US Navy WAVES in photographs 1943-45

Photo #: NH 89582-KN (Color). “WAVES’ Anniversary”, 1943. Cartoon by Sixta, USNR, depicting events and activities in the first year following the 30 July 1942 authorization of the WAVES. Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, DC. U.S. NHHC Photograph.

Photo #: 80-G-K-13754 (Color). WAVE Specialist (Photographer) 3rd Class. Saluting, as she stands among the springtime cherry blossoms near the Jefferson Memorial, Washington, D.C., during World War II. Note her Specialist “P” rating badge. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection.

Photo #: 80-G-K-14518 (Color). U.S. Naval Training Center, Women’s Reserve, The Bronx, New York. Some of the schools trainees march in formation behind their color guard, during World War II. This Training Center, located in the facilities of Hunter College, provided basic training for Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard women recruits. Note the Center’s flag, featuring the fouled anchor and propeller device of the Women’s Reserve. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection.

Photo #: 80-G-K-13879 (Color). Navy WAVE trainee. Leans on a swab while cleaning her barracks, soon after she arrived at a Naval Training Center during World War II. Photographed prior to April 1944. Note suitcases at right, and dungaree working uniform with button fly. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection.

Photo #: 80-G-K-5568 (Color). WAVES on liberty in Honolulu. Yeoman 3rd Class Margaret Jean Fusco photographs three friends by King Kamehameha’s statue in Honolulu, circa spring 1945. Posing are (left to right): Yeoman 2nd Class Jennie Reinhart; Yeoman 2nd Class Muriel Caldwell and Yeoman 2nd Class June Read. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection.

Photo #: 80-G-K-4563 (Color). USS Missouri (BB-63). WAVES visiting the ship in an east coast port, during her shakedown period, circa August 1944. They are standing on the main deck at the bow, with the Navy Jack flying behind them. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection.

Photo #: 80-G-272753. Transporting WAVES by air, November 1944. WAVEs en route to Naval Air Station, Olathe, Kansas, in a Douglas R4D-6 transport plane, accompanied by their instructor, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) N.J. Merrill. Most of the enlisted WAVES are strikers for the rate of Specialist (Transport Airman). Those present are (from left to right): LtJG Merrill; Yeoman 2nd Class Carolyn Fish; Seaman 2nd Class Gale Collier; Seaman 2nd Class Margaret Chapman; Seaman 2nd Class Gloria Marx; Yeoman 2nd Class Helen Niravelli; Seaman 2nd Class Marilyn Wheeler; and Seaman 2nd Class Helen Ranlett. Note cargo track in the plane’s deck. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection.

Photo #: 80-G-K-5793 (Color). Yeoman 1st Class Marjorie Daw Adams, USNR(W). Obtains a receipt from Mailman 2nd Class Wilbur L. Harrison, who is picking up classified mail for his attack transport, at Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, California, on 13 June 1945. He is armed with a handgun for security reasons. Much of the official Navy mail going to the Pacific Fleet passes through the Fleet Post Office’s Registry Office. Note WAVES recruiting poster in the background. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection.

Photo #: 80-G-K-5460 (Color). U.S. Naval Hospital, San Diego, California. WAVE Pharmacist’s Mate 3rd Class Winifred Perosky prepares to X-Ray Marine Private First Class Harold E. Reyher, circa spring 1945. She is one of 1000 WAVES assigned to the Naval Hospital at San Diego. PFC Reyher had been wounded by an enemy sniper on Iwo Jima. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection.

Photo #: 80-G-K-5675 (Color). WAVE air station control tower crew. At a Naval Air Station in the Hawaiian islands, circa mid-1945. Specialist 2nd Class Mary E. Johnson uses a microphone to speak to an incoming plane, as Specialist 2nd Class Lois Stoneburg operates a signal lamp. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection.

Photo #: 80-G-43935. Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Violet Falkum. Turns over the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine of a SNJ-4 training plane, at Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida, 30 November 1943. This photograph was used in a World War II recruiting poster. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection.

Photo #: 80-G-K-14222 (Color). WAVES study aircraft mechanics. At Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, New Jersey, during World War II.
Seaman 2nd Class Elaine Olsen (left) and Seaman 2nd Class Ted Snow are learning to take down a radial aircraft engine block. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection.

New US Navy submarine firefighting trainer is first of three to be built

You have to be a special kind of person to commit yourself to serving in the confinement of a submarine. You have to be a special kind of person to run towards a fire instead of a away for it. Now imagine combining the two…

Trial By Fire: NASNI Builds Navy’s First Submarine Firefighting Trainer

SAN DIEGO (NNS) — Smoke bellows out the ventilation ducts. The glow of the blazing fire emanates down the passageway. Firefighters move with precision and purpose, pausing to unleash a torrent of water towards the fire as they kneel before it. Such was the scene at the Navy’s first submarine firefighting trainer, located at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) Oct. 29.

131024-N-ZU025-076 SAN DIEGO (Oct. 24, 2013) Nick Lugue Jr., a welder with Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, welds a new firefighting trainer into place at Naval Air Station North Island. The trainer is the first of 4 new trainers the Navy is building that will simulate potential fire hazards aboard submarines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Todd C. Behrman/Released)

Commander, Navy Installation Command (CNIC) approached Kidde Fire Trainers almost one year ago in response to the incident on the USS Miami, in which a fire caused over $400 million of damage to the submarine.

Numerous issues arose from the incident, primarily firefighter response and the readiness of base firefighters to deal with fighting shipboard fire. The need for additional training resources was identified in order to train base fire departments on what they’ll encounter when fighting fires in the tight quarters of a submarine.

Kidde Fire Trainers is scheduled to build three other modular trainers at Naval bases around the country in addition to the NASNI trainer, and has also currently stationed mobile training units at Naval Bases in Kings Bay, Ga. and New London, Conn. The new firefighting trainer at NASNI is the first of the four permanent modular trainers to be built.

The other three trainers purchased by CNIC will be located at Portsmouth, N.H.; Norfolk, Va. and Bangor, Wash. These trainers, located in four different regions, will allow federal firefighters, emergency services and outside agencies access to a proper trainer to increase operational capabilities in the event that a live incident or fire occurs on a ship, said David Salerno, Assistant Fire Chief with Southwest Region Fire and Emergency Services.

“The major problems we have in ships or submarines is figuring out where the fire is internally, figuring out where you are, and being able to deal with the horizontal and vertical passages that aren’t typical,” said Salerno, who is also the NASNI training center manager and San Diego metro area training officer.

The accuracy of the submarine’s representation in the new trainer will provide firefighters the best possible training available. “The way this has been designed with the specifics in it that replicate the interior of a submarine, with submarine hatches, they can drill and train on those specifics and get their skill level up so if they do have to respond in the dockyard they’ll be ready for it,” said Cumming.

In addition to the hatches, the trainer has scuttles, grates, a galley, a main space, electrical panels, cable trays and simulated wires throughout bulkheads, said Mike Tenney, a captain with Federal Fire Department San Diego stationed at Naval Base Point Loma Fire Station 111.

“This gives our firefighters an opportunity to figure out ahead of time, before they’re actually in a real fire, how to navigate their way through a ship,” said Salerno. “It provides a large measure of realism that will be taken with each of those firefighters when they go to the real fire.”

Tenney, a former damage controlman in the Navy, understands the difficulty of navigating through a ship or submarine without previous shipboard experience.

“A lot of the guys haven’t been on ships, they haven’t been in the Navy, so this is going to teach them the tactics needed in assisting the ship’s crew with shipboard firefighting,” Tenney said. “This is going to give great awareness to people that don’t have much experience.”

When fighting a fire in the dockyard, typically, the ship’s force begins the process. They determine where the fire is, set their boundaries, and start the fire attack. However, if they realize they need more resources to deal with the incident, the base fire departments are called in and respond to the situation, said Salerno.

“Now that we have this trainer we have something that’s specific to our needs, something we can internally develop training objectives to and then train to those objectives on a schedule that works for us on a regular basis,” said Salerno. “It will make us infinitely more effective when we’re actually fighting a fire on a ship.”

Training in the new facility has already begun, with scenarios designed to push the capabilities of the trainees. Two classes of firefighters completed a two-day course on Oct. 29 and Oct. 31, respectively, to become instructors on the new trainer, familiarizing themselves with the various operations and safety features of the facility.

While the firefighters continue to train and acclimate themselves to the unique challenges of shipboard firefighting, the Navy will reap the benefit of having its base and local fire departments better equipped to handle ship and submarine fires thanks to its new firefighting trainers.

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=77429

US Navy frigate USS Rentz (FFG 46) rescues fishermen in distress off coast of Ecuador

BZ men & women of USS Rentz! Conducting a rescue of mariners in distress 200 nautical miles off the Ecuadorian coast.

The USS Rentz (FFG 46) is an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate homeported at San Diego. In August this year, the frigate intercepted a $78 million cocaine shipment while conducting counter-narcotics operations in support of Operation Martillo. One of only 13 vessels in her class remaining in commission (of 71 built!), the Rentz is scheduled to decommission during FY 2014. But considering how busy she’s been, it does not look like the Rentz intends to go quietly and without fanfare. Good work. Good work indeed.

Lost at Sea: U.S. Navy Ship Rescues 5 Off Ecuador

Guided-missile frigate USS Rentz (FFG 46) and embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) conducted a Safety-of-Life-at-Sea operation rescue Oct. 20-21 for a fishing vessel, 200 nautical miles off the coast of Ecuador in distress and stranded for 10 days.

The crew of the 14 meter vessel and four other small crafts in tow, had been without fuel or food prior to Rentz’ arrival.

The distressed vessel was spotted early Sunday morning, Oct. 20 by Rentz’ forward lookouts, who reported the small craft roughly 6,000 yards forward of the ship’s position. The ship swiftly responded and launched a rigid-hulled inflatable boat to investigate the situation with embarked U.S. Coast Guard LEDET personnel.

During the two-day rescue operation, LEDET personnel discovered that the vessel and five Ecuadorian nationals aboard had been struck by heavy weather, disorienting the crew and setting the small vessel 100 nautical miles off-course.

Adrift and out of fuel, the crew subsisted on bananas until Rentz arrived on scene and provided meals, ready-to-eat and approximately 120 gallons of diesel fuel; enough to return to home.

“Our crew is prepared to handle a myriad of situations while deployed to the 4th Fleet Area of Operations, including Safety-of-Life-at-Sea operations. We do so with the utmost pride and professionalism, and it is our duty to assist those in need on the high seas when the time comes. I am very pleased with this operation and could not be more proud of the swift actions taken by our crew,” Cmdr. Lance Lantier, commanding officer of USS Rentz said.

Rentz is currently conducting counter transnational organized crime operations in the 4th Fleet Area of Operations as part of Operation Martillo which began in January 2012.

http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/Lost-at-Sea-US-Navy-Ship-Rescues-5-Off-Ecuador-2013-10-22/

USS Decatur (DDG-73) successfully intercepts RIM-161/SM-3 ballistic missile

The Raytheon RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) is a ship-based missile system used by the US Navy to intercept short- to-intermediate range ballistic missiles as a part of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.

The USS Decatur (DDG-73) is an Arleigh Burke class destroyer built at Bath Iron Works and commissioned into the United States Navy in 1998. The Decatur is home ported at Naval Base San Diego and assigned to Destroyer Squadron Seven (DESRON 7).

The Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (formerly the Kwajalein Missile Range) is a missile test range operated by the US military in the Pacific Ocean.

Raytheon’s SM-3, AN/TPY-2 successful in operational ballistic missile defense test

RONALD REAGAN BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE TEST SITE, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Sept. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Raytheon Company’s (NYSE: RTN) Standard Missile-3 Block IA guided missile and AN/TPY-2 ballistic missile defense radar played integral roles in the success of Flight Test Operational-01, the Missile Defense Agency’s operational test of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System.

During the test, a SM-3 Block IA guided missile fired from the USS Decatur (DDG 73) intercepted a medium-range ballistic missile target. An AN/TPY-2 radar, operating in forward-based mode, detected, discriminated and tracked the target throughout the target’s trajectory.

“The SM-3 and AN/TPY-2 are two indispensable elements of the Ballistic Missile Defense System,” said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, president of Raytheon Missile Systems. “This operational test proves our nation has capable, reliable systems deployed today defending the U.S. and its allies against the growing ballistic missile threat.”

Adding to the complexity of the test, a terminal-mode AN/TPY-2 radar also detected, tracked and discriminated the threat. This capability enables additional engagement opportunities, allowing for a “shoot-access-shoot” layered missile defense if necessary.

“As ballistic missiles continue to proliferate and the weapons become more sophisticated, it’s imperative the U.S. and our allies have proven, reliable defensive systems like SM-3 and AN/TPY-2,” said Dan Crowley, president of Raytheon’s Integrated Defense Systems business. “SM-3 and both modes of the AN/TPY-2 are deployed around the world today, protecting warfighters, civilians and critical infrastructure.”

About AN/TPY-2

AN/TPY-2 is a high resolution, mobile, rapidly deployable X-band radar capable of providing long-range acquisition, precision track, and discrimination of short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. The AN/TPY-2 may be deployed globally in either terminal or forward-based mode. In terminal mode, the AN/TPY-2 serves as the search, detect, track, discrimination and fire-control radar for the THAAD weapon system, enabling the THAAD missile to intercept and destroy threats. In forward-based mode, the AN/TPY-2 cues the BMDS by detecting, discriminating and tracking enemy ballistic missiles in the ascent phase of flight.

— AN/TPY-2 has performed flawlessly in both terminal and forward-based mode
in all major tests.

— On Oct. 25, 2012, two AN/TPY-2 radars — one terminal and one
forward-based — participated in FTI-01, the MDA’s largest and most
complex exercise. In a complex raid scenario involving multiple targets,
both radars met or exceeded all test objectives.

— On April 15, 2011, a forward-based AN/TPY-2 extended the battlespace by
providing fire control-quality track data to an Aegis BMD ship, which
fired a Standard Missile-3 using launch on remote capability, which
resulted in a successful intercept of a separating intermediate range
ballistic missile.

— Raytheon has delivered eight AN/TPY-2s to the Missile Defense Agency.
Some of those radars are currently helping defend the U.S. and its allies
in the European, Pacific and Central Command areas of responsibilities.

About Standard Missile-3

The SM-3 destroys incoming ballistic missile threats by colliding with them, a concept sometimes described as “hitting a bullet with a bullet.” The impact is the equivalent of a 10-ton truck traveling at 600 mph.

— Aegis BMD has demonstrated 26 successful intercepts in 32 at-sea events,
including the successful intercept of a non-functioning satellite during
Operation Burnt Frost in February 2008.

— Aegis BMD 3.6 Weapon System and the SM-3 Block IA were assessed as
operationally suitable and effective by an independent operational test
agency in 2008.

— More than 160 SM-3s have been delivered to U.S. and Japanese navies.

— All SM-3 guided missiles use Aerojet Rocketdyne-produced MK 72 boosters
and MK 104 dual-thrust rocket motors for first and second stage
propulsion.

— The next-generation SM-3 Block IB is on track for a 2015 deployment at
sea and ashore.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2012 sales of $24 billion and 68,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 91 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems; as well as a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at http://www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @raytheon.

Raytheon Company

Missile Systems

Tucson, Ariz.

SM-3 Media Contact

Heather Uberuaga

+1.520.891.8421

rmspr@raytheon.com

Raytheon Company

Integrated Defense Systems

Tewksbury, Mass.

AN/TPY-2 Media Contact

David Howell

+1.978.319.5104

idspr@raytheon.com

SOURCE Raytheon Company

/Web site: http://www.raytheon.com

USS Coronado (LCS 4) completes acceptance trials

The USS Coronado (LCS 4) will be the US Navy’s 4th multi-mission littoral combat ship from a commitment to purchase 52 as replacements for frigates, mine countermeasures vessels, and assault ships. The project is 100% over budget and the ships are not considered to be survivable in combat, yet the Pentagon’s commitment to purchase 52 units remains.

LCS 4 Completes Acceptance Trials

MOBILE, Ala. (NNS) — The future USS Coronado (LCS 4) successfully concluded acceptance trials after completing a series of graded in-port and underway demonstrations for the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV), the Navy announced Aug. 28.

130823-N-EW716-001 GULF OF MEXICO (Aug. 23, 2013) The future USS Coronado (LCS 4) conducts at-sea acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico. Acceptance trials are the last significant milestone before delivery of the ship to the U.S. Navy, which is planned for later this fall. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Austal USA/Released)

Acceptance trials are the last significant milestone before delivery of the ship to the Navy, which is planned for later this fall. The ship completed trials Aug. 23.

“Coronado’s performance was strong” said Rear Adm. Robert Wray, INSURV president. “[This was] the most complete and rigorous trial on the Independence variant to date. I remain bullish on these seaframes.”

During the four-day trial, the Navy conducted comprehensive tests intended to demonstrate the performance of the propulsion plant, ship handling and auxiliary systems. While underway, the ship successfully performed launch and recovery operations with both the 7-meter and 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boats, a four-hour full power run, surface and air self defense detect-to-engage exercises, and demonstrated the ship’s tremendous maneuverability performing tight turns and accomplishing speeds in excess of 40 knots.

“Coronado encompasses lessons learned from the construction and operation of its predecessor USS Independence. The value of those changes was evident in the strong performance of the ship during her trial.” said LCS Program Manager Capt. Tom Anderson. “It’s a very exciting time in the LCS program.”

Following delivery and commissioning, Coronado will be homeported in San Diego with its sister ships USS Freedom (LCS 1), USS Independence (LCS 2) and USS Fort Worth (LCS 3).

Milwaukee (LCS 5), Detroit (LCS 7), Little Rock (LCS 9) and Sioux City (LCS 11) are under construction at the Marinette Marine Corp. shipyard in Marinette, Wis., and Jackson (LCS 6), Montgomery (LCS 8), Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) and Omaha (LCS 12), are under construction at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala.

Wichita (LCS 13) and Billings (LCS 15) are under contract with Marinette Marine Corp and in the pre-production phase, while Manchester (LCS 14) and Tulsa (LCS 16) under contract with Austal and in the pre-production phase.

The littoral combat ship class is designed to defeat threats in coastal waters where increasingly capable submarines, mines, and swarming small craft operate. To deliver capabilities against these threats, the Navy introduced LCS with innovative concepts, such as modular mission packages, to quickly respond to an evolving threat.

The Navy is committed to a 52-ship LCS class.

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=76205

PHOTEX: USS Albuquerque returns to San Diego

130821-N-NB544-130 SAN DIEGO (Aug. 21, 2013) The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) returns to Naval Base Point Loma following a seven-month deployment to the western Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kyle Carlstrom/Released)

Submarine Rescue and Salvage Procedures (1970)

USS Independence (LCS 2) demonstrates maneuvering capabilites

The Dolphins that Joined the Navy (1964)

The Boys In Company C (1978)