USS DETROIT CREST UNVEILED IN DUAL CEREMONIES IN DETROIT AND SAN DIEGO

The official crest of the USS DETROIT (LCS 7) was unveiled on Friday, February 21, 2014, at dual ceremonies held in San Diego and Detroit.  


“Our crest pays tribute to the great City of Detroit and the ship and crew that bear its name,” Commander Michael Wohnhaas, USN, Prospective Commanding Officer of USS DETROIT (LCS 7) said during ceremonies held at the San Diego Naval Station, the homeport for the ship when she joins the fleet in 2016.  “None of this would be possible without the talents of a number of our First Class Petty Officers, whose ideas will live on in the crest long after we’ve departed for other commands.”

He also delivered similar remarks in a recorded video message to those attending in Detroit and thanked the Metropolitan Detroit Council, Navy League of the United States for the support he and his crew had already received. The ceremony held at Port Detroit was attended by Detroit news media and special guests.  Participants in the Detroit unveiling event included:  Mrs. Barbara Levin, the ship’s sponsor; Jay Farner, President and Chief Marketing Officer, Quicken Loans, Inc., and Honorary Chairman of the Navy League’s USS DETROIT (LCS 7) BLUE & GOLD COMMITTEE; Detroit Deputy Mayor Ike McKinnon; Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano; John Jamian, Executive Director, Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority and John Peracchio, Vice Chairman of the Metropolitan Detroit Council’s USS DETROIT (LCS 7) BLUE & GOLD COMMITTEE. 

 “As you will soon see, each element of the crest symbolizes something about the Navy, about the ship’s mission and about its namesake,” Mrs. Barbara Levin, the ship’s sponsor, said before unveiling the crest.   “The USS DETROIT will carry the name of the Motor City across the ocean, proudly bearing this crest which embodies Detroit’s resilient spirit.  It is a great ship, with a great crew, that will carry a great crest that symbolizes her strength and agility.  It will provide a reminder to her crew that proud people of Detroit and all Americans sail with them.” 

The USS DETROIT (LCS 7) BLUE & GOLD COMMITTEE was formed by the Metropolitan Detroit Council, Navy League of the United States, in November 2012, shortly after the keel laying ceremony for the ship at the Lockheed Martin Marinette Shipyard in Marinette, Wis.  The committee is working with CDR Wohnhaas and other Navy officials on a number of projects leading to the ship’s commissioning in 2016.

“The Navy League frequently organizes commissioning ceremonies for the United States Navy,” said John Peracchio, vice chairman of the committee.  “Our Blue & Gold Committee was formed in anticipation that our ship will be commissioned here in 2016.  We’re underway early to support the crew of DETROIT.

“Founded with the support of President Theodore Roosevelt in 1902, the Navy League of the United States has been a powerful voice advocating a strong maritime component to America’s national defense for over a century,” he added.  “Our committee and our Metropolitan Detroit Council is dedicated to supporting the crew of the DETROIT and all the men and women in our Sea Services.”


“We have so many exciting things happening on our Detroit waterfront these days,” said John Jamian, Executive Director, Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority. 


“The naming of the USS DETROIT (LCS 7), as well as Mrs. Levin being selected as the ship’s sponsor, are added feathers in our cap,” Jamian added. 


“We are hopeful and looking forward to the possibility of hosting the commissioning of the USS DETROIT in 2016,” Jamian concluded.

“Detroit has a rich history of maritime activity,” said Ike McKinnon, Deputy Mayor of Detroit.  “Our city and our citizens could not be prouder that we are the namesake for a state of the art ship that undoubtedly will prove as tough and agile and strong as our city.”

“The new USS Detroit reflects the promise, renewal and growth that symbolizes what we see here in Detroit and Wayne County,” said Robert Ficano, Wayne County Executive.  “Sometimes we forget how vital a port is to a community.  It’s quite an honor to have a ship named after Detroit.”

CDR Wohnhaas said that about 60 percent of the ship is now complete, including the helicopter hangar, and that the name “DETROIT” is now proudly displayed on the stern doors.  Control consoles are starting to be installed on the bridge.  At the ship’s training office in San Diego, 27 of his 40 crew members have reported on board.


The ship will be launched this summer and christened USS DETROIT by Mrs. Levin during ceremonies at the Lockheed Martin Marinette (Wisconsin) shipyard.  She will be commissioned in 2016 and then sail to her homeport of San Diego.


Representatives from the offices of Congresswoman Candice S. Miller, Congressman Gary Peters and Senator Debbie Stabenow also attend the ceremony.  Last November, these and other members of the Michigan Congressional delegation co-signed a letter to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, encouraging him to select Detroit as the commissioning site for the ship.  The member of  Representative Miller’s office read a letter from her during the ceremony.


“Times may change but the Navy’s mission will always be to maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and ensuring freedom of the seas,” Miller wrote.   “The DETROIT will prove instrumental in helping the Navy continue to achieve its mission as it evolves to 21^st Century warfare.  Similar to the Navy entering a new chapter of its history, so is the City of Detroit.  Detroit has famously faced its own challenges and has a deep history of being able to adapt, adjust and rebuild throughout the years.  It is fitting that this crest unveiling occurs in a city that is going through analogous changes.”


LCS is a fast, agile, focused-mission platform designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open-ocean operation. It is designed to defeat asymmetric “anti-access” threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft.

 

John Peracchio

 

Deputy Mayor Ike McKinnon

 

Robert Ficano, Wayne County Executive

 

Jay Farner, President and CMO, Quicken Loans, Inc.

 

Mrs. Barbara Levin

 

Unveiling of the Crest

 

 

USS MILWAUKEE (LCS 5) MAKES A SPECTACULAR SPLASH!

There's a lot of news coverage on yesterday's launching and christening ceremony for the USS MILWAUKEE (LCS 5).  Coverage on the Fox News 11 site is comprehensive and includes the You Tube video provided by Lockheed Martin.

I will update this report with input from USS DETROIT (LCS 7) BLUE & GOLD COMMITTEE member Jerry Moskwa, who attended yesterday's launching, once he checks in.

MOTOWN, HERE WE COME!

 

 

 

This is an awesome photo of the USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) during sea trails in Lake Michigan.  She was commissioned in Galveston, Texas in September and is now home ported at Naval Station, Pearl Harbor.  (OK, it may have a "joint" name today, but for us sailors, it will always be "Pearl".)

 

Earlier today, I participated in a DOD Bloggers Roundtable with Maj. Gen. Michael Keltz, USAF, Director for Strategic Planningand Policy, U.S. Pacific Command.  One of my questions was on the forward deployment of USS Freedom (LCS 1) to Singapore, with future LCS's including the USS Detroit (LCS 7) to follow.  I will post my report here, as well as on the www.NavyMemorial.org site and my other blog site www.saluteourtroopsandveterans.blogspot.com in a few days.  General Keltz, a native of Hawaii, (his father endured the attack on December 7th,) shared his perspective on international military and bilateral cooperation in the area the Pacific Command has responsibility. A recording of the bloggers conference is available on DODLive.mil.  Needless to say, it was a very interesting 30 minute interaction with one of our key military leaders at the Pacific Command.  Look for my post in a few days.

 

In the meantime, we look forward to the USS Detroit joining the Navy fleet in 2015.

 

 

A Short History of Ships Named Detroit

A Short History of Ships Named Detroit

 

Six ships of the US Navy have been named Detroit.        

The first USS Detroit, a 12-gun ship, was built by the British at Malden, Canada in 1813 and captured by the Americans during the Battle of Lake Erie 10 September 1813.  The old sailing ship actually carried 19 guns at the Battle of Lake Erie. The USN kept her in service till 1815, then scrapped her.

Another Detroit, a screw steamer, was laid down at the New York Navy Yard in 1865 but canceled in 1866 and broken up on the stocks.  The steamer Detroit never really began construction. She was cancelled as the Civil War was over and the USN was downsizing. Had the war continued, she would have been the second USS Detroit. 

The second USS Detroit was a sloop-of-war named so from 15 May to 10 August in 1869. Before and after these dates she was known as the first Canandaigua.  This ship was a mis-naming during a massive re-naming exercise by the Navy.
 
The third USS Detroit (C-10) was a cruiser in use from 1893 to 1904.  The first cruiser Detroit was part of the Montgomery class. That was probably the worst class of cruisers ever designed for the USN. The Detroit must have been poorly built since she went out of service so quickly in 1904 and scrapped while her sister ships lasted till 1919 and 1921.

The fourth USS Detroit (CL-8) was a light cruiser in service from 1923 to 1946.  The second cruiser Detroit was part of the Omaha class. When designed, the Omahas were state-of-the-art. When completed, they were behind the state-of-the-art and by WWII, were obsolescent. The entire class of ten ships spent most of the war on subsidiary duties as the more modern Brooklyn and.Cleveland class cruisers did the front line work.  She survived the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The fifth USS Detroit (AOE-4) was a fast combat support ship commissioned in 1970 and decommissioned in 2005.  I was commissioned an Ensign, US Naval Reserve on 4 June 1969.  Prior to my commissioning, while finishing my degree at Michigan State University, I began doing weekly "drills" or meetings with the Naval Reserve Public Affairs Company 9-6.  NARPAC 9-6, as she was known, was composed of a great group Naval officers, some who were WWII Naval Aviators.  One, Ms. Jean Pearson, an editorial writer for The Detroit News, was a "ferry" pilot during the war.  Other members were young Turks in their 20's, all Class A personalities with jobs in advertising, marketing and journalism.  Ken Beachler, then a direct commission Ensign, and I used to drive down to Detroit on Monday nights for a one hour meeting with the NARPAC buddies held in the Navy Recruiting offices in the old Lafayette Building.  One project we worked on was to assist in the commissioning of this ship.  Recently, I reconnected with my former skipper, LT Frank Beaumont, who was a newspaper publisher back in the 60's and 70's.  He has a photo of the CO of the USS Detroit and his wife inspecting the paper restaurant placemat we designed to promote the commissioning.  Once I have the photo, I will insert it into this blog.  The Detroit, a deep draft replenishment ship, was too large to enter the Great Lakes.  She was homeported on the West Coast, then the East Coast.  Her final homeport was in New Jersey.
 
This sixth USS Detroit (LCS 7) is a Littoral Combat Ship being built by Lockheed Martin’s Marinette Marine Corp. in Marinette, Wisconsin.  Her keel will be laid on 8 November 2012 and she will be commissioned in 2016.