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INTEL FILE
Sea Classics, May 2008 by Bonner, Kit
Latest Naval & Maritime Happenings Around the World
PRINCETON CELEBRATES 19TH BIRTHDAY
The guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG-59) celebrated its 19th birthday 11 February while at sea during a regularly scheduled deployment. The celebration kicked off with a cake-cutting ceremony performed in the traditional Navy style as new salts and old salts came together. The ceremony was followed by games held on the mess decks.
The oldest sailor on board, Chief Boatswain's Mate (SW) Michael Scinta, teamed up with the youngest sailor on board, Seaman Raul Benitez, to cut the cake. More than 38-yrs in age and 20-yrs of service separate the two sailors.
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Scinta and Princeton also have something in common; they share the same birthday. Before cutting the cake, Scinta addressed the crew.
"I hope all of you live to be 56, and I hope all of you enjoy your Navy career as much as I have," said Scinta.
For Benitez, who has recently checked aboard Princeton, it was a honor to cut the cake. "It's an honor... since I've only been on board for two weeks," said Benitez. "It's a nice welcome aboard."
The two sailors were joined by the ship's mascot - a tiger - the ship's most junior officer, Ens. Jeremiah Batista. He livened up the celebration with some mascot shenanigans shortly after the cake cutting and paved the way for a fun night on the mess decks.
"For the spirit of the ship and its crew, it's important to take time to relax and celebrate these events," said L/Cmdr. Tom Moninger, Princeton's executive officer.
Homeported in San Diego, Princeton is part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG). The Nimitz CSG, is comprised of Commander, CSG 11, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Nimitz; its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11; embarked Destroyer Squadron 23; the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59); the guided-missile destroyers USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53), USS Higgins (DDG-76), and USS Chafee (DDG-90); Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light HSL 49 Scorpions, (HSL) 37 Easy Riders; and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11.
CVW-11's squadrons include the Tophatters of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14, the Black Aces of VFA-41, the Sunliners of VFA-81, the Wallbangers of Airborne Early Warning Squadron 117, the Red Devils of Marine Corps Strike Fighter Squadron 232, the Black Ravens of Electronic Warfare Squadron 135, the Providers of Carrier Logistics Support Squadron 30 and the Indians of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 6.
The Nimitz is now operating as part of the US 7th Fleet in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. The 7th Fleet is the largest of the forward-deployed US fleets, with approximately 50 ships, 120 aircraft and 20,000 sailors and marines assigned at any given time.
NAVY AWARDS CONTRACTS FOR ZUMWALT-CLASS DESTROYERS
The Navy has exercised contract modifications for the construction of the dual lead ships of the Zumwalt-class (DDG-1000) to General Dynamics Bath Iron Works and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. DDG-1000 and DDG-1001 are the lead ships of a class of next-generation multi-mission surface combatants tailored for landattack and littoral dominance.
BIW was awarded a $1.4-billion cost-plus contract for the construction of DDG-1000, and NGSB was awarded a $1.4-billion cost-plus contract for construction of DDG-1001. The Navy and industry are using a thorough design-for-producibility process to pursue every opportunity to reduce cost on the DDG-1000-class without reducing key performance parameters. The Navy's dual lead-ship strategy has reduced cost and encouraged collaboration. This approach will give the Navy information and modifications for future acquisition strategy decisions, and also addresses congressional concerns regarding maintaining the industrial base.
"When you look at DDG-1000, the technology is extraordinary," said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead. "It is unique in that we have never tried to bring online so many new technologies, but the steps that have been taken and the investments that have been made have reduced the risk that is normally associated with new technology. The Zum walt-class of ships is really quite impressive."
DDG-1000 has been in design, development and demonstration for almost six-years. The Navy has successfully, on cost and on schedule, built and tested the ten critical technologies that provide the capabilities future ships need. The ship's detail design effort is also on cost and on schedule, and will be more complete at the start of construction next year than any other previous surface warship. This achievement is a testament to the close cooperation between both shipyards, and also between the Navy and industry.
DDG-1000 will triple Naval surface fires coverage as well as tripling capability against anti-ship cruise missiles. DDG-1000 has a 50-fold radar cross section reduction compared to current destroyers, improves strike group defense ten-fold and has ten times the operating area in shallow water regions against mines. For today's warfighter, DDG-1000 fills an immediate and critical Naval-warfare gap, meeting validated Marine Corps fire support requirements.
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