One of the U.S. Navy’s latest generation of shallow-draft transport craft will be named the U.S. Naval Ship Millinocket in honor of Millinocket and East Millinocket, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said Wednesday.
The U.S. Navy’s third joint high-speed vessel will follow in the tradition of the USS Stephen W. Groves, a guided-missile frigate named after an East Millinocket flyer posthumously awarded the Navy Cross during World War II, while honoring the town of Millinocket, Mabus said in a statement.
“Millinocket displays American values of community and ingenuity at their best,” Mabus said. “I chose to name the joint high speed vessel after East Millinocket and Millinocket to honor those values and the men and women of the community that represents them no less today than it did in the early 1900s.”
Shallow-draft transports for troops, military vehicles and equipment, joint high-speed vessels can carry 600 short tons and travel 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots. They are designed to provide U.S. forces added mobility and flexibility, according to a U.S. Navy site dedicated to the subject.
They feature a 20,000-square-foot open mission deck, an aviation flight deck to support day and night air vehicle launch and recovery operations, and have berthing space for up to 42 crew members, 104 personnel, and airline-style seating for up to 312, Navy officials said.
U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, R-Maine; and 2nd District U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, D-Maine, applauded Mabus’ decision to honor the Katahdin region.
“Millinocket is a proud community that was built on a rich history of hard work, determination, and perseverance,” said Collins, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Defense. “These are the same qualities that will be reflected in all those who serve aboard the Millinocket for years to come.”
Michaud said the vessel would be the second named after Millinocket. The USS Millinocket, a freighter, was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Cuba on June 17, 1942. A plaque dedicated to the Millinocket hangs in that town’s municipal office.
“I’m pleased that the Navy chose to name another ship after the town of Millinocket, on the 70th anniversary of the sinking of the USS Millinocket,” said Michaud. “Maine has a long, proud history of shipbuilding that deserves to be recognized and honored by the naming of our Navy’s vessels.”
Snowe and Collins pointed out that the Millinocket would join the Navy about a year after the USS Stephen W. Groves was decommissioned. Stephen Groves was a 25-year-old Navy ensign from East Millinocket who died during the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942, after taking off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet.
Mabus said he liked Millinocket’s rich history as a papermaking town ― at one time home to the world’s largest paper mill. During the Great Depression, showing a great sense of community, millworkers coordinated to reduce the number of hours individual employees worked to ensure that all employees could provide for their families, he said.
High speed car ferry with a ramp. Congratulations Millinocket.
Being from Millinocket and also a Navy veteran, I can say I am proud of both my hometown and also proud of my time I spent in the Navy. Millinocket is a special place with a lot of very fine hard working people and families. It’s good to see it reconized and honored.
From one Maineiac veteran (21 years USAF) to another, thanks for your service!
It would be great (in a few years) if she came to Maine for a summer visit at one of our many “festivals” or better yet, lobster boat races!
A positive note for the area and an Honor for the 2 towns.
guess thats one thing the three towns can agree on Now agree on the schools cause the kids are the ones missin out
Nice Ship!!!
I hope it floats better then the millinocket mills do.
It’s not a good sign that boats built in Alabama are being named after dying Maine towns. And it’s not a good sign that our Congressional delegation is reaching back to events in the min-1940’s to justify those naming rights. Is this really all they can produce for us? How about some actual jobs? Perhaps we could have built the SS Millinocket in Millinocket? (or Bath or Portsmouth?)……
Do you actually say anything positive. Regardless what you think of the Millinocket area, it is a great honor, regardless where the ship; was built. 1940’s had a lot of significance for the United States, reaching back? Maybe you also want to forget the call “Remember the Maine”. Maybe you want to forget the Missouri Compromise also. The Tractor Supply Store is coming, they are in the process of buidling their first plant to produce pellets. Millinocket area has produced a wonderful Multi-Use trail that is bringing people in.
When was the last time you saw a happy liberal?
When Obama won, unfortunately.
Why do you expect our Congressional leaderS to produce jobs? There are plenty of careers out there if one gets off their butt, gets some education- and puts in some effort. Ask the state for a list of the new and used cars that are sold every month-someone is working.
Looks like the CAT that ran out of Bar Harbor. Always wondered where it went.
Its the CAT painted gray and dosed with a few steriods
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/us-marines-extend-westpac-express-tsv-ship-charter-0900/
This ship should not be confused with the USNS Mike Michaud.
Better they named it the Millinocket Fin & Feather Club – the finest sportsmen’s organization that exists on the planet.
Almost looks like The Cat had a military make over. Doesn’t it?
Seems as if nothing will satisfy a lot fo you….. can’t say anything positive about any article… no matter what it is. Sad…..
I agree.
Isn’t it? The comment sections of news websites seem to be one of the most toxic mainstream environments on the internet.
These 3rd generation vessel’s are an example of what can happen when R&D money and effort is provided time to come together. Most of these ship’s are built using composite material’s, the kind of composite’s that Maine’s University’s are, and have been, developing over the last 10 years. If there was ever an example of just how much a R&D program can eventually payoff, this is it. Who know’s, maybe the Navy can bring the ship up here and give Paulie and Company a joyride. If you’re going to shoot the horse then isin’t it proper to see what the horse can do BEFORE you pull the trigger ?
Mike the R&D to build this boat had focus. It was aimed at building a boat.
Fine, expand the focus to what and how this and type of construction, and material’s, can be used elsewhere. That’s what the next responsible and logical business step is, the adapting and expanding of the R&D’s immediate and out-growth technology’s use into other field’s and area’s. Or is that kind of vision and leadership too much to expect from Maine ? Me personally, I don’t think so. And I wonder how many others out there are seeing this as well ? Given Paulie’s recent statement’s, you can bet your 1st born that he isin’t nor are his shortsighted lemming’s, all ready to jump off the cliff at his beck and call. This is where vision and responsible leadership come in, not crying and whining in the street’s wearing sack cloth and ashes crying in a stale beer. My only question, and I can bet even you, is whether or not the Legislature has the vision to see this technology, and it’s ‘in your face’ result’s as a way to improve Maine’s future ? How many school building’s in this State need upgrading, or replacement, and could benefit, by the use of these same composite’s that the Navy used in the HSV’s construction ? Same can be said for the Maine Highway System. Technology’s use and application’s are only limited by our own preconceptions and attitude’s. The next step is your’s ………………..
What reseach would you like to fund??? I’m all for funding research. R&D is a great idea.. I have a couple projects I would like them to R&D for me. Thanks I’ll see if they will take my Idea and run with it.
Gee, lets start with the simple stuff first. How many of Maine’s town’s and city’s are suffering from outdated water and septic system’s due to rust and corrosion ? These new composite’s are almost immune from that. How much money IS NOT going to be have to be spent on pipe replaceent and associated costs by using composite’s that are ore durable than the current concrete and steel one’s ? Think long term and the buck’s add up quick. The numerous natural gas supplier’s already know this from their laying of lines off of their ‘reel’ truck’s. School’s, as mentioned before, all need periodic manitenance and up-grading. Composites, and other similar technology’s, make this simpler, easier and quicker once the initial hooha is done. Again, think long term and cost / time cycle. How many Fire Station’s and other public facillities, most which are WAY past their prime, could use composite material’s in ther renovation or rebuilding, at a huge savings to the community they serve ? When, and it’s still a HUGE ‘IF’ as far as I’ve seen, this 3 Ring Binder Project ever gets off it’s dead butt it to can benefit from applcation and development of composite’s in the numerous switching stations and cable vault’s that are needed. Most are either a steel ‘quickie-type’ building that are useless after no more than a year due to Maine’s weather. Composite structure’s are, and the Navy has proven, beyond question far more resistant to weathering and corrosive effect’s than steel, and masonry for that fact, as well.
What I will admit to is the fact to this point I have yet to see any of the local or State Fire Chief’s or Marshal’s enter into this as far as these composite materials passing the State Building Code for fire resistance and Insurance purpose’s. If this is the ‘BIG ‘IF’ then it needs to be determined by others far more qualified than I. And that is something that we all need to see, and the sooner the better for all of us.
Sorry to dissapoint you, but these vessels are basically stock Austal 100 meter ferries, with some modifications for military use. I sailed on the Westpac Express in Okinawa, and it was the test bed for this military application. They’re not a bad boat, but the fuel consumption is insane (of course the military doesn’t need to show a profit).
My problem is that Austal formed a shell company (Austal USA) and built the worlds largest aluminum boat manufacturing facility in Mobile, AL to build vessels for the US Navy. It does provide jobs locally, but the coorporate headquarters is in Australia, and where do you think all the profits go? You guessed it, Australia!
There was some US R&D involved in the LCS class that Austal is also building in Mobile. It is a trimaran, based on a 102m tri hull ferry “Benchijigua Express” built for Spain in 2005. The LCS class are state of the art aluminum hulls (kind of look like a Romulan Warbird) but seeing’s how are surface fleet is larger than the next 13 largest fleets combined, and 11 of those are our allies, it kind of makes you wonder if we really need to have over 4 Billion (3.5B for the LCS Class, 1.45B for the JHSC Class) in contracts with a foriegn company to build more Naval Surface Vessels.
Hey, I’m not saying use them for ferries. But the material’s they were built from and that came out of their construction, not to mention the techniques used in their building, are the big issue’s here. And as far as the Austral job’s issue goes, and whatever profits are derived from job’s and project’s originating and developed in Maine, well, they stay here in Maine when we have Mainer’s using these material’s and technique’s for those same jobs and project’s built here in Maine, and elsewhere, that we build for and contract to. That’s what improving the business climate is about and it’s disappointing that LePage, despite his time at Marden’s, hasn’t realized that. That’s what the Office of The Governor is all about. And Mainer’s are seeing that more and more on a daily basis. And folk’s complain about the media !
Having worked at the Millinocket mill for many years and lived in the area, I am very pleased that the Navy chose to honor Millinocked and East Millinocket in this manner. “Fair winds and following seas”
Gomer approves!!!!!!
Congradulations!
The R&D that went into this ship had nothing to do with the millions of taxpayer dollars that get funneled into U-Maine or MTI each year.
The proposed R&D bonds being floated out there should go to small business, and have nothing to do with Maines two largest pork hounds U-Maine & MTI.
My grandfather Joseph Semon died on the USS Millinocket, he was a third mate aboard her when she sank. I was pleased to see a plaque in Millinocket with my grandfather’s name (spelled incorrectly) and after some further research, exchanged emails with the late Captain’s granddaughter who was surprised about the plaque. Seems her mother never talked much about losing her father but she did christen a Bull Line ship shortly thereafter during the war. My current position as Chief Engineer aboard the yet to be delivered USNS Spearhead JHSV-1 allows me to keep track of the Millinocket as she is welding together here down in Mobile Alabama. My father will be greatly pleased to learn of this ship’s naming as the USNS Millinocket, especially so because he worked 32 years in Military Sealift Command and has the connection of losing his father on the last one with that name.
joe_semon@hotmail.com
How funny that the Navy , one of the worlds largest consumers of paper would name a ship after a paper making town !