Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello…a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…we dive into the US. Navy’s distributed maritime operations concept– something that navy leaders point to as a foundation for how the future Navy will be put together and how it will fight. Joining us to make sense of all of the mystery and buzz words associated with DMO is CIMSEC’s Dmitri Filipoff.
Please send us feedback by DM’ing @CavasShips or @CSSProvision or you can email chriscavas@gmail.com or cservello@defaeroreport.com.
This Week’s Naval News:
The aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN deployed from San Diego July 11, USNI News was able to confirm. Embarked aboard LINCOLN is Carrier Air Wing Nine. LINCOLN, whose last deployment was in 2022, will replace USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT in the western Pacific. Meanwhile, US Central Command said July 12 the ROOSEVELT was now conducting Operation Prosperity Guardian operations in the US Fifth Fleet’s Area of Operations in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. TR takes up the role previously performed by USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER.
On the US East Coast, the carrier USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER is to return to her homeport of Norfolk, Virginia on July 14 after a nine-month deployment with Carrier Air Wing Three to the US European and Central Command areas. The carrier operated in the Persian Gulf in November and December before moving into the Red Sea to counter Houthi attacks on merchant shipping in the region.
Carrier USS GEORGE WASHINGTON arrived in San Diego July 10 after voyaging from the US East Coast around South America. GW will await the arrival of the USS RONALD REAGAN and conduct a turnover while in California before continuing across the Pacific to become the US Navy’s forward-deployed carrier in Japan. RONALD REAGAN, after the turnover, will head to Bremerton, Washington for an overhaul.
And the US Navy announced on July 11 that the amphibious dock ship USS SAN DIEGO will soon transfer to Japan and join the Forward-Deployed Naval Forces based in Sasebo, relieving USS GREEN BAY, which has been based in Japan for a decade. GREEN BAY will replace the San Diego in the port of San Diego.
The Chinese aircraft carrier SHANDONG has been operating in the Philippine Sea during early July, Japan’s Joint Staff Office reported on July 9, the first time this year the ship has operated outside the South China Sea. Two destroyers and a frigate are reported to be accompanying the carrier. Also operating in the Philippine Sea is a joint formation of a Chinese destroyer, frigate and oiler along with a Russian frigate. Russia’s Pacific Fleet said in a statement July 8 the joint patrol is an annual event. Further north, The US Coast Guard and Canadian Navy were reported on July 10 to be shadowing a group of Chinese vessels composed of Chinese naval and Coast Guard units. The Chinese ships passed through the Amukta Pass to enter the southern Bering Sea.
The U.S. on July 10 attempted to re-anchor the temporary pier in Gaza that had been set up in May to bring in relief supplies, but the attempt failed due, the Pentagon said, to “technical and weather-related issues.” All pier equipment was returned to the Israeli port of Ashdod. A Pentagon spokesperson on July 12 said no date had been set for another attempt, and added an earlier statement that the pier, operated by US Navy and Army personnel, was always intended to be a temporary structure and that it would, quote, “soon cease operations.”
NATO on July 10 declared a second US Navy Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense site in Europe is now operational. The site, in Red-zi-ko-vo (Redzikowo), Poland, follows a similar installation in Deveselu, Romania, which has been operating since 2016. The site in Poland was to have opened in 2018 but faced numerous delays. Both installations are modeled after and are similar to Aegis radars fitted to US Navy Ticonderoga-class cruisers.
Servello Squawk:
Like many of our listeners over the last half year, I have followed with great interest the happenings in the eastern Mediterranean and Red Seas as US and allied forces responded to Houthi aggression. The nimbleness in which these units used legacy and evolving tactics to keep themselves and international shipping safe has been a source of much pride. So much so that Chris and I have wondered aloud why the Navy didn’t do more to share the unit and individual Sailor stories of bravery and ingenuity.
Hopefully now that many of the original front line units are home and the official briefings are complete, those personalized stories will get legs.
One such unit returning home this weekend is the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D Eisenhower. One such leader who didn’t hesitate to aggressively share and celebrate the stories of his Sailors is IKE commanding officer CAPT Chris “Chowdah” Hill.
Now that IKE is home I’m going to miss his regular social media updates about life onboard the carrier—highlighted by his daily celebrations of Sailor accomplishments and leadership musings.
Through his daily posts I felt a genuine connection to Chowdah and his crew and can only imagine how appreciative the family and friends of IKE sailors were throughout this extended deployment.
BZ CAPT Hill…your communication leadership is an example that many of your peers should learn from and emulate. There will be many deployment lessons learned that the chain of command will mine and share…I hope CAPT Hill’s open and transparent approach is near the top of the list.
