USS Wasp (LHD 1) change of command ceremony

Oct. 3, 2011: F-35B Lightning II makes the first vertical landing on a flight deck at sea aboard the USS Wasp (LHD 1).

The USS Wasp (LHD-1) is the lead vessel in her class of amphibious assault ships. Commissioned into the US Navy in 1989, the Wasp was the first ship to carry the V-22 Osprey and is currently the Navy and Marine Corps platform for testing the F-35B STOVL (replacement for the AV-8B Harrier II).

Having a “spare” flattop to use for operational conversion is a clear sign that you are a superpower. Many navies cannot muster a single aircraft carrier, helicopter carrier or assault ship. This is not a problem that the US Navy faces.

USS Wasp Changes Command

Story Number: NNS130720-05Release Date: 7/20/2013 7:10:00 PM

NORFOLK (NNS) — The crew of amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) held a change of command ceremony in Norfolk, July 18.

Capt. Brian Teets relieved Capt. Gary Boardman as the commanding officer of Wasp in a time honored ceremony held in the hangar bay.

“I would like to thank the crew for their outstanding hard work and dedication throughout my time as commanding officer of Wasp,” said Boardman. “We had a very demanding schedule over the past couple of years, but I was continually impressed by the teamwork and ‘can-do’ attitude displayed by all. This crew has made some real impacts to our nation’s defense and should be very proud of their selfless service.”

Under Boardman’s command, Wasp earned the Battle “E” after participating in exercises and events during 2012 which include: Bold Alligator 2012, Fleet Ex 2012, Defense Support of Civil Authorities after Hurricane Sandy, and Fleet Weeks in New Orleans, Port Everglades, Fla., New York, and Boston. During Boardman’s time aboard Wasp, the ship conducted the first at sea launch and recovery of the highly anticipated F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

Boardman will next serve as the chief of staff for Expeditionary Strike Group 2 in Virginia Beach, Va.

Under Teets’ command, Wasp will continue to operate as the test platform for JSF.

“I am extremely honored and humbled to serve as the next commanding officer of this great warship. I would like to thank the officers and crew of Wasp for their continued hard work and commitment,” said Teets. “Because of this outstanding crew, I am confident Wasp’s legacy of excellence will continue as we return her to the combat deployment rotation.”

Teets, a native of Urbana, Ohio, received his commission March 1990 through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Ohio State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Production and Operations Management. His previous assignments include Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 44, HSL-4, HSL-37, and USS Enterprise (CVN 65). Teets reported to Wasp in December 2011 as the executive officer.

Wasp is scheduled to begin a maintenance period while in dry dock this fall after completing an underway for JSF testing.

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=75488

Oops! USMC aircraft unload bombs near Great Barrier Reef

Please note:

1. inert training bombs, not live munitions
2. jettisoned, not dropped
3. “not far from” rather than “on top of”

That being said, if you’re going to jettison anything with the word “bomb” in it from an American military aircraft then you should probably do it somewhere where the press, environmentalists, and conspiracy theorists won’t have ammunition (pun intended) to attack you.

U.S. military jettisons bombs near Australia’s Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is composed of more than 3,000 individual reefs interspersed with more than 600 topical islands.

(CNN) — Two U.S. military aircraft jettisoned four bombs not far from the Great Barrier Reef off the Australian coast last week, the U.S. Navy says.

The two Marine planes had to abandon the bombs Tuesday in the national park containing the natural wonder because they were running out of fuel and could not land with the amount of ordnance on board, the Navy said. The two Marine aircraft were launched from a Navy ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard.

Two of the projectiles were explosive bombs that were disarmed before they were dropped. They did not explode, the Navy said.

The other two were inert, or non-explosive bombs, the Navy said.

The pilots chose an area away from the reefs, which contain 400 types of coral. The area was also deep enough to prevent passing ships from running into the bombs, the Navy said.

The reef is home to 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 kinds of mollusks, according to the United Nations’ World Heritage Convention.

It is also a habitat for animals threatened by extinction and is protected as a World Heritage Site.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/21/world/asia/australia-reef-u-s-bombs