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SAN FRANCISCO (NNS) -- USS America (LHA 6), the Navy's newest and
most technologically advanced amphibious assault ship, was
commissioned during a formal ceremony at Pier 30/32 during San
Francisco Fleet Week, Oct. 11, 2014.
More than 8,000 friends,
family members and invited guests gathered in front of the ship to
witness its introduction to the fleet.
During the ceremony,
Adm. Harry B. Harris, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, commended the
crew for their performance during acceptance trials and sailing
around South America. He said because conflict and crisis can arise
at any time, warships like America will be needed as the nation
conducts its strategic rebalance to the Pacific.
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SAN FRANCISCO (Oct. 11, 2014)
- More than 8,000 friends, family members and guests watch Sailors and Marines man the rails as they bring the ship to life during the commissioning ceremony of the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). America is the first ship of its class and the fourth to bear the name. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan A. Colon)
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At the conclusion of his remarks, Harris introduced
Secretary of the Navy the Honorable Ray Mabus, who spoke of
the importance of having a ship named America join the
fleet.
"This ship, forged in a shipyard in my home
state of Mississippi, with components and systems and parts
manufactured all across this great country, is a symbol of
the long and historic links between the citizens of this
country and our Navy and Marine Corps who defend them,"
Mabus said. "Having a ship named the America, sailing the
world's oceans, defending freedom and peace and helping
those in need, as we have for more than two centuries, is
crucial to America and to our Navy and Marine Corps."
Following Mabus' remarks, in a time-honored Navy
tradition, Mrs. Lynne Pace, ship sponsor and wife of retired
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, former chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave the order, "Man our ship and
bring her to life!"
The crew responded by saying
"Aye, aye, ma'am" and began running toward the brow to man
the ship as the Navy Band Southwest played "Anchors Aweigh."
Crew members took their places, side-by-side, manning the
rails as the ship's systems came online. Radars, weapon
systems, and other parts of the ship began moving to
symbolize the ship "coming to life."
After the crew
manned the rails, Capt. Robert A. Hall Jr., commanding
officer of USS America, stepped forward to deliver his
remarks.
"To the crew of USS America, as plankowners
we've been granted awesome responsibility and great
privilege to send America out to sea on the right course,"
Hall said. "You've worked extremely hard thus far to get her
to this point, performing extraordinarily on our maiden
voyage around South America. I thank you for that incredible
effort, and I'll tell you, it's just the beginning."
Hall said the ship is named after the greatest country on
Earth and spoke of the legacy America will carry forward.
"It's only the greatest country because it values everyone's
contributions," said Hall. "It takes every one of us doing
our part, working together, dedicating ourselves to
preserving the ideals of freedom and democracy that make
this country great."
America is the first ship of its
class and the fourth ship named "America." The first America
was originally a racing schooner launched in 1851 and served
in the Navy until 1873 before returning to civilian life. In
1921, she was presented to the Navy for preservation as a
relic and remained at the U.S. Naval Academy until being
scrapped in 1945. The second America transported troops
during World War I. The third ship to bear the name was a
Kitty-Hawk class aircraft carrier, CV 66, which supported
operations from the Vietnam War through Operation Desert
Storm.
America weighs 44,971-tons, is 844 feet in
length and has an overall beam of 106 feet. It's equipped
with a fuel-efficient, hybrid electric propulsion system,
the same built for USS Makin Island (LHD 8), which is an
energy initiative designed to give the ship the benefit of
increased range, endurance, and time on station, enhancing
its combat capability. It also provides greater flexibility
in scheduling refueling and reduces maintenance costs.
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The ship
is optimized for aviation and will be capable of supporting
current and future aircraft, such as the tilt-rotor MV-22
Osprey and F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. It was designed with
additional aviation spaces and provides increased aviation
capacity, including an enlarged hangar deck, the realignment
and expansion of aviation maintenance facilities which
provide a significant increase in available stowage for
parts and support equipment, and increased aviation fuel
capacity.
By U.S. Navy MC1 John Scorza
USS America (LHA 6) Public
Affairs
Navy News Service
Copyright 2014
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