NYSE Symbol: LIT

For Immediate Release

AVONDALE, LA (October 21, 2000) -- The sixth in a series of seven Strategic Sealift ships being built by Litton Avondale Industries was christened BRITTIN in ceremonies at the shipyard Saturday, October 21, 2000. The new ship is named in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant First Class (Sfc.) Nelson V. Brittin, United States Army, Company I, 19^th Infantry Regiment. Sfc. Brittin, was born October 31, 1920, in Audubon, New Jersey. He distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty in action, volunteering to lead his squad up a hill in the vicinity of Yonggong-ni, Korea, March 7, 1951.

With meager cover against murderous enemy fire, he ordered his squad to give him support and, in the face of bursting shells, he tossed a grenade at the nearest enemy position. On returning to his squad, he was knocked down and injured from an enemy grenade. Refusing medical attention, he replenished his supply of grenades and returned, hurling grenades into hostile positions and shooting at the enemy. With his weapon jammed, he leaped without hesitation into a foxhole and killed the enemy with his bayonet and rifle butt. He continued to wipe out foxholes and, noting that his squad was pinned down, he rushed to the rear of a machine-gun position, threw a grenade into the nest, and ran around to its front, where he killed all three occupants with his rifle.

Less than 100 yards up the hill, his squad again came under viscious fire from another camouflaged machine-gun nest well-flanked by supporting riflemen. Sfc. Brittin again charged this new position in an aggressive endeavor to silence this remaining obstacle and ran directly into a burst of automatic fire, killing him instantly. In his sustained and driving action, he had killed 20 enemy soldiers and destroyed four automatic weapons. The conspicuous courage, consummate valor, and noble self-sacrifice displayed by Sfc. Brittin enabled his inspired company to attain its objective. For his heroic devotion to duty, indomitable fighting spirit, and gallant self-sacrifice, Sfc. Brittin was awarded the Medal of Honor. His selfless actions reflect the highest credit upon himself, the infantry, and the U. S. Army. The newest Avondale Sealift ship, which will support the overseas missions of America's infantry forces, is proud and honored to bear the name BRITTIN.

The new ship’s sponsors were Mrs. Dorothy Brittin Moffa, sister of the new ship’s namesake, and Sue Dake, wife of General Terrence R. Dake, U. S. Marine Corps (Ret.), Former Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. General Dake served as the principal speaker at the christening ceremony. "A reputation of strength and courage from Sfc. Brittin will go with this ship and its crew that will send a message that the United States remains strong," remarked Dake. The two women christened the ship with the traditional bottles of champagne in honor of Sfc. Brittin.

Mr. Thomas M. Kitchen, President, Avondale Industries, Inc., delivered opening remarks and welcomed the distinguished guests. At the christening, Mr. Kitchen remarked, "Avondale is proud to be christening another fine Navy ship, a ship produced by experienced ship designers, engineers and skilled craftsmen. Avondale-built ships, such as BRITTIN, represent the absolute best the industry has to offer. We are also pleased and honored to have the Brittin family with us for this event which honors his memory and his heroic actions in defense of our great country."

Other speakers who also delivered remarks at the christening were: Captain David J. Vogel, United States Navy, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, New Orleans; Dr. Ron Sugar, President and Chief Operating Officer, Litton Industries, Inc.; Brigadier General Joseph C. Joyce, U. S. Army Reserve, Deputy Commanding General, U. S. Army Transportation

Command and Deputy Commander (IMA), Fort Eustis, VA; Rear Admiral Terrance T. Etnyre,

U. S. Navy, Vice Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command; and Vice Admiral Gordon S. Holder, U. S. Navy, Commander, Military Sealift Command.

"The spirit of Sfc. Brittin and the work of Avondale Industries will stand as a symbol of freedom for the next 50 years," remarked Holder during christening ceremonies.

The Matrons of Honor were Margaret Brittin Applegate, sister of Dorothy Brittin Moffa, and Jana Leigh Karika, daughter of Sue Dake. The Flower Girls were Miss Emily Maria Rinaldi, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Rinaldi, and Miss Rachel Nicole Marcotte, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Price. Mrs. Rinaldi works at Litton Avondale in the Accounting Department, and Mrs. Price works in the Communications Department. Traditionally, the flower girls at Avondale christenings are the daughters of Avondale employees.

Also attending the christening were: Mr. Jerry St. Pe¢ , Chief Operating Officer, Litton Ship Systems (LSS); Mr. Pat Keene, Senior Vice President, LSS; Dr. Lawrence (Larry) J. Cavaiola, President, LSS Full Service Center and LSS Vice President, Business & Strategic Development; and Mr. David B. Wright, President, Ingalls Shipbuilding. Also speaking during the christening ceremonies, Dr. Ron Sugar, President and Chief Operating Officer, Litton Industries, Inc. told the assembled that a 250 ship U.S. Navy is not acceptable because the enemy can strike at any time and anywhere. "Avondale-built ships offer the ultimate quality to the U.S. taxpayers and that is a quality that will remain with this ship throughout its lifetime," Sugar said.

The colors were presented by the 24^th Infantry Division and Fort Riley, Kansas, Color Guard. The Navy Band New Orleans performed the music for the ceremony. The Invocation was delivered by Lieutenant Commander Paul Nguyen, Chaplain Corps, U. S. Naval Reserve.

BRITTIN (T-AKR 305), along with the other BOB HOPE Class Sealift ships Litton Avondale is building, will support the nation’s ability to deploy military equipment and supplies quickly to U. S. troops around the world. The ships can carry more than 1,000 military vehicles, along with containers and other cargo, and they are designed and constructed with nearly 400,000 square feet of cargo space to provide prepositioning and surge sealift capacity to contingency areas worldwide.

The 950-foot-long, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) Sealift ships are among the largest in the Navy fleet. Longer than three football fields, BRITTIN has a beam of nearly 106 feet, a draft of 34 feet, 6 inches and displaces 62,069 long tons. With 65,160-shaft-horsepower, the ship can cruise at speeds in excess of 24 knots with an endurance standard of 13,000 nautical miles. The new ship will have an operating crew of 29 and accommodations for 95.

Built utilizing Avondale’s modular construction technology, each Sealift ship is made up of more than 430 modules, each ranging in weight from eight tons to more than 200 tons. Peak production on these ships ensures work for approximately 3,000 employees.

BRITTIN (T-AKR 305), is scheduled for delivery in early 2002.

The first three ships in the Avondale Sealift Program, USNS BOB HOPE (T-AKR 300), USNS FISHER (T-AKR 301), and USNS SEAY (T-AKR 302) have been delivered to the Navy and are in service with the Military Sealift Command fleet. The fourth Sealift ship, USNS MENDONCA (T-AKR 303), and the fifth ship, USNS PILILAAU, are both scheduled for delivery next year. The seventh Sealift ship, which was recently assigned the name BENAVIDEZ, also in honor of a Medal of Honor recipient, is presently under construction and scheduled for delivery in 2002.

Litton Ship Systems (LSS), headquartered in Pascagoula, Mississippi, includes Litton Avondale Industries, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, as well as Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding and the Litton Ship Systems Full Service Center, both in Pascagoula. LSS, which currently employs more than 17,000 shipbuilding professionals, primarily in Mississippi and Louisiana, is one of the nation’s leading full service systems companies for the design, engineering, construction, and life cycle support of major surface ships for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and international navies, and for commercial vessels of all types. LSS has a firm business backlog exceeding $5.6 billion, in a variety of naval and commercial shipbuilding programs.

Litton is the largest builder of non-nuclear ships for the U.S. Navy and designs, builds, and overhauls surface ships for government and commercial customers worldwide. The company is a prime contractor to the U.S. government for information technology and provides specialized IT services to commercial customers and government customers in local/foreign jurisdictions. Litton is a leading provider of defense and commercial electronics technology, components, and materials for customers worldwide. Headquartered in Woodland Hills, California, Litton has more than 40,000 employees and $5.6 billion in annual revenue. For more information, visit Litton’s Web site at www.litton.com.