The Navy’s newest boat, USS Savannah, will officially be brought to life during a commissioning ceremony Saturday at the Port of Brunswick.
Cmdr. Kevin Ray stated that the Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship is a “huge advance” over Navy’s other surface vessels. Kevin Ray is the ship’s commanding officer.
Ray, a Navy veteran who served 17 years in the Navy, said that it is his first time onboard a vessel during its commissioning. He stated that his crew is equally excited about the task.
The Savannah is described to be a fast, agile, and focused-mission platform that can operate in near-shore environments but can also be used open-ocean. It is capable of defeating asymmetric “antiaccess” threats like mines, quiet diesel subs and fast surface crafts.
Ray indicated that the Savannah will be ported back to San Diego in its place of origin after it leaves Brunswick.
Ray explained that although the ship is still new, Ray said that the crew has been training hard and are ready for their new duties.
“Our sailors know how to react and what to do,” he stated.
Ray explained that there will be two crews on the boat, each with a deployment lasting approximately six months.
When crew members are not at sea, they will be training and taking leave time.
A number of the 70 sailors on board will have also earned their Naval Surface Warfare Specialist pin. This takes around 18 months. The designation signifies that a sailor knows enough about the ship’s systems to be able to take over in an emergency. Because of the danger a fire can pose to a vessel at sea, firefighting is an important skill everyone learns.
Ray showed Ray the Savannah during a Thursday boat tour. He explained how the Savannah is a formidable platform at the sea.
The trimaran hull warship, measuring 127 meters in length, incorporates new technology that supports current and future mission capabilities from deep sea to the littoral zone.
The boat has a larger flight deck than the ones on Navy destroyers. A helicopter can be stored inside the ship.
It can travel at more than 40 knots in top speed and can also be used as a strike ship in different environments.
The original intention was to have the commissioning ceremony in the ship’s named city. However, because the Port of Savannah has a backlog of freight ships, the ceremony was moved to Brunswick. The city is not being overlooked.
Ray mentioned that his crew has attended events in Savannah as a way to remember the commissioning. This will ensure that the city is well represented at Saturday’s invitation only ceremony. The ceremony begins at 9:45 a.m. and will be shown live online at dvidshub.net/webcast/27899.
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