Tag Archives: Expeditionary Sea Base

Navy

U.S. Navy Ships

General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), a subsidiary of General Dynamics (GD), announced on August 05, 2022 that it received $1.4 billion in U.S. Navy contract modifications for construction of a sixth Expeditionary Sea Base ship (ESB-8) and two additional John Lewis-class fleet oilers (T-AO 211 and 212). This award comes in addition to $600 million already received to procure long-lead time materials for the same ships. The contract modification also provides an option for the Navy to procure an additional oiler, T-AO-213, bringing the total potential value to $2.7 billion for the four ships.

Lewis B. Puller-class
Contract modifications provide full funding for three ships – ESB-8, T-AO-211, and T-AO-212; and an option to build T-AO-213

«NASSCO is committed to working together with the Navy to deliver these much needed ships to the fleet», said Dave Carver, President of General Dynamics NASSCO. «As partners with the Navy, we remain dedicated to ensuring the success of both of these programs to help enhance and expand the Navy’s forward presence and warfighting capabilities while providing sustained growth for our workforce».

Construction of the four ships is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2023 and continue into 2027.

In 2011, the Navy awarded NASSCO with a contract to design and build the first two ships in the newly created Mobile Landing Platform program, the USNS Montford Point (T-ESD-1) and USNS John Glenn (T-ESD-2). The program evolved, adding the USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3), USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB-4), USS Miguel Keith (ESB-5), the future USS John L. Canley (ESB-6) and the future USS Robert E. Simanek (ESB-7), configured as ESBs. ESB ships are highly flexible platforms designed to support multiple maritime-based missions, including Air Mine Counter Measures, Special Operations Forces, and limited crisis response.

Acting as a mobile sea base, this 784-foot/239-meter ship has a 52,000 square-foot/4,831 square-meter flight deck to support MH-53, MH-60 Seahawk, MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor, and H1 aircraft operations. The future USS John L. Canley (ESB-6) and USS Robert E. Simanek (ESB-7) are currently under construction.

In 2016, the Navy awarded NASSCO with a contract to design and build the first six ships in the next generation of fleet oilers, the John Lewis-class. Designed to transfer fuel to U.S. Navy ships operating at sea, the 742-foot/226-meter vessels have a full load displacement of 49,850 tons, capacity to carry 157,000 barrels/24,961,005 liters of oil and significant amounts of dry cargo, as well as providing aviation capability while traveling at speeds up to 20 knots/23 mph/37 km/h. The first ship, USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205), was delivered to the U.S. Navy in July 2022. The USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO-206), USNS Earl Warren (T-AO-207), and USNS Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO-208) are currently under construction.

Navy

Christening of «Woody»

The U.S. Navy christened the Expeditionary Sea Base future USNS Hershel «Woody» Williams (ESB-4) during a 10 a.m. PDT ceremony Saturday, October 21, at General Dynamics NASSCO, San Diego.

USNS Hershel «Woody» Williams on christening day
USNS Hershel «Woody» Williams on christening day

The future USNS Hershel «Woody» Williams (ESB-4) is the first ship to bear the name of Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer Hershel Woodrow Williams, the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient recognized for heroism at the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.

Major General Eric M. Smith, commanding general, 1st Marine Division, delivered the ceremony’s principal address. Williams’s daughters, Tracie Jean Ross and Travie Jane Ross, who serve as the ship’s sponsors, broke a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow to formally christen the ship, a time-honored Navy tradition.

«This ship honors a man who dedicated his life to service-heroic service as a Marine and continued service to his fellow veterans», said the Honorable Richard V. Spencer, secretary of the Navy. «This dedication will live on in USNS Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams as the ship is deployed around the world bringing additional capability to our growing fleet. The ceremony on Saturday will also represent the dedication to service demonstrated by the men and women who worked tirelessly to build this ship and their commitment to quality and innovation».

The future USNS Hershel «Woody» Williams (ESB-4) is optimized to support a variety of maritime-based missions and designed around four core capabilities: aviation facilities, berthing, equipment staging support and command and control assets. ESBs can be enhanced to meet special operations force missions through increased communications, aviation and unmanned aircraft system support.

Built by General Dynamics NASSCO, the Montford Point-class is comprised of five ships across two variants: expeditionary transfer docks and expeditionary sea bases. USNS Montford Point (ESD-1), USNS John Glenn (ESD-2) and USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3) have been delivered to the fleet. USNS Hershel «Woody» Williams (ESB-4) is planned to join the fleet in 2018, with ESB-5 to follow in 2019.

The platform has an aviation hangar and flight deck that include two operating spots capable of landing Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion equivalent helicopters, accommodations, work spaces and ordnance storage for an embarked force. The platform will also provide enhanced command and control, communications, computers and intelligence capabilities to support embarked force mission planning and execution. The reconfigurable mission deck area can store embarked force equipment including mine sleds and rigid hull inflatable boats.

An undated artist rendering of the future expeditionary sea base USNS Hershel «Woody» Williams (T-ESB 4) (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of General Dynamics/Released)
An undated artist rendering of the future expeditionary sea base USNS Hershel «Woody» Williams (T-ESB 4) (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of General Dynamics/Released)
Navy

First-of-Class

The U.S. Navy converted USNS Lewis B. Puller (T-ESB-3) to a U.S. naval warship, commissioning the Expeditionary Sea Base, USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3) during a ceremony at Khalifa bin Salman Port in Al Hidd, Bahrain, August 17.

The Military Sealift Command expeditionary mobile base USNS Lewis B. Puller (T-ESB-3) departs Naval Station Norfolk to begin its first operational deployment. Puller is deploying to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. Navy and allied military efforts in the region (U.S. Navy photo by Bill Mesta/Released)
The Military Sealift Command expeditionary mobile base USNS Lewis B. Puller (T-ESB-3) departs Naval Station Norfolk to begin its first operational deployment. Puller is deploying to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. Navy and allied military efforts in the region (U.S. Navy photo by Bill Mesta/Released)

Puller is the first U.S. ship to be commissioned outside the United States. With its commissioning, the U.S. Navy adds yet another warship towards its goal of having a larger, more capable force. The ship’s reclassification provides U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and U.S. 5th Fleet greater flexibility to better meet regional challenges.

Vice Admiral Donegan, commander of Naval Forces Central Command said, «The Puller isn’t just another ship, but a revolutionary concept; a ship that provides us a key platform that will provide continuity to a variety of operations», he continued saying, «Named after the most decorated Marine in American history, the USS Lewis B. Puller will provide greater operational flexibility to 5th Fleet, forward-deployed as the first ship built specifically for the purpose of serving as an expeditionary sea base. As such, it will augment our amphibious forces, not replace them, mine countermeasure forces and provide an expeditionary sea base for maritime security operations throughout the region».

The need for new solutions to new problems in the 5th Fleet area of operations continues to grow and Donegan recognized the challenge.

«As the security environment becomes faster paced, more complex and increasingly competitive, with the ever-growing and evolving challenge of asymmetric threats from state and non-state actors alike, the Navy has a growing need to station more diverse and capable warships around the globe. Commissioning this expeditionary sea base, the USS Lewis B. Puller, will allow the Navy and Marine Corps team to meet the threats in the region head on», said Donegan.

Puller’s namesake, Lt. Gen. Lewis Burwell «Chesty» Puller, was the most decorated Marine in the history of the U.S. Marine Corps. He is one of only two men, and the only Marine, to be awarded five Navy Crosses. He fought in Haiti and Nicaragua, as well as several key battles in World War II and the Korean War.

«For the most part, Puller spent much of his time in the Pacific», said Lieutenant General Dave Beydler, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command. «Why was he there? Because that is where the fight was … I would argue that if he lived in our era, he would have spent a majority of his time in this region, the CENTCOM area of responsibility. I’m glad to have Chesty Puller back where the fight is».

Captain Adan G. Cruz is the USS Puller’s first commanding officer. Per naval tradition, Cruz read his orders before addressing those in attendance.

«It is really an honor to be part of a team and part of a crew with great Sailors and great civilian mariners», said Cruz.

Puller’s crew of nearly 150 Sailors and civilian mariners work in concert with one another as did those on the ship’s predecessor, USS Ponce (AFSB-(I) 15) to extend U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s maritime reach in 5th Fleet by supporting a wide variety of missions including counter-piracy operations, maritime security operations, humanitarian aid, disaster relief and crisis response operations.