Zumwalt to the West Coast.” Due to Zumwalt’s status as a unique,


fi rst-in-class ship, Sailors were engaged in training evolutions far away from San Diego in various ports, after reporting for duty to the pre-commissioning unit command in Bath. The crew of the Zumwalt took custody of the ship in May and rapidly made fi nal preparations to take the new class of de- stroyer out to sea. The Sailors went through taxing training and certification events before receiving authorization to depart the shipyard. “The resiliency and professionalism


shown by this team of Sailors is truly amaz- ing. These sea warriors have met every chal- lenge of a fi rst-in-class ship and succeeded at each turn,” said Kirk, refl ecting on the accomplishments of the “plankowners,” or fi rst group of Sailors to man the ship. The crewmembers of Zumwalt now


have the opportunity to serve and train with their fellow San Diego Sailors as they pre- pare for a future of warfi ghting excellence. Once fully integrated into the surface fl eet, the Zumwalt-class destroyers’ stealth, pow- er, and lethality will provide a vital link from the Navy’s current needs to its future capabilities. Named for Adm. Elmo R. “Bud”


Zumwalt Jr., former chief of naval opera- tions (CNO) from 1970 to 1974, the Zum- walt-class destroyer features a state-of-the- art electric propulsion system, a wave-pierc- ing tumblehome hull, stealth design, and the latest warfi ghting technology and weaponry available. “USS Zumwalt joins the Fleet as the


Navy’s newest, most technologically ad- vanced guided-missile destroyer,” said Vice Adm. Tom Rowden, commander, Naval Surface Forces. “The ship’s stealth, size, power and computing capacity will enable it to conduct multiple missions today, but this innovative ship is also designed to rapidly integrate new technologies to counter the emerging threats of tomorrow.”


Secretary Mabus Names Three Vessels During Ceremony


From SECNAV Public Aff airs


WASHINGTON (NNS) -- During a cere- mony Dec. 14 at the District of Columbia city hall, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus formally announced the fi rst ship of the new fl eet ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), formerly known as the Ohio-class replace- ment, will be named USS Columbia (SSBN 826) in honor of the District of Columbia. Ballistic missile submarines are critical,


stabilizing and effi cient elements of the U.S. nuclear deterrence and assurance policy, carrying the majority of deployed U.S. nuclear warheads. Columbia-class SSBNs incorporate advanced technology and will provide the most survivable leg of the Na- tion’s strategic triad. Mabus also announced that the next


ship in the John-Lewis class of fl eet replen- ishment oilers, named in honor of U.S. civil rights heroes, will be named USNS Earl Warren (T-AO 207). The future USNS Earl Warren will be


operated by Military Sealift Command and provide underway replenishment of fuel and stores to U.S. Navy ships at sea and jet fuel for aircraft assigned to aircraft carriers. Construction is expected to begin on the Earl Warren in 2019. Born in 1891 in Los Angeles, Earl War-


ren served in the military during WWI and later became a county district attorney. He won election to his home state’s governor- ship, holding that position from 1943 until 1953, and was then appointed chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Warren led the Court through many landmark cases dealing with race, justice, and representation. He is credited with helping end school segre- gation with the court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, stating “in the fi eld of public education, the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ has no place. Sep- arate educational facilities are inherently unequal.” The fi nal ship named during the cer-


emony was the future USNS Puerto Rico (T-EPF 11). The Expeditionary Fast Trans- port (EPF), formerly named the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), is a shallow draft, all aluminum, commercial-based catamaran that is designed for High Speed Intra-The- ater Surface Lift and serves in a variety of roles for the military branches to include support of overseas contingency operations, conducting humanitarian assistance and di- saster relief missions and supporting special operations forces. Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama, will


build the new EPF, which will be 338 feet in length, have a waterline beam of 93.5 feet, displace approximately 2,362 tons and op- erate at speeds of approximately 35+ knots.


Secretary of the Navy Announces Need for 355-ship Navy From The Offi ce of the Secretary of the Navy WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Secretary of the Navy announced the results of the 2016 Force Structure Assessment (FSA), a year- long eff ort which began in January that was conducted to evaluate long-term defense security requirements for future naval forces today at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The 2016 FSA recommends a 355-ship


fl eet including 12 carriers, 104 large surface combatants, 52 small surface combatants, 38 amphibious ships, and 66 submarines. The assessment will be one input to the Navy’s FY-2018 30-year shipbuilding plan. The current proposed Navy budget is seen as a bridge to this larger Navy, with shipbuild- ing on an upward glide slope towards 308 ships.


Navy leadership is confi dent that, if


Photo of Senior Chief Scott Dayton. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)


EOD Hero Laid to Rest


From Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group Two Public Aff airs


ARLINGTON, Va. (NNS) -- Family, friends and teammates paid their fi nal respects to


The Navy’s most technologically advanced surface ship, USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), steams through San Diego Bay after the fi nal leg of her three-month journey en route to her new homeport in San Diego. Zumwalt will now begin installation of combat systems, testing and evaluation and operation integration with the fl eet. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Offi cer First Class Trevor Welsh/Released)


funded, this plan is executable, as each ship class called for in the FSA has an active shipbuilding line already up and running. “To continue to protect America and


defend our strategic interests around the world, all while continuing the counter terrorism fi ght and appropriately compet- ing with a growing China and resurgent Russia, our Navy must continue to grow,” said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. “All of the analysis done to date, inside and outside of the Navy, recognizes, as we have for nearly the last eight years, the need for a larger Fleet. That is why, working with Congress and our partners in industry, we have successfully reversed the decline in shipbuilding that occurred from 2001-2009, putting 86 ships under contract over the last seven years. Maintaining this momentum, and the cost-saving business practices we have established, will be critical to ensuring the Navy is able to achieve the FSA-rec- ommended fl eet size and is positioned to maintain the global presence the Navy and Marine Corps uniquely provide our nation.” The update refl ects changes in the stra-


tegic environment since the last update in 2014. Future updates will continue to take into account changes in the environment, defense guidance and technology. The 2016 FSA was not constrained by budget control act funding levels.


Senior Chief Petty Offi cer Scott C. Dayton as he was laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Dec. 15. Despite sub-freezing temperatures and


high winds, over 300 military and civilian attendees gathered to accompany Dayton’s remains, walking behind the caisson and lining up to affi x warfare devices to the fallen hero’s coffi n. Dayton, who served 23 years on active


duty, died Nov. 24 from wounds sustained during an improvised explosive device blast in northern Syria. Dayton was serving with Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve. Dayton entered the U.S. Navy Feb. 17,


1993, and during his service received 19 awards, which included the Bronze Star, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, seven Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy “E” Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, two Iraq Campaign Medals and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Dayton was posthumously awarded


the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with “V” device for making the ultimate sacrifi ce in service to his nation. He obtained the following qualifi ca-


tions during his military career: master EOD technician, naval parachutist, military freef- all parachutist and enlisted surface warfare specialist.


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