Service Chiefs Deepen Ties During Fellowship 2012 Exercise
Navy.mil
January 30, 2012
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter D. Lawlor,
Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs
ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Chief of naval operations (CNO) and first sea lord and royal navy chief of naval staff went underway together Jan. 26-27, to watch their respective navies' newest fast-attack submarines try to out-flank, out-maneuver and out-wit each other during the Fellowship 2012 exercise.
CNO Adm. Jonathan Greenert and Adm. Sir Mark Stanhope hit the deckplates on board the first-in-class HMS Astute (SSN-20) followed by the Virginia-class USS New Mexico (SSN-779) to tour the spaces and meet with each boat's officers and crew.
As submariners themselves, both top naval officers took a keen interest in meeting fellow submariners and seeing how the silent service has evolved. They saw the technological advances of today's submarine fleet compared to the boats under their command years ago.
This historic first undersea meeting of the leaders of the world's most powerful navies provided a unique opportunity for Greenert and Stanhope to see the future of undersea superiority in real time.
"The Fellowship exercise is our opportunity to take some of our best warships, the Astute-class and our Virginia-class submarines, and in an open setting and in a free-play exercise; test them out, test our tactics, our techniques and our procedures," said Greenert.
Several cat-and-mouse war game scenarios were played out during the exercise allowing New Mexico and Astute submariner's skills to come to fruition as both crews swapped from hunter to hunted enabling them to test the full capabilities of their boat.
Greenert said that he could think of no greater adversary to spar with to truly test each platform.
"With the Royal Navy getting together with the U.S. Navy you have the best out there operating together with cutting edge technology and cutting edge tactics, and that's important for each of us to see what we have and see what we're made of, and I would never miss this opportunity, not while I'm CNO," Greenert said.
Stanhope concurred with Greenert and pointed out that each nation's naval service chief deemed the exercise important enough for them to physically be in attendance, emphasizing the support each had for their submarine programs and in each other as allies.
"I think what's important here is to recognize the importance of what we're achieving," Stanhope said. "Here we are on the AUTEC (Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center) range with the best that the United Kingdom can deliver to the future in submarining terms and the best that the U.S. can deliver to the future in submarining terms, both recognizing we need to continue to advance to keep up with the challenges the future will undoubtedly bring to us. By doing so we undoubtedly demonstrate the huge and deeply significant links that we have."
Stanhope said the strategic partnership between the U.S. and the United Kingdom is more than a simple alliance. He said the sharing of training resources and responsibilities in the form of each nation's newest fleet submarines shows a deep sense of confidence and trust.
Astute's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Sir Iain Breckenridge, said that he was honored to host both service chiefs during the Fellowship exercise and equally proud to showcase the performance of his boat and crew.
Breckenridge continued that the principle reason for running the exercise is because Astute is a brand new class of boat and she still needs to be operationally tested and proven.
"The HMS Astute is still very much in trials," Breckenridge said. "To have the chance to go up against what is a very capable and very proven submarine, the Virginia-class, USS New Mexico has been really good fun.
"The great thing about the fellowship exercise is the CNO and my First Sea Lord are going to the New Mexico to pretty much watch the same sort of runs in close proximity action that they saw my team operate here," Breckenridge said. "That's one of the key things about Fellowship is that the heads of service get a view of what they've seen in one boat, they then go see in the next boat and can make a direct comparison."
New Mexico Tests Its Capabilities During Fellowship 2012
Navy News
January 31, 2012
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter D. Lawlor
ATLANTIC OCEAN — The crew of the Virginia-class USS New Mexico (SSN 779) joined the Royal Navy’s newest Astute-class, fast-attack submarine HMS Astute (SSN-20) for the Fellowship 2012 exercise where the boats tried to out-flank, out-maneuver and out-wit each other.
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert and First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff of the Royal Navy Adm. Sir Mark Stanhope, both with careers that originated in the submarine community, were welcomed by their submariner brethren who reveled at the opportunity to impress the service chiefs with their operational capabilities and four-star hospitality, all while engaging the Royal Navy’s newest Astute-class, fast-attack submarine HMS Astute (SSN-20) as part of the Fellowship 2012 exercise.
New Mexico’s Commanding Officer Cmdr. George Perez said he and his crew were honored to host the two highest distinguished naval officers and submariners in the U.S. and British fleets. Perez also said from a training standpoint, he appreciated the chance to tactically compete with such an accomplished and advanced Astute boat and crew.
“This is a great opportunity for the crew, for the Virginia-class program, the U.S. Navy, and submarine force to have this opportunity to take this boat out against what we in the submarine community consider is the best competition out there,” Perez said. “The crew has enjoyed every minute of it.”
Perez said he hopes to do more exercises like Fellowship in the future because the value added by performing real time tracking, deterrence and attack scenarios cannot be replicated to the same level of authenticity by other forms of training.
Ensign Steven Connell was the junior officer of the watch for section one aboard New Mexico during the exercise. Connell said the exercise provided him and his shipmates with a better appreciation of what they and their boat can do.
“It let us see our capabilities versus their capabilities and it’s a very close match between the two countries,” Connell said.
Sonar Technician (Submarine) 3rd Class Michael Deline, assigned to New Mexico’s sonar division, said his division was responsible for finding, mapping and tracking the Astute. Deline said he was extremely satisfied with the performance of New Mexico in her first international operation.
“The Navy puts in so much research and development into its submarines,” Deline said. “And with this submarine, most of us from my division have been here since the beginning, so we’ve watched the progress of a Virginia-class submarine from the ground up.”
“Having the First Sea Lord and CNO onboard you could feel the energy on this boat,” Connell said. “Everyone was real excited about this exercise, morale was high, and it was just overall a really good thing for both countries.”
Connell said he was not surprised that the CNO and First Sea Lord attended the exercise. “What better time to visit?” Connell said. “These are two of the greatest warships in the world right now and we’re both going head to head. What better time and place than right now to tour these boats and see them first hand?”
Both Greenert and Stanhope said their presence aboard New Mexico and Astute during the exercise was a unilateral showing of support and trust between the two long-standing allies as well as a poignant emphasis on the importance of the continued development of the submarine program.
For Immediate Release: January 10, 2012
Contact: Dick Brown 505-238-1584
The USS New Mexico Committee designed and produced a special cachet cover and pictoral postmark for New Mexico's 100th birthday. The design, by committee member Angie McKinstry, features a photo of the submarine underway and the commemorative postage stamp issued by the US Postal Service (USPS) on January 6, 2012 marking the state’s Centennial. It also features an insert with information about the Navy’s 6th Virginia-class submarine and a special USPS-approved cancellation postmark designed by Angie.
While a thousand cachet envelopes and inserts were printed, they do not actually get mailed; they are souvenirs or collectibles.
This project has been made possible by USPS District Retail Manager Brian McCoy of Phoenix and Postmaster Yasmin Montano of Santa Fe. Brian worked right along side committee members Jeff Albright, Rick Carver, Leo and Edris Davis, and Dick Brown. In appreciation for their support, they gave Brian and Yasmin USS New Mexico admiral ball-caps. The work party spent several hours at the Santa Fe main post office affixing Centennial stamps to the envelopes and canceling them with the “USS New Mexico Station” postmark. But that is only the first stage of this special submarine mail project.
The second stage takes place aboard the boat where the Commanding Officer, CDR George Perez, signs each cover, thereby certifying that each has been carried beneath the sea aboard NEW MEXICO.
On Statehood Day (January 6th) the special commemorative covers were overnighted to the Chief of the Boat, ETCS Eric Murphy so that they can go to sea and become "submarine mail". The committee is very happy to have pulled this time-critical process off just in time for the boat's next underway.
The plan is for the crew to keep 150 covers as souvenirs of the New Mexico Centennial and for the rest to be shipped back to the committee. Then one will be given to each member of the New Mexico State Legislature and the Governor's office, and the rest will be sold with all proceeds going towards support of the officers and crew of NEW MEXICO. USPS thinks these submarine covers will be highly sought after by collectors.
This "submarine mail" project is yet another way to involve USS NEW MEXICO in the state's centennial celebrations while also raising awareness among New Mexicans of our state namesake submarine.
Photos courtesy of Rick Carver.
USS NEW MEXICO Update from CDR George Perez
January 7, 2012
NEW MEXICO Friends, Families and Supporters,
It has been a little over four months since my last update on the status of NEW MEXICO and her crew. Since that update, NEW MEXICO conducted extensive operations at sea in the final months of 2011. During all of it, NEW MEXICO and her crew performed superbly. Our extended underway started with an assessment by Submarine Squadron FOUR of the crew's basic submarine skills. With only ten days of underway time under our belts at that time, NEW MEXICO successfully passed this initial milestone before heading south for extensive testing and evaluation. The first phase of this period centered around the evaluation and modification of NEW MEXICO's magnetic signature. Several days of inport testing at Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, GA, coupled with several days of operations off the coast of Florida, certified the ship's magnetic signature for operations at sea. During the course of these operations, the ship found itself operating in both shallow water and in a high contact density environment. Both of these elements are extremely challenging for even the most proficient and experienced submariners. Needless to say, the crew rose to the challenge and performed admirably!
The second phase of our operations took us to Port Canaveral, FL where we spent a little over a week grooming all of our tactical systems in preparation for at-sea testing conducting what the Submarine Force calls Weapons Systems Accuracy Trials (WSAT) - essentially a final evaluation and certification of NEW MEXICO's tactical systems. Again, the crew impressed everyone involved, working faster and more efficiently than any crew undergoing similar operations in recent history. While in Port Canaveral, we were fortunate to host two incredibly rewarding VIP cruises. The first involved embarking several veterans of the first NEW MEXICO, BB-40 as well as several members of the New Mexico Committee. We were hoping to also embark Governor Susana Martinez of New Mexico, but unfortunately her schedule precluded her participation. The second VIP cruise embarked key Congressional Staff members and RDML Richard P. Breckenridge, Commander, Submarine Group TWO. Of note, this was the Admiral's first submarine ride following his recent change of command and it was fitting that NEW MEXICO had the opportunity to host the event. The at-sea portion of WSAT was successfully conducted at the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) in the vicinity of Andros Island, Bahamas. This phase culminated in our successful exercise firings against our sister ship USS CALIFORNIA and allowed NEW MEXICO to transition from Basic Submarine Training to Ready for Tasking status.
Following our WSAT operations, a brief return to Kings Bay, GA allowed NEW MEXICO to prepare for the third and final portion of our operations - Submarine Command Course 30. Loading 20 exercise weapons and seven Prospective Commanding and Executive Officers, NEW MEXICO conducted three weeks of intensive operations including simulated combat operations against a myriad of U.S. Navy surface warships as well as head-to-head exercise firings against the submarines USS SCRANTON and USS ALEXANDRIA. The crew received outstanding training and experience during these operations and the event provided us an excellent opportunity to observe firsthand just how capable NEW MEXICO truly is in combat-like conditions.
NEW MEXICO returned to Groton, CT just in time to enjoy Thanksgiving with friends and families, completing 90 days of operations away from homeport. As exciting and challenging as the time away from homeport was for the ship, it was no less challenging for the families who remained behind, many experiencing for the first time extended separation from their sailors. In addition to the separation, Hurricane Irene's landfall in CT in late August and a record snowfall in October both caused severe, week-long power outages which made life extremely difficult for those at home. Needless to say, NEW MEXICO's families inspired us all by pulling together and successfully enduring these trying events in our absence.
NEW MEXICO finished off a very successful year with the completion of a Material Inspection by the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) in mid-December. I'm happy to report that NEW MEXICO received superb marks in all 21 evaluated areas. Following the inspection, the crew was able to take some much needed time off over the holiday season but still found time to decorate the ship with 1800 red and green chili Christmas lights and to send a video-taped celebration message to our namesake state for the 100th Centennial. Now, we are preparing for an extremely busy 2012. In the next 90 days, NEW MEXICO will undergo three major inspections, an extensive maintenance availability period, and additional testing and evaluations. I have every confidence the ship and the crew will continue to make you all incredibly proud.
Finally, I would like to take a moment to personally thank Mrs. Laura Amick for her dedication and sacrifice over the last 15 months as NEW MEXICO's OMBUDSMAN. Her efforts in assisting NEW MEXICO's families were instrumental in the successes enjoyed by the ship and crew and could not have been achieved without her. You have earned a much need rest as our new OMBUDSMAN, Mrs. Marlaina Malone, is now carrying the torch. Thank you Laura.
Warmest Regards,
CDR George Perez
Commanding Officer
USS NEW MEXICO (SSN 779)
For Immediate Release: January 2, 2012
Contact: Dick Brown 505-238-1584
to New Mexico
All 127 members of the crew of the Virginia-class submarine USS New Mexico (SSN 779) extended their birthday wishes on video, December 27th, to the state of New Mexico. It was the crew’s way of congratulating New Mexico on 100 years of statehood.
The submarine’s Commanding Officer, CDR George Perez, based at New London, Connecticut and the Navy League’s New Mexico Committee based in Albuquerque, New Mexico came up with the idea for the video greeting as a way to recognize the strong ties between our undersea warriors and the citizens of New Mexico.
While the submarine is not able to journey up the Rio Grande for port calls in Las Cruces, Albuquerque or Espanola to celebrate New Mexico’s 100th birthday, the 12-second video greeting is timed to help kick off the state’s Centennial which officially begins on January 6, 2012.
The USS New Mexico Committee is the home support team for the officers and crew of this newest of Navy nuclear-powered submarines. It has a long history of assisting the crew. Committee Chairman Dick Brown, a Cold War submarine veteran, says “We have helped the crew instill a New Mexico theme throughout their onboard living quarters by supplying Southwest-style bunk and passageway curtains, large panoramic photographs of New Mexico landscapes and hot air balloons, and 1,800 red and green chile pepper holiday lights.” Such enhancements to the submarine’s interior décor help honor the state’s proud culture, heritage and history.
The short video message was created by LCDR Jennifer Cragg, Public Affairs Officer, Commander Submarine Group Two, Naval Submarine Base New London, CT.
For more information about USS New Mexico, go to www.ussnewmexico.net and for more information about the Navy League’s New Mexico Council, go to www.nmnavyleague.com.
USS New Mexico Commissioning Committee is Akin to an Extended Family
By Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg, Commander, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs
and Ensign Justin Will, USS New Mexico
GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- The relationship between the Navy League's New Mexico Commissioning Committee and the crew of USS New Mexico (SSN 779) during its 33-year lifespan will mirror that of an extended family.
Coincidentally, every year from Nov. 1-30, we reflect on the sacrifices and services of our families during National Military Family Appreciation Month. The Navy League's New Mexico Commissioning Committee, like a family, has been a consistent supporter of the sixth Virginia-class submarine since long before the submarine was commissioned in 2010.
The committee has a long history of assisting the crew in a variety of ways to show their support for their state's namesake submarine. Prior to her commissioning, the committee created a New Mexico theme in the décor of the submarine's living quarters, including Southwest-style bunk and passageway curtains.
Capt. Robert Dain, a native of New Mexico, became the first officer in charge of his state's namesake submarine during the boat's pre-commissioning status in 2006-2008.
"It was a great honor to form the initial bond and bring the cultural of the state to the submarine New Mexico," said Dain, who is presently assigned to Commander, Submarine Group Two. Dain was born in Shiprock, N.M., and raised in Tijeras and Cedar Crest, N.M., east of Albuquerque.
Dick Brown, chairman, USS New Mexico Commissioning Committee, said there is a unique relationship the boat shares with the committee. The Commissioning Committee is in their 11th year of support for USS New Mexico, even though the boat was commissioned last year.
"While construction of 'our' sub did not start until March 2004, our pursuit of the name New Mexico started in January 2000," said Brown. "While New Mexico doesn't reside near an ocean, we are very much a Navy state with three submarines honoring our state."
The committee offers support to the crew of USS New Mexico in a variety of ways. Among their support activities are Sailor of the Quarter and Sailor of the Year plaques for the crew, hosting crew member visits to the state, sponsoring crew picnics, and even supplying red Chile Christmas lights to make sure the boat is noticed on the waterfront during the Holiday Season. Most recently, the Committee supplied new tabletops in the design of the New Mexico state flag for five tables in the crew's mess.
So unique is their bond that the committee has organized training for the culinary specialists assigned to the boat to learn the art of creating fine New Mexico cuisine for the crew.
Brown added that the crew had previously named their dining facility affectionately after a popular restaurant in Mesilla, New Mexico. The crew refers to their dining facility as "La Posta Abajo del Mar" which when translated means "La Posta beneath the Sea".
For the past three years, New Mexico Sailors have also attended the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and pictures similar to their flight experiences were also added to the crew's mess décor.
In return, the officers and crew of New Mexico have invited committee members and supporters on two VIP cruises out of Port Canaveral, Fla.
The second VIP cruise, this past September, included many Navy veterans as well as the designer of the ship's crest, Emilee Sena, a college student who is now pursuing a scientific PhD after her experiences with the high-tech submarine and its highly trained crew.
In October, three Sailors assigned to USS New Mexico participated in Albuquerque Navy Week. Navy Weeks provide opportunities for the local residents to meet some of the Navy's Sailors and learn about the Navy's critical missions and its broad ranging capabilities.
During their visit, the Sailors met with New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez; conducted a question and answering session with Sea Cadets at Bataan Military Academy; served dinner at a homeless shelter; attended a Navy birthday ball and participated in other community relations events planned by the New Mexico Commissioning Committee.
New Mexico is named in recognition of the people of the "Land of Enchantment." The battleship New Mexico (BB40), in commission from 1918 to 1946 and the only other ship named after the 47th state, earned six battle stars for World War II service, which included providing shore bombardment support for landings in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, Guam, Tinian, Saipan, the Philippines, and Okinawa. BB40 acted as the flagship for the Pacific Fleet during the 1920s. She was present at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay.
"The Sailors who served aboard New Mexico (BB 40) are truly deserving of the recognition this exhibition provides," said Cmdr. George Perez, commanding officer of New Mexico since October 2010. "Their legacy will continue to serve both the state and the Nation onboard New Mexico for decades to come," said Perez.
The state of New Mexico will celebrate its statehood centennial Jan. 6 2012. Like any other extended family, the crew of USS New Mexico is sure to share their well wishes for another successful 100 years and beyond.
For more news from Commander Submarine Group 2, visit www.navy.mil/local/Subgru2/.
NEW MEXICO Crew Participates in 2011 Navy Week
By NLUS (Navy League of the United States)
Photos courtesy of MC1 Pat Migliaccio and MC1 Mark O'Donald, US Navy, except as noted
Three members of the USS NEW MEXICO crew visited Albuquerque for a week (10/2-10/9) as the community celebrated Albuquerque's 3rd Navy Week and 40th Balloon Fiesta. Our visiting sailors included MMCM(SS) Joaquin Arroyo and MM1(SS) Attila Halacsy of the boat's engineering department and CS2(SS) Geoffrey Obermaier of the crew's mess.
Navy Week showcases the investment Americans have made in their Navy as a global force and increases awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence. Albuquerque Navy Week featured local reservists, senior Navy officials, Destroyers Navy Band, mobile flight simulator and Navy SEAL Leap Frogs Team. The Navy's senior active duty representative from the Pentagon for Albuquerque Navy Week was RADM Mike Broadway, Special Assistant to the Deputy CNO, OPNAV N2N6, for Information Dominance. Also participating in Navy Week was Senior Executive Service representative Carla Lucchino, Assistant for Administration to SECNAV, the highest ranking civilian in the Navy. Throughout Navy week, there was good coverage by the Navy news media.
Our NEW MEXICO sailors attended a balloon glow and fireworks show at Balloon Fiesta Park on their first evening in town.
At Joy Junction, a home for homeless families, our sailors helped serve dinner to nearly 300 residents, participated in a NOSC video tape session and conducted a Q&A session with Sea Cadets at the Bataan Military Academy.
At the Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum they listened to a presentation by Smithsonian Senior Curator, participated in a Chile-cookoff that was taped by KASA Fox TV, and observed Joy Junction kids web-chatting with LT Patrick Gutierrez in San Diego (HSL-49). CS2 Obermaier was a judge for the NOSC vs Recruiters cook-off.
Dick Brown and Damon Runyan, representing the USS New Mexico Committee, briefed Governor Susana Martinez on our namesake submarine and the support it provides to the crew. Joining them at the State Capitol building in Santa Fe were the three namesake sailors and two NAVCO personnel, LT Jessica Berry and MC1 Mark O'Donald (Navy photographer), plus Rick Carver (committee photographer). The group met in the Governor's private office, in an informal setting, for 40 minutes. The Governor was sincerely interested in the boat and absolutely amazed at all the great things the committee is doing for it. Master Chief Arroyo presented the Governor with a USS New Mexico Admiral hat and Damon presented her with christening and commissioning books.
Other activities included El Pinto dinner with the committee at El Pinto Restaurant and Cantina, participation in Albuquerque Hispano Chamber's Fall Mercado, a crew appreciation party at the home of Tom and Mary McConnell, and the New Mexico Council-hosted Navy Birthday Ball.
The NEW MEXICO crew joined RADM Broadway in Kaps for Kids at UNM Children's Hospital and at Presbyterian Hospital Children's Center and in a meeting with Mayor Richard Berry where the mayor presented a Navy Week Proclamation.
During a Saturday mass ascension, MMCM Arroyo rode with Tom McConnell Jr in the Zia balloon while CS2 Obermaier rode with George Hahn. But first in the air was RADM Broadway in BG Mike Rice's Fiesta balloon.
And so ended another highly successful visit by the crew of USS NEW MEXICO.
Committee Creates New Mexico Theme Aboard Submarine
By NLUS (Navy League of the United States)
Photos courtesy of Rick Carver
For the past several years, the Navy League's USS New Mexico Committee has been working on creating a New Mexico theme in the décor of the living quarters aboard the state's namesake submarine.
The work started when the CO of PCU NEW MEXICO, CDR Rob Dain, himself a native of New Mexico, and several crew members visited with Ray Sanchez of R&R Trim in downtown Albuquerque. They selected three different Southwest fabrics to replace the standard shipyard-provided blue bunk curtains in crew's quarters, chiefs quarters and officers quarters. The fabric was tested to ensure it met milspecs; Ray procured the exact hardware the shipyard uses for track-mounting and subcontracted the manufacture of the curtains to Simply Windows in Las Cruces. They were delivered and installed in time for commissioning.
USS NEW MEXICO's second CO, CDR Mark Prokopius, accompanied by some crew members on a subsequent visit to the state, returned to R&R Trim and selected a different Southwest design for 11 passageway curtains. These were also manufactured by Simply Windows in Las Cruces, then shipped to the boat for installation by the crew.
The committee's work in instilling a New Mexico look aboard NEW MEXICO did not stop with bunk and passageway curtains. The sub's third and current CO, CDR George Perez, also embraced the New Mexico décor and asked the committee to turn its attention to the crew's mess.
A dozen or so NEW MEXICO sailors have attended the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta during the past three years and after sharing their flight experiences, the crew requested that balloon photographs be a part of the new crew's mess décor.
The crew had already dubbed its dining facility as "La Posta Abajo del Mar" (La Posta Beneath the Sea) after the popular restaurant in Mesilla, NM where the sub's culinary specialists had been trained in New Mexico cuisine. In fact, every other Tuesday is "Taco Tuesday". The crew loves to visit the owners Tom and Jerean Hutchinson whenever they are in southern New Mexico. The Hutchinsons have been great supporters of USS NEW MEXICO.
The CO directed his Supply Officer, ENS Justin Will, Chief of the Boat ETCS(SS) Eric Murphy and CSC(SS) Ron Sturtz, to work with the committee on decorating 15 double-door lockers on the port side of the crew's mess with Balloon Fiesta photographs and panoramic New Mexico landscapes. With the support of the FASTSIGNS shop in northeast Albuquerque, vinyl reproductions of colorful images from six professional photographers were selected. The adhesive panels were overlaid on the wood-grain formica doors by the crew.
The photographers, Cindy Petrehn, Ron Behrmann, Raymond Watt and Kim Vesely, graciously gave their permission to have select Balloon Fiesta images used onboard the submarine. It is not yet known if the submarine has benefited from the added buoyancy of hundreds of inflated hot air balloons but certainly the spirits of the crew have been buoyed by the undersea mass ascension. New Mexico landscape images were provided by Bryan Holliday and Andy Cook.
CDR Perez not only embraced the New Mexico theme in the crew's mess, but also the legacy of the battleship NEW MEXICO. Consequently, ENS Will and Chief Sturtz had something very special in mind for dressing up the five tables in the crew's mess. They asked the committee to come up with new tabletops in the design of the New Mexico state flag, that is, red Zia sun symbols on yellow backgrounds. Four of the five tables, 2 by 6 feet, were also to include the 10 ratings of the enlisted members of the crew and the fifth smaller table, 2 by 4 feet, was to be a special tribute to the Queen, Battleship NEW MEXICO. The locker door nearest this table exhibited a colorful US Navy photograph of the battleship at sea. With this plan, the committee again turned to FASTSIGNS for graphic design and production.
The centerpiece for the graphic design of the BB-40 tabletop is a charcoal rendering of NEW MEXICO's 14-inch guns by the late Albert John Pucci. The original work was commissioned by Automatic Switch Company when the ship was under construction. The committee worked with Pucci Estate representative Steve McErlain who secured permission to use the image in the crew's mess project. Albert Pucci's wife, Gora, was delighted to have the rendering onboard NEW MEXICO and could not think of a better tribute to her late husband and the old battleship.
With the help of the Naval History & Heritage Command and BB-40 veterans George Herder and George Smith, the committee verified the names of the BB-40 sailors killed during the two kamikaze attacks on the battleship. This BB-40 Honor Roll lists 30 men killed on New Mexico Statehood Day, January 6, 1945, during Philippines campaign and the 56 men killed on May 12, 1945 during the Okinawa Campaign. As it turns out, George Herder was on the bridge when his CO was killed during the kamikase attack. The crew did a beautiful job installing the new tabletops this past summer.
The CO has now asked the committee to turn its attention to his wardroom which is becoming a mini-museum for small BB-40 artifacts.
Dolphins Escort NEW MEXICO to Deep Water
By NLUS (Navy League of the United States)
Photos courtesy of Rick Carver
On Sunday, September 18, 2011, USS NEW MEXICO (SSN-779) hosted its second VIP cruise. Embarkees arrived at the Naval Ordnance Test Unit pier at Port Canaveral, FL just before sunrise to watch the boat come in, turn around and moor aft of USS CALIFORNIA (SSN-781). As soon as the brow was put in place, Mark & Deborah Schaefer, Pat & Kerrie Sena, Emilee Sena, Rick Carver, Julia Plotnikov, Tom & Jerean Hutchinson, Amy Pearson, Richard Simpson, Michael Richins, Greg Trapp, Richard Madison and Dick Brown boarded the boat.
NEW MEXICO was escorted to deep water by six dolphins frolicking in her bow wave. The weather was perfect and everyone but Greg had an opportunity to climb up to the bridge. The Navy thinks Greg may be the first blind person to go to sea in a nuclear submarine. The surface transit to the designated dive box lasted about three hours. The boat then dove and for the next four hours the crew demonstrated what the boat can do, putting her through various maneuvers, and at one point reaching a depth of 600 feet and at another point achieving 25-degree pitch angles.
Embarkees spent considerable time in the control room, observing the crew at their radar, sonar, weapons control, communications, navigation, photonics and ship control stations.
Tom & Jerean Hutchinson delivered a beautiful wooden La Posta sign that instantly found its place on the galley door. A great lunch featuring New Mexican cuisine was served in the wardroom. Guided tours showed most working and living spaces forward of the reactor compartment. The crew is very proud of the New Mexico theme that the committee has created in the crews mess and berthing areas. During a tour of the torpedo room, Emilee had the honor of firing a water slug (torpedo firing simulation). The XO read the Governor's Proclamation over the 1MC during our return to port.
The Captain invited Emilee to the bridge for the last hour of the underway as the boat kept its distance from three outbound cruise ships. NEW MEXICO returned to port at sundown.
Rick Carver, the trip's designated official photographer, made sure that the embarkees had an excellent photographic record of the trip. He also captured all the New Mexico decor enhancements the committee has been working on this year.
The crew was fantastic. These submariners are young professionals, very knowledgeable about their boat and their shipboard duties. It was quite apparent that the CO is very proud of his sailors.
The next day, the crew hosted a picnic near the pier, and the CO provided boat tours for George Smith, Bob Goodwin and LaVell Richins, WWII veterans who served aboard battleship NEW MEXICO. It was an awesome sight to see two Virginia-class submarines moored at Port Canaveral. And it was fascinating to watch sea turtles and manatees swimming around hull.
NEW MEXICO is scheduled to serve as a training submarine for prospective COs and XOs over the next few months. After some final operational testing and certifications early next year, the boat expects to become a surge-deployable asset for our Navy and our Nation.
Watch the USS NEW MEXICO Commissioning! The USS NEW MEXICO was commissioned on 27 March 2010 at the Norfolk Naval Base and is now officially a member of the fleet of the United States Navy. The hugely successful commissioning events were a result of the tremendous financial and in-kind support provided by the citizens of New Mexico and many other states.
As the host state, New Mexico has a continuing obligation to support the crew of USS NEW MEXICO. The SSN 779 Committee, a part of the Navy League's New Mexico Council, has taken on a continuing effort to raise funds and organize in-kind support for the SSN 779 crew.
Some projects the SSN 779 Committee is organizing support for in 2010 are:
- Decoration of the Crew's Mess
- Replacement of Passageway Curtains with New Mexico style fabrics
- Host the new Commanding Officer in New Mexico
