The Navy needs to raise the level of discussion and debate on Sea Power and the service needs to get a better handle on how it determines and controls requirements, according to the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO).

“I believe Sea Power, as a notion, has become far too narrowly defined,” Adm. Mike Mullen yesterday told attendees at the Surface Navy Association annual symposium in Arlington, Va.

“For too long it’s been centered in, my view on one of two things: programs and blue water, building big things and putting them at sea,” he said. “I believe it’s all too often been our focus and it’s a focus that wrongly keeps us tied to a Cold War mentality.”

Sea Power 21 provides a great architecture, a terrific vision, but Mullen said he fears the Navy has let it wander into a debate over what the service buys and how much it spends.

“It’s become too programmatic. That needs to change,” he said.

When he talks about Sea Power, Mullen said he wants to talk about putting ordnance on target and all that means for the joint force not just about what type of ordnance is being shot.

When discussing Sea Shield, Mullen said he wants to talk about tactics and procedures, the thought process he is going to use to defend the force and not just about the technologies that allow him to do it.

And when he talks about Sea Basing, he wants to address capabilities, and not just ships.

“When it comes to Sea Power, I want to get at the ‘how,’” Mullen said. “I am convinced that if we don’t, if we don’t take a look around at how we are being utilized by this nation today, and how we may be utilized in the future, we run the risk of not being ready when we are called upon, or not being called upon even if we think we are ready.”

Mullen said his comments shouldn’t lead anyone to believe he doesn’t want big things at sea. “We are still going to invest in blue water capabilities.”

“We are still going to be ready and stay ready for major combat operations against any strategic competitor,” he said. “I am going to make sure as long as I am CNO that no body else’s navy anywhere can drive me off the sea, and [that] we build a future where that position can be sustained. We must be able to win the big and small wars; two challenges, one fleet, and it’s the small [wars] now we are coming to grips with.”

Mullen said he has addressed upward of 15,000 sailors and the vast majority are involved in operations that he considers green, brown, or in some cases, far removed from the sea. For example, Seabees in Iraq have been constructing facilities in the western part of that country.

“Surface warfare and surface warriors will remain and are in the thick of it. That’s why we are building the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) in the first place, to get at these types of mission areas,” he said. “Most of the ships I have been aboard and most of the crews I spent time with were performing jobs in many cases that they were not built for or originally trained to do.”

Later this month the service will stand up a Naval Expeditionary Combat Command to get its hands around what Mullen called the “below the line skill sets in our service.” For example, explosive ordnance disposal, security, and an expeditionary logistics force.

The service is also moving forward on establishing a riverine squadron in the near future, Mullen added. “Surface warriors are once again going to own that mission.”

“We have a long history of being up river, dating back to the Civil War and we are going to rekindle [that],” he said.

The Navy is also going to assume command of the detainee mission at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Mullen said he is comfortable taking on that role. A Navy unit made up mostly of Master-at-Arms and Seabees is going to take charge of Fort Suse, a new high security prison about to open in Iraq.

The Navy is also going to take on the joint task force in the Horn of Africa and lead the defense of Iraq’s Haditha Dam, which provides the Iraqi people a third of their electricity.

“We have 4,000 sailors on ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, and over 10,000 in the CENTCOM AOR. That will climb to over 7,000 and 12,000, respectively,” he said. “That is not the way we have traditionally thought of Sea Power, but it is Sea Power for this new century and we are going to harness it.”

Mullen also praised industry saying he believes in the “power and the genius of industry in the United States.

“But we can’t afford every new gadget. We can’t afford the ‘Star Wars’ version of every new idea,” he said. “We need to be selective and efficient.”

Mullen said shipbuilding is one of the most significant challenges he is facing now.

“We had only four ships n the FY ’06 budget. We’re at 280 ships right now and that’s just not enough. We’re as low as I’m comfortable going,” he said.

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England Orders Eight QDR Spin-Off Reviews

By Jason Sherman, InsideDefense.com, January 10, 2006

The Defense Department is launching eight follow-on assessments of the nearly complete Quadrennial Defense Review, aiming to continue examining a wide range of key issues addressed over the last 10 months, according to Pentagon officials and documents.

Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England commissioned the new efforts -- dubbed “2005 Quadrennial Defense Review Execution Roadmaps” -- last week, assigning senior uniformed and civilian leaders responsibility for issues ranging from improving proficiency against irregular warfare to institutional reforms.

“As the Quadrennial Defense Review nears its completion, several important initiatives have been identified that warrant a greater degree of attention in execution,” England wrote in a Jan. 5 memo to senior Defense Department leaders.

These QDR spin-off reviews are expected to frame this summer’s debate within the Defense Department over the shape of the Pentagon’s new six-year blueprint for investments and organization that will span fiscal years 2008 to 2013, England said.

From the outset of the 10-month review, which is due to Congress next month, senior Pentagon officials planned at its conclusion to commission additional appraisals of policies and investment decisions not ripe for action during the QDR.

The six integrated product team panels established last year to shoulder much of the QDR’s work will pass the baton to these eight new QDR execution roadmap efforts, dividing their respective portfolios to the new assessment categories established by England.

The eight new QDR execution roadmaps are:

“DOD Institutional Reform and Governance,” to be led by Kenneth Krieg, under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, and Army Lt. Gen. Walter “Skip” Sharp, director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This project will provide guidance for ways to “implement new acquisition policies, procedures and processes for dramatic improvement by all measures,” according to England’s directive. It will also explore options for a “portfolio-based approach” to defense planning, programming and budgeting.

“Building Partnership Capacity,” led by Eric Edelman, under secretary of defense for policy, and Rear Adm. William Sullivan, vice director for strategic plans and policy on the Joint Staff. This panel will examine options for enhancing other arms of the federal government to improve their planning abilities and foster development of a national security career path across federal agencies.

“Sensor-based management of the ISR [Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance] enterprise,” led by Stephen Cambone, under secretary of defense for intelligence, and Lt. Gen. Robert Kehler, deputy commander of U.S. Strategic Command. This effort will examine combatant commanders' requirements for sensors without regard for the aircraft, ships or satellites that carry them, along with other issues aimed at improved integration of sensor capabilities.

“Irregular warfare,” led by Ryan Henry, principal deputy under secretary of defense for policy, and Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James Conway, the Joint Staff director of operations. They will examine opportunities to implement the Defense Department’s December directive on stability, security, transition and reconstruction operations as well as ways to improve the military’s ability to counter a long-term guerilla war.

“Authorities,” led by Pete Geren, special assistant to the defense secretary, and Army Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This body will suggest legislative and regulatory changes to ensure “operational effectiveness in the face of new threats.”

“Locate, Tag, Track,” led by Linton Wells, deputy assistant secretary for networks and information integration, and Vice Adm. Evan Chanik, Joint Staff director for force structure, resources and assessment. This effort will lay the groundwork for new technologies needed to identify and track enemy combatants that mingle within civilian populations.

“Joint Command and Control,” led by John Grimes, assistant secretary of defense for network and information integration, and Army Lt. Gen. John Wood, deputy commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command. This effort will examine issues related to fielding, management and governance of command and control capabilities.

“Strategic Communications,” led by Lawrence DiRita, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, and Air Force Lt. Gen. Victor Renuart, Joint Staff director for strategic plans and policy. This panel will define missions and develop doctrine for strategic communications, including public affairs, information operations and defense support to public diplomacy.

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Navy Proposes $69 Billion For New Ship Construction Over Next Five Fiscal Years

By Geoff Fein, Defense Daily, 10 JAN 06

A draft report to Congress on the Navy's long range plans for shipbuilding shows the service is looking to spend a total of $69 billion by FY '11 on new ship construction, including $15 billion for five new Virginia-class submarines, five DD(X) and 23 Littoral Combat Ships (LCS).

However, the ambitious construction plan could still leave the Navy short of its goal of 313 ships because of shortfalls in the number of submarines and the retirement of DDGs.

The draft report, obtained by Defense Daily, outlines the service's shipbuilding budget and 30-year construction plan for the fleet. By FY '11, the Navy will build a total of 51 new ships including: one new aircraft carrier - CVN-21 (FY '08); a CG(X) cruiser (FY '11); five DD(X) destroyers; 23 Littoral Combat Ships (LCS); five Virginia-class submarines (SSN-774); one LPD-17; two LHA-Rs, along with 13 logistic, support, and Maritime Preposition Force Future (MPF(F)) ships, according to the report.

According to the report, the Navy plans to fund only one more LPD-17 in FY '08. The service had planned to build a ship in FY '07 and FY '08, giving the Navy a total of 10. However, the FY '07 ship is no longer listed. It's possible the Navy could look to Congress to eventually restore funding for a 10^th ship (estimated to cost $1.7 billion).

A defense analyst also points out that the Navy acknowledges its submarine numbers will drop to 40. That decrease could give ammunition to sub proponents to push for an acquisition strategy of two per year earlier than FY '12, under the current Navy plans. And the cost of submarines continues to stay above $2.5 billion per ship, according to the report.

The Navy does not provide any advanced procurement funding for CG(X), the next generation cruiser. According to the draft report, the Navy will spend $3.2 billion in FY '11 for the lead CG(X). Another issue is the cost of the LHA-R. According to the draft report, the first LHA-R will cost $2.45 bill (in FY '08). Follow-on LHA-Rs built under the MPF(F) will cost $2.46 billion ( in FY '12) and $2.5 billion (FY '14). However, in FY '11, the Navy anticipates the cost of a LHA-R to be above $3.6 billion. A defense analyst questioned whether the Navy is proposing a new design for the large deck amphibious ship.

According to the report, under the FY 2007-16 shipbuilding budget, there is an additional $63 million for LCS in FY '07 funded under LCS research, development, test and evaluation, Navy (RDT&E, N). A Jan. 3, Congressional Research Service report updating funding for LCS, shows the Navy budgeted $36.7 million in FY '07, $36.7 million in FY '08 and $7.1 million in FY '09 for ships 1 and 2 outfitting and post delivery. The Navy's shipbuilding draft report shows $100 million for RDT&E, N in FY '07, $37 million in FY '08 and $7 million in FY '09. There is no further discussion in the report on the additional funds in FY '07.

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Mullen is expected to discuss the challenges of shipbuilding during his keynote address at the Surface Navy Association annual symposium today; however, Mullen is not anticipated to directly address the report.

The report examines shipbuilding in the near term, mid-term and far-term budget years. While the study is based on the service's plans to build and maintain a 313-ship force, the report does recognize that events (natural disasters, future conflicts, the ongoing global war on terror), advances in technology and future ship procurement costs could alter the make-up of the force.

"Due to the capital investment required and complexity of naval shipbuilding, the Navy is continuing an intensive effort to analyze and refine it ship capabilities and fully expects future changes to this plan to further stabilize the industrial base, reduce costs, and achieve its force-level goals," the report states.

The report is based on Mullen's force structure review to reflect the requirements of the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) 05 and to build an affordable force that possesses the required global presence and warfighting capabilities, according to the report.

If ship procurements are funded and executed as planned, the Navy will achieve its 313-ship force reflecting the requirements defined by the FY 2005 QDR review, the report states.

"The force structure was developed using a capability-based approach and anticipated threats for the FY 2020 time period. This force structure applies new concepts such as the DD(X), CVN-21, Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), LCS, High Speed Ship (HSS), and MPF(F), and introduced changes in ship requirements. As the ongoing CNO force structure review is further refined, the Navy will update its long-term shipbuilding strategy," the report summarizes In the near term (FY '07-'11), the Navy is

budgeting $10.3 billion for a new aircraft carrier (CVN-21); $15.9 billion for five new Virginia-class submarines (SSN-774); $12.9 billion for five DD(X) destroyers; $1.78 billion for one LPD-17; $6.1 billion for two LHA-Rs; and $6.6 billion for 23 Littoral Combat Ships (LCS).

Out to FY '16, the Navy is proposing $24.2 billion for three CVN-21s; $45 billion for 15 SSN- 774s; $17.7 billion for seven DD(X); $19.6 billion on six CG(X); $4 billion for two Joint Command and Control ships (JCCX); and $15 billion for 51 LCS.

Highlights of the report to Congress include:

· FY '07, the Navy budgeted $9.75 billion for construction of seven new ships, including $2.56 billion for the first two DD(X) destroyers and $520 million for the first two LCS;

· In FY '08, the report shows a budget of $14.16 for construction of seven ships including CVN-21, one Virginia-class submarine, three LCS, one LDP-17 and one T-AKE;

· In FY '09 the budget drops to $13.8 billion, however, the Navy plans to construct 11 ships including six LCS, one SSN-774, one DD(X) and one MPF(F) T-AKE;

· In FY '10 the Navy's ship construction budget falls to $13.75 billion, but the service will build 12 ships including: six LCS, one SSN-774, one DD(X) and one LHA-R;

· In FY '11 the budget takes a jump to $17.3 billion and calls for building 14 ships including: six LCS, one SSN-774, one DD(X), one CG(X) nd a MPF(F) and LHA-R.

"The rise in funding in FY '09-'11 is due to the start of Multi-Year Procurement/Economic Order Quantity buy in FY '09 that includes two SSNs a year in FY '12 and FY '13 as supporting advanced procurement," according to the report.

Adding the mid-term plan (FY '12-'16) into the mix, the Navy is proposing to build a total of 108 new ships at a cost of $155.9 billion between FY '07 and FY '16. From FY '07 to FY '36, the Navy intends to build one CVN every four years beginning in FY '08. The report states that "the CVN-21 will require a 1,000 to 1,200 fewer ships force and air wing personnel contributing to a substantial reduction in total ownership cost."

The first of the Navy's planned new cruisers CG(X), which has yet to be defined, will begin construction in FY '11, followed by one in FY '13, '14, two in FY '15, one in FY '16, '17, two in FY '18, '19, '20, '21, '22, and one in FY '23, the last year of construction.

The first two of seven DD(X)s will begin construction in FY '07, followed by a build rate of one per year between FY '09 and FY '13. Two LCS will be built in FY '07. In FY '08 the Navy will begin construction on three of the ships and beginning in FY '09 the rate will increase to six per year until FY '16 when the rate falls to five in the last year of production. However, because the service life of LCS is expected to be around 25 years, the report shows construction of LCS picking up again in FY '30 with a steady increase to six per year in FY '34 and FY '35 before dropping to four in FY '36.

With the retirement of DDG-51s beginning after FY '20, the Navy plans to begin construction of a replacement, currently dubbed DDG(X), in FY '23.

"The DDG-class replacement will be procured at a rate slower than the DDG-51 retirements and [will] result in DDG inventory falling below the required level after FY '28," according to the draft report.

"The current program of record for Virginiaclass submarines shows procurement at two per year beginning in FY '12 to replace the retiring Los Angeles-class attack submarines," the report said. The service, however, could begin procuring two per year in FY '10 and '11 followed by one in FY '12 and '13 in order to procure the second CVN-21 in FY '12, according to the report.

"This decision is part of the ongoing CNO force structure review and any decision will be reflected in the President's FY '08 budget request," according to the report.

In the far term, retirement of SSNs will occur at a rate that prevents replacement on a one-to-one basis. As a result, the SSN inventory will fall below the required rate beginning in FY '18, according to the report.

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Report: Navy Sticking To One New Sub A Year

State's congressional delegation to press for more, Simmons says

By Anthony Cronin, New London Day, 11 Jan 06

A draft of the Navy's five-year construction program calls for the continued building of one Virginia-class submarine a year, despite pressure from Connecticut's congressional delegation to boost production to at least two subs annually.

The draft report, first disclosed Tuesday by the Defense Daily publication and now circulating in Congress, calls for an overall $69 billion construction budget for the Navy through fiscal year 2011, including nearly $16 billion for five new subs, which are being jointly built by the Groton-based Electric Boat shipyard and the Northrop Grumman Newport News yard in Virginia.

John Goodwin, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, R-2nd District, said Tuesday that Simmons is familiar with the Navy draft, which outlines the service's near-term shipbuilding projections for carriers, destroyers and submarines as well as a 30-year construction plan for the entire fleet.

“The congressman is fond of the adage that the administration proposes, and Congress disposes,” Goodwin said in reference to congressional oversight and approval of White House budgets for federal agencies. He said Simmons will continue to push, along with the rest of the state's congressional delegation, for an earlier resumption of two Virginia-class subs a year and remains undeterred by the draft report calling for the current rate of one sub a year.

“Congress has the oversight, regardless of what the Navy proposes, and Congress has to approve (Pentagon budgets),” Goodwin said.

The draft report reportedly calls for a total of 51 new ships during the five-year timeframe, including a new aircraft carrier, new DD(X) destroyers and littoral combat ships for close-to-shore operations and the additional Virginia-class subs.

Last month, EB announced it would reduce as many as 2,400 jobs this year from its overall work force of some 11,400 employees because of a lack of sub-related future design work as well as maintenance and repair work on existing submarines. The Navy has told the shipyard that it would be curtailing that work in favor of returning the maintenance-related work to its existing government-owned yards, including the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine.

Earlier this week, however, the Groton sub builder won an $85 million contract for post-construction repair work on the USS Texas, the second of the Virginia-class subs. The work is expected to begin in January 2007.

EB employs about 8,500 people at its Groton shipyard and an additional 2,000 at its ship works at Quonset Point, R.I. Both facilities are among the largest employers in their respective states, although they have fallen significantly from pre-Cold War employment levels.

Simmons is a member of the House of Representatives' projection forces subcommittee that reviews naval budget requests as well as the influential House Armed Services Committee. Simmons and others in both the Connecticut and Rhode Island congressional delegations worry that the Navy and the Pentagon may not be giving submarines enough consideration when doing long-range force projections and construction budgeting.

The 10-boat Virginia class of submarines is the successor to the much smaller Seawolf class, which only produced three submarines. The Virginia class was developed to be less expensive than the Seawolf and was built to handle post-Cold War sub missions, including special operations and surveillance. The 560-foot-long boats is larger than the Los Angeles-class submarines and have a price tag of about $2.4 billion each.

The Navy has remained firm on backing its one-boat production rate through the end of fiscal year 2011, although earlier plans had called for a two-boat production rate starting in fiscal year 2009. The federal fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.

This past December, congressional insiders said they expected the Navy to maintain a future fleet of 313 ships, which would include 48 submarines. The current 288-ship fleet is about half the size it was three decades ago.

The state's congressional delegation and other sub proponents believe the fleet should be maintained at least in the mid-50 range for national security considerations as well as for growing demands on submarines for special operations.

Ronald O'Rourke, a specialist in national defense for the Congressional Research Service, has projected that the current one-boat-per-year rate would support a force of 30 submarines into the early 2020s. O'Rourke's analysis shows that if older nuclear-attack subs are retired at a faster rate, the submarine force could be reduced to 30 boats much sooner.

O'Rourke's extensive analysis of submarine force levels and procurement rates, which was released this past week, shows that in order to support a fleet of 55 submarines, a total of 42 subs would have to be purchased between fiscal years 2007 and 2022, which works out to an average of 2.6 boats per year.

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Extreme makeover complete, USS Ohio ready to rejoin the Navy’s fleet on a new mission

By Kassie Korich, Central Kitsap Reporter, 9 Jan 05

What once was the oldest Trident submarine in the fleet has been transformed into the Navy’s first guided missile submarine.

The USS Ohio entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in November 2002 as a fleet ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) and recently completed sea trials which tested its new capabilities as a modern guided missile submarine (SSGN), also known as a “Tactical Trident.”

“It’s great to be completing an arduous overhaul and converse on period and moving on to demonstrating the tremendous capability this ship brings to the fleet,” said Cmdr. Michael Cockey, Ohio’s commanding officer. “The Ohio crew will be pioneers in tactics and employment of this amazing class of ships.”

The USS Michigan, USS Florida and USS Georgia, the other three oldest Ohio-class submarines in the fleet, also are undergoing the conversion process estimated at a total cost of $1.4 billion. The Michigan entered the shipyard in March 2004 and is expected to rejoin the fleet in 2007 along with the Florida and the Georgia which are undergoing their conversions at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va.

As an SSGN, the Ohio is capable of carrying 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles compared to its former capability of 24 Trident ballistic missiles as an SSBN. The Tomahawk, built by the Raytheon Company, is the, “U.S. Navy’s ‘weapon of choice’ for critical, long-range precision strikes,” according to Raytheon’s Web site. The missile, which has a 1,500-mile range, has been used in conflicts ranging from Desert Storm to Serbia to Afghanistan.

Twenty-two of the Ohio’s 24 missile tubes were retrofitted with Tomahawk launchers. The remaining two were converted into lock-in/lock-out chambers to be used by special operations forces, including Navy Seals.

“Scuba divers can come out the ship while it’s still submerged,” said Capt. David Norris, SSGN program manager in reference to the lock-in/lock-out chamber.

He added that by using the Trident’s platform, “it is perfectly suited for this mission.

“The primary mission will be land attack and special operations support,” he said.

Training capacity within the sub also has been greatly increased and includes a planning area, firearm simulators and fitness equipment.

“Because it’s a large submarine, it has a large volume,” Norris said. “There’s more space to train ... they can train while waiting for a mission.”

SSGNs also are capable of carrying two submersibles known as Advanced Seal Delivery Systems, two dry deck shelters, or one of each.

“(The SSGN) will remold the joint missions that were never envisioned by the original designers,” Norris said.

The Navy is actually giving these four submarines a second life as they would have been decommissioned if not for this conversion process. The 1994 Nuclear Posture Review concluded that the Navy no longer needed the four older Trident submarines, according to Norris.

“Rather than scrapping the four oldest, the Navy looked at the potential of SSGNs,” he said. “We’ve really extended the service life of the four oldest.”

The conversion and refueling process will provide these subs with another 20 years of service life.

“It’s a remarkable return on investment for the Navy,” Norris said. “They would have been decommissioned.”

Like other Naval submarines, SSGNs will have two crews that will rotate shifts, but they also will have the capacity to carry 66 Navy Seals and other special operation forces, also known as “Sea Basing,” for extended periods of time.

“The ability to carry a large special operations force, coupled with its Tomahawk strike capability and inherent stealth characteristics make SSGN a unique and powerful platform for combatant commanders to carry out a variety of missions,” Norris said.

Next month the Navy plans to host a ceremony recognizing the conversion. “It’s a transformational program,” he said.

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Shipyard loses bid for sub shakedown

The Navy gives the post-commissioning repair work on the USS Texas to Electric Boat.

By Peter Dujardin, Daily Press, 11 Jan 06

NEWPORT NEWS -- The Navy has awarded an $85 million maintenance contract on the USS Texas to General Dynamics Electric Boat, despite the fact that Northrop Grumman Newport News is leading the effort to deliver the submarine.

The decision means Electric Boat, based in Groton, Conn., which is building the new class of subs along with the Newport News shipyard, has garnered the first two post-commissioning maintenance contracts; Newport News has received none of the work.

The two yards are building the new Virginia-class boats under a unique 50-50 teaming arrangement. Each yard specializes in parts of the vessels, taking turns on final assembly.

In most Navy shipbuilding contracts, the shipyard that delivers a vessel also performs what the Navy calls "post-shakedown availability," or the yard maintenance period that comes at the end of a boat's initial major cruise.

That's the way it worked on the Los Angeles class of subs. The USS Virginia, the first sub of the new class, was both delivered by Electric Boat and had its post-commissioning work done at the Connecticut yard. Now, even though Newport News is leading the effort to deliver the Texas by May, post-shakedown work, to take place between January and June of 2007, will go to Electric Boat.

Electric Boat, which plans to cut up to 2,400 jobs this year in part as a result of the Navy's decision to perform more maintenance at public yards, is happy to have the new work.

"This contract will curb some of the planned layoffs at Electric Boat and provide steady work for the employees at the yard," said Rep. Rob Simmons, R-Conn., whose district includes the shipyard.

"This is a business decision on the part of the Navy and one we believe was made to help stabilize the industrial base at Electric Boat," Northrop Grumman Newport News spokeswoman Jerri Fuller Dickseski said.

The Navy said it made its decision based on "cost considerations," with Simmons saying the cost savings were about $30 million.

Navy officials have estimated it would cost tens of millions of dollars to build a structure at Newport News to allow a special hull treatment on the Texas to be done in dry dock. Electric Boat already has a covering to perform the work, which has strict parameters on such factors as temperature and humidity.

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Sub work may save 200 jobs at Groton shipyard

By Brian Wallheimer, Norwich Bulletin, 11 Jan 06

GROTON-- Though Electric Boat isn't commenting, one local expert believes a recent contract awarded to the submarine manufacturer could save about 200 jobs.

"It is a step in the right direction, but it does not appear to be significant enough to stop the slope of downsizing at Electric Boat," John Markowicz, chairman of the Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region, said.

The announcement Monday the Navy awarded an $85 million contract to EB for repairs and improvements to the USS Texas submarine comes one month after the company announced it will lay off up to 2,400 workers this year, and thousands more by 2008.

EB spokesman Dan Barrett said the Navy has not contacted EB about the contract, and the company won't comment on its impact on layoffs until then.

Todd Mitchell, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, R-2nd District, said EB was able to save the Navy $30 million through its submarine expertise and by having a dry dock, which its competitor, shipyard Northrop-Grumman in Virginia, does not.

Kenneth DelaCruz, president of the Metal Works Council, which represents nine EB unions said: "Any type of work ... certainly helps."

John Worobey Jr., president of the Marine Draftsmen's Association-United Auto Workers, said the construction-intensive contract will help his union members only a little.

"We're getting work, but what my bargaining unit needs is a big design contract we can sink our teeth into," Worobey said.

"I would think every little bit helps at this point," employee Micah Ramsey of Montville said.

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Shipyard’s hiring freeze under attack

By Deborah McDermott, Portsmouth Herald News, 10 Jan 06

KITTERY, Maine - The Maine and New Hampshire congressional delegations have requested that the hiring restrictions placed on the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard be immediately lifted.

"The Navy is right to assign as much depot-level submarine work as possible to Portsmouth based on Portsmouth’s unmatched excellence in executing these maintenance availabilities, but no facility, regardless of its efficiency, can be expected to execute efficiently without the ability to fully replenish and, if necessary, expand its work force to accomplish its mission," wrote New Hampshire Sens. Judd Gregg and John Sununu, and Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, along with U.S. Reps Jeb Bradley of N.H. and Tom Allen of Maine. "Increasing workload while freezing personnel levels at PNS is counterintuitive and not in the best interests of national security, the Navy or taxpayers."

The letter was addressed to Vice Admiral Paul E. Sullivan, commander of the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C.

Paul O’Connor, president of the Metal Trades Council union at the shipyard, said over the weekend that the hiring freeze at the shipyard was precipitated by Connecticut lawmakers upset that jobs were headed for Portsmouth from Electric Boat in Groton, Conn.

The decommissioning of the USS Philadelphia had been moved from the private Connecticut yard to the Portsmouth Navy yard. That resulted in a loss of jobs at the Connecticut facility.

However, Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., said through a spokesperson that he "has not had anything to do" with any work force issues at the Portsmouth facility.

"There’s been no effort to stop hiring at the Portsmouth location. That information is untrue," said Stacy Paxton, Dodd’s press secretary. "It’s a Navy decision."

Dodd had spoken strongly in support of Electric Boat at the time layoffs were announced at the private Connecticut yard in early December. At that time, Dodd said in a prepared statement that he told the Navy "in no uncertain terms, Electric Boat should be given as much maintenance work as possible - period. Shipping the work elsewhere doesn’t make sense."

The hiring freeze at the shipyard was reportedly discussed at a closed-door meeting held Friday at Kittery Town Hall, attended by representatives of the Maine and New Hampshire congressional delegations, Govs. John Lynch of New Hampshire and John Baldacci of Maine, board members of the Seacoast Shipyard Association, shipyard union representatives and Kittery officials.

Preston Hartman, assistant press secretary for Snowe, said "strategic planning" meetings like the one held Friday have been taking place for many years. He said the meetings are not open to the public because they are attended by Navy personnel who frequently talk about classified information.

Town Manager Jon Carter confirmed that the congressional delegates come to the area periodically to meet with local government and union representatives, and that "sensitive issues" are sometimes discussed. There was nothing out of the ordinary about this closed-door meeting, just a continuation "of the team effort that worked so well" during the fight to save the shipyard after it had been designated for closure last year, Carter said.

Beth LaMontagne contributed to this article.

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Royal Navy Submarine Captain denies bullying staff

By Georgina Fuller, Personneltoday.com, 11 Jan 06

A submarine officer repeatedly bullied his subordinates and made them sick with fear, a court martial has heard.

Captain Robert Tarrant reduced his officers to tears and became so angry that his face became "gorged with blood", the prosecution at Portsmouth naval base claimed.

Tarrant denied five charges of ill-treating four officers while on board the HMS Talent submarine from February 1998 to July 1999.

The officers claimed that his "rants" could last for up to 20 minutes and that he would place his face two inches from them and shout. One officer said Tarrant's aggressive manner made him physically sick.

But Alan Large, defending, said: "He [Tarrant] never knowingly or recklessly ill-treated anyone under his command. He accepts he demanded very high standards of performance from the ship's company in order to carry out HMS Talent's operational role as tasked by the Royal Navy."

Commander Alison Tower, prosecuting, said that Tarrant's behaviour could not be excused by the stress or demands of being involved in secret naval missions.

The court martial continues.

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Royal Navy Skipper 'yelled from minute he woke up'

By Geoffrey Lakeman, The Mirror, 11 Jan 06

BULLYING nuclear submarine captain Robert Tarrant yelled abuse at his crew from the moment he woke up - often while still in his dressing gown, a court martial heard yesterday.

Tarrant, 44, whose tantrums allegedly reduced officers to tears, was said to terrify his men with his mood swings.

Lieutenant Commander Ryan Ramsey said: "There were periods when things were fine and others when it was terrible. It depended how he woke up. If he woke in a bad mood he'd come out of his cabin shouting at me about things he found exception with. He was not always in uniform, sometimes he was in his dressing gown."

Chief Petty Officer Neil Maitland told the Portsmouth hearing he dreaded Tarrant coming on duty on HMS Talent. He said: "You all stared straight ahead, hoping he would not lay into you. On these occasions his face was red and he was ranting.

"To be honest, it was a relief if someone else got it in the neck."

Tarrant now has an MoD desk job. He denies five charges of ill-treating his men. The hearing continues.

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