Monday, May 16, 2011

USS George H.W. Bush Departs for Maiden Deployment

USS George H.W. Bush Departs for Maiden Deployment

Welcome Home!


NORFOLK (May 16, 2011) The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) returns to Naval Station Norfolk after completing a nine-month deployment. Kearsarge was the command ship of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and supported maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Rafael Martie/Released)
BELLE CHASSE, La. (May 6, 2011) The U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, perform at the 2011 N'awlins Airshow at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Belle Chasse during New Orleans Navy Week, one of 21 Navy Weeks planned across America in 2011. Navy Weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mark O'Donald/Released)

Battle of Midway

Battle of Midway

a great video

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Navies expanding use of aircraft carriers - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Navies expanding use of aircraft carriers - Navy News News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

For Immediate Release - the start of the start!

The Navy League of the United States, Twin Cities Council announces the Keel Authentication Ceremony for the future USS Minnesota SSN 783!

On Friday, May 20, 2011 at 12:00 noon the Keel Authentication Ceremony will take place at the Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard in Newport News, VA www.huntingtoningalls.com.

  • In July 2008, the United States Navy announced that our state would be honored by having a warship named ‘Minnesota.’  Not since 1922 have we had a US Navy warship named after our state.

  • Officially known as Precommissioning Unit (PCU) Minnesota, the Virginia-class fast attack submarine will receive its ‘USS’ designator once commissioned (estimated in June 2013).

  • The Keel Authentication Ceremony is a time-honored tradition that includes having the signature of the Ships Sponsor welded into the keel of this ship.  The Sponsor then announces that ‘the keel is truly and fairly laid.

  • This ceremony marks the first in three major milestones of bringing PCU Minnesota to the fleet.

  • PCU Minnesota is being built in the same shipyard as the previous two USS Minnesota’s, and just five miles from one of the most famous naval battles in history that prominently featured the first USS Minnesota in the Civil War (the famed ‘Minnesota’ connection we see in many news stories).


  • Attending the ceremony from the Twin Cities Council:

    • Dave Hutton,  USN Ret., President, Twin Cities Council, and Co-Chair of USS Minnesota Commissioning Committee (USMCC)
    • Brian Skon, Vice President, Twin Cities Council, Vice Chair USMCC
    • Mike Alteri, USN Ret., Board of Directors, Twin Cities Council and member USMCC
    • Jim Sillman, USN Ret., member Navy League and USMCC