www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, November 24, 2022 1
VOL. 29, NO. 44, Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com
November 24-November 30, 2022
Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti is joined by Rear Adm. Martin Muckian, commander of the Undersea Warfighting Development Center (UWDC) during a meeting with fast attack submarine commanding officers, executive officers and chiefs of the boats at UWDC in Groton, Conn., on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022. Franchetti visited Naval Submarine Base New London to meet with local military leadership to discuss Sailor quality of service, readiness, and submarine maintenance. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS WESLEY TOWNER / RELEASED)
Vice Chief of Naval Operations visits Navy submariners in Connecticut By Lt. Cmdr. Seth Koenig
Submarine Readiness Squadron (SRS) 32
GROTON, Conn. — Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti visited Submarine Force leaders at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut, Nov. 16. The vice chief of naval operations (VCNO) is the second highest-ranking commissioned officer in the Department of the Navy, under the chief of naval operations. Franchetti was hosted in Groton by Rear Adm. Martin Muckian, commander of the Undersea Warfighting Development Center (UWDC). During her first visit to the area since becoming VCNO, Franchetti met with local military leaders to discuss Sailor quality of service, readiness, and submarine maintenance. “This visit was a tremendous opportunity to hear directly from some of the leaders in
the Navy’s Submarine Force and discuss how the Navy can best support their continued innovation and readiness in the undersea domain,” said Franchetti. “It’s crucial we maintain, grow and leverage the warfighting advantage that our state-of-the-art submarines and their elite crews provide our country.” Groton is currently the home of 15 nuclear-powered fast attack submarines and submarine crews, as well as the UWDC and a significant portion of the Submarine Force training pipeline, including the Naval Submarine School and Submarine Learning Center. After meeting with area submarine, squadron and support command leaders, Franchetti visited the submarine school. “We are honored to host Adm. Franchetti at the U.S. Naval Submarine School and demonstrate the warfighter development of our prospective department heads as we train and mentor them toward excellence,”
said Capt. Eric Sager, commanding officer of the submarine school. “The Submarine Officer’s Advanced Course is a pivotal moment in a submarine officer’s career and professional development as leaders, warriors, and tacticians. Her meeting with the students and sharing the Navy’s strategic vison for combat today and in the near future underscores the significance of the submarine as a premier component of each combatant commanders’ war plan.” Also while in Connecticut, Franchetti visited General Dynamics Corp.’s Electric Boat shipyard to discuss the newest Virginia-class fast attack submarines being constructed, as well as the future Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, the Navy’s number one acquisition priority. The keel-laying ceremony marking the start of construction for the first of the new class — the future USS District of Columbia (SSBN 826) — was held in June at Electric Boat’s facility in nearby Quon-
set Point, Rhode Island. When completed, the Columbia-class submarines will be the largest submarines ever built by the United States, with 560 feet in length and a displacement of 20,810 tons. Fast-attack submarines are multi-mission platforms enabling five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities — sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence. They are designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare. Fast-attack submarines project power ashore with special operations forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles in the prevention or response to regional crises. Visit https://www.navy.mil/Resources/ Fact-Files/ for more information on the Navy’s submarines.
Navy lays keel for future USS Arkansas (SSN 800) From Team Submarine Public Affairs NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Senior Navy leaders, members of Congress, and shipbuilders gathered at Newport News Shipyard (NNSY) to attend a keel-laying ceremony for the future Virginia-class submarine USS Arkansas (SSN 800) on Nov. 19. SSN 800 will be the fifth naval vessel to bear the name Arkansas. The original Arkansas was a Civil War-era screw steamer. In 1902 an Arkansas-class monitor, one of the last monitors in the U.S. Navy, was commissioned with the same name. The third Arkansas, a Wyoming-class battleship, was commissioned in 1912. The fourth, which saw service from 1980 until 1998, was a Virginia-class nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser. “Today is a momentous occasion. Not
just for the shipbuilders who will pour their considerable skills into building this submarine, but also for the Sailors who will deploy aboard Arkansas and patrol the ocean’s depths in service of our nation and our way of life,” said Rear Adm. Jon Rucker, Program Executive Office, Attack Submarines. “Virginia-class submarines, such as Arkansas, and their dedicated crews will ensure our Navy remains ready to deter maritime aggression, maintain freedom of the seas, and defend our country and allies well into the future.” The submarine’s sponsors are the six women of the Little Rock Nine — Dr. Melba Pattillo Beals, Elizabeth Eckford, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Carlotta Walls Lanier, Minnijean Brown Trickey, and Thelma Mothershed Wair. In a 1954 landmark decision, the Supreme Court ruled racial segregation of schools as unconstitutional. Three
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The first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) departed Portsmouth, United Kingdom, Nov. 18, concluding its second international port visit and first in Europe. PAGE A6
years later, nine African-American children were the first people of color to attend Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, a previously all-white campus. President Dwight D. Eisenhower would eventually federalize the Arkansas National Guard to protect the students during their integration. The Little Rock Nine, as they came to be known, have spent their lives advocating for quality education. Per Navy tradition, shipbuilders welded the six women’s initials onto steel plates that will be affixed to the ship. The men of the group — Ernest G. Green, Dr. Terrence J. Roberts, and the late Jefferson Thomas — were also honored during the ceremony. “With advances in sound silencing, acoustic sensors, and weapons delivery systems, Arkansas will traverse the world’s oceans and seas as an Apex Predator,” said Vice. Adm. Bill Houston, Commander, Naval
Submarine Forces. “Representing our asymmetric advantage in the undersea domain, Arkansas will have no equal.” Arkansas will be the 27th Virginia-class submarine. Boats in this class are the most advanced attack submarines in the world, with superior stealth, firepower and maneuverability than previous classes. They can hit shore-based targets with highly accurate Tomahawk cruise missiles and are capable of long-term, stealth surveillance of sea forces, littoral waters or ground targets. Their design also provides for Special Forces delivery and support, mine delivery and minefield mapping, and anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare. For more information about the Virginia-class attack submarine, visit http://www. navy.mil/local/virginiaclass/ For more news from the Navy, visit www. navy.mil
Steps you need to take before foreign travel “If employees are looking to travel overseas, they must reach out to their Department Security Coordinator (DSC) prior to leaving to begin the process,” said NNSY Foreign Travel Manager Lisa Lafitte. PAGE A2
Women Sailors: get ready for better fitting uniforms NCTRF held a Female Size Standardization fit evaluation with the ultimate objective of establishing a consistent fit for uniforms in the future. PAGE A3
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