SAN DIEGO, Oct. 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On
Saturday, October 21, General
Dynamics NASSCO hosted a christening and naming ceremony for the
Navy's newest Expeditionary Sea Base, the USNS Hershel "Woody"
Williams (ESB 4).
The ship's namesake, Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams, spoke at
the ceremony, and his two daughters, Travie
Ross and Tracie Ross,
officially named and christened the ship with the traditional break
of a champagne bottle alongside the ship. Williams, a retired U. S.
Marine, received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Battle
of Iwo Jima during World War II. He is the last surviving recipient
of the Medal of Honor from that battle.
Several dignitaries provided remarks at the event, including
Sen. Joe Manchin; Major General
Eric M. Smith, Commanding General,
1st Marine Division, U.S. Marine Corps; Rear Admiral
William J. Galinis, Program
Executive Officer, Ships, U.S. Navy; and Vice Admiral Dixon R. Smith, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations
for Fleet Readiness and Logistics, U.S. Navy.
NASSCO President Kevin Graney
remarked, "Every day we as shipbuilders and repairers come together
to be a part of something much larger than ourselves. The ships we
design, construct and maintain serve a mission that is vital to our
nation and the defense of freedom. Like every Marine, this ship is
adaptable. Like its namesake, this ship is a force multiplier. We
could not be more honored and more proud to design, build and soon
deliver the USNS Hershel "Woody" Williams."
USNS Hershel "Woody" Williams is the Navy's second ESB ship. The
784-foot-long ship will serve as a flexible platform to support a
variety of missions, including air mine countermeasures,
counter-piracy operations, maritime security and humanitarian
missions. The ship will provide for accommodations for up to 250
personnel, a 52,000-square-foot flight deck, fuel and equipment
storage, and will also support MH-53 and MH-60 helicopters with an
option to support MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft. Currently nearing the
end of construction, the ship will be delivered to the U.S. Navy in
February 2018.
General Dynamics NASSCO has delivered three ships in the class
to the Navy: USNS Montford Point(ESD 1), USNS John Glenn (ESD 2)
and USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3). USNS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB
4) is the fourth ship to be constructed by NASSCO shipbuilders
under the program. A fifth ship is currently under construction,
with a planned delivery of March
2019, and funding for a sixth ship has passed several
Congressional committees.
NASSCO's facility in San Diego
is the only full-service shipyard on the West Coast capable of
designing, building, and maintaining large, ocean-going ships. The
company maintains a bi-coastal ship maintenance and repair
operation with locations in San
Diego; Mayport, Florida;
Norfolk, Virginia; and
Bremerton, Washington.
For more information about General Dynamics NASSCO, a business
unit of General Dynamics
(NYSE: GD), visit www.nassco.com.
VIDEOS:
- Moving Big Blocks: Flight Deck for USNS Hershel "Woody"
Williams – May 2017
- Float-Out: USNS Hershel "Woody" Williams – August 2017
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SOURCE General Dynamics NASSCO