Hawaii Superferries, Marad, Title XI and the US Navy – Taxpayers Still Foot the Bill

Pity the poor taxpayer.  The headline was short and simple – U.S. Navy Buys Hawaii Superferries.  For only $35 million dollars, the US Navy is buying two aluminum, high-speed, ro/ro ferries built for Hawaii Superferry for inter-island service in Hawaii.  The ferries were … Continue reading

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is No More – A Navy Marriage and New Places to Recruit

The US military’s previous policy toward gay service members; “don’t ask, don’t tell; officially came to an end yesterday.   Naval officer, Lt. Gary Ross, chose the day to marry his partner of eleven years, Dan Swezy, in Duxbury, Vt.   In Tulsa, … Continue reading

Update: Captain Owen Honors Can Stay in Navy Despite Lewd Video Scandal

Last January we posted that Captain Owen Honors had been relieved of duty on USS Enterprise after it was revealed that he produced a series of lewd videos when he was XO (Executive Officer) on the nuclear powered aircraft carrier.  Today a Navy panel voted … Continue reading

USNS Bejanmin Isherwood and the USNS Henry Eckford – From the Shipyard to the Scrapyard Without a Day of Service

Twenty five years ago, the US Navy contracted to build two fleet oilers, the USNS Bejanmin Isherwood and the USNS Henry Eckford.   The Navy spent at least $300 million dollars on their construction. Due to shipyard defaults and various … Continue reading

Happy Birthday, U.S. Submarine Force: 111 Today

One hundred and eleven years ago today the US Navy accepted  its first successful submarine, the USS Holland.  The previous November, in New York harbor, the Holland passed the Navy’s tests.  She ran for one mile underwater, surfaced, fired a torpedo then … Continue reading

Navy Electromagnetic Railgun Annihilates Targets 100 Miles Away In Six Minutes

This is fascinating and terrifying at the same time.  The US Navy is testing an electromagnetic railgun capable of hitting a target 100 miles away. Navy Electromagnetic Railgun Annihilates Targets 100 Miles Away In Six Minutes In the near future, US Navy ships … Continue reading

Stealth Submarines – Concerns in Asia & Flaking Tiles in the US

Aren’t all submarines supposed to be stealthy?  I suppose some are stealthier than others.  The South China Morning Post in Hong Kong is reporting concerns by China’s neighbors that China may have already built a stealth submarine.  On the other side of … Continue reading

Sagres in San Diego and San Diego in Pascagoula

Last week, one of my favorite tall ships, the Portuguese Sail Training Ship Sagres visited San Diego, California. This weekend, on the Gulf Coast in Pascagoula, Mississippi, the US Navy christened the USS San Diego, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship.    Not to be too critical … Continue reading