U.S. Navy commissions seventh Ingalls-built LHD
USS IWO JIMA (LHD 7) ‘…the best the United States has to offer’

"MANNING OUR SHIP" – Sailors and Marines hustle aboard USS IWO JIMA (LHD 7) during the ship’s commissioning ceremony Saturday (June 30). LHD 7, the U.S. Navy’s newest large-deck amphibious assault ship, joined the U.S. Atlantic Fleet during ceremonies witnessed by more than 10,000 guests at Pensacola (Florida) Naval Air Station. Produced by Northrop Grumman Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, USS IWO JIMA sails from Pensacola on July 2, headed for her new homeport, Norfolk, Virginia.

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, June 30, 2001 – A rain-soaked crowd of more than 10,000 people this morning heard the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps team’s newest large-deck amphibious assault ship called "the home for 2,000 Marines, as well as assault craft, aircraft and other vehicles," by General Michael J. Williams, USMC, Assistant Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. . "With a crew of about 1,000 sailors keeping order and helping our allies," Gen. Williams said of the new ship, produced in Pascagoula, Mississippi, by Northrop Grumman Ingalls Shipbuilding, "this will be the best the United States of America has to offer."

General Williams delivered the principal commissioning address at the commissioning of USS IWO JIMA (LHD 7) at Pensacola Naval Air Station.

"Today is a great day for the Navy-Marine Corps team, as we commission IWO JIMA," said Gen. Williams. "The photograph of the marines raising the flag at Suribachi, has become the icon of the United States Marine Corps. "This ship also represents the courage of those Marines; and there will be a time when the Marines aboard this ship will go into combat again. We don’t know where, and we don’t know when – we just know we need to be ready. The ability, flexibility and fast reaction to war, makes the marines the perfect choice for this ship."

Secretary of the Navy Gordon England placed LHD 7 in commission for U.S. Atlantic Fleet duty. "It’s a privilege and an honor to be here today with so many heroes from the battle of Iwo Jima," Secretary England said. "Today, we pay homage to the courage, sacrifice and uncommon valor for those who fought for freedom in World War II and kept it on the sands of Iwo Jima. We also honor the men and women who will sail this great ship while continuing this fight for freedom. I would like to thank and congratulate the Ingalls Shipbuilding - Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Pascagoula team for a job well in building this fine vessel."

Ship’s Sponsor Mrs. Zandra M. Krulak, wife of General Charles C. Krulak, USMC (ret), former Commandant of the USMC, gave USS IWO JIMA’s more than 1,000 Navy and Marine Corps officers and crewmembers the traditional order to "Man our ship and bring her to life!." The crew responded with a hearty "Aye Aye, Ma’am!," then raced to their positions along the outside rails of the ship and saluted the audience in unison.

Florida’s First District Congressman, Joe Scarborough noted, "In the mid 1980s, America talked about building a 600-ship Navy...we were committed to making our strong Navy even stronger. "Today, some speak of reducing our Navy to a 300-ship fleet. If we want to continue sending our number one export across the world – which is freedom – we must reverse that trend. We need to build more ships and we need to export freedom across the globe. Today, the men and women of IWO JIMA will begin to do just that."

Rear Admiral Dennis G. Morral, USN, Program Executive Officer, Expeditionary Warfare, said, "a lot will be said today about the heroes of Iwo Jima, but I’d like to commend some of the present day heroes, like the men and women who build these complex warships. I have been fortunate enough to witness Northrop Grumman Ingalls Shipbuilding producing these ships for over 15 years; and I’m amazed and thoroughly impressed at their work. Nobody does it better."

"Every person who worked on this ship dedicated themselves to building a quality product," said Jerry St. Pé, Chief Operating Officer Northrop Grumman Ship Systems. "I can assure you that as this ship sails the world’s oceans in our Navy Fleet, they will be present and accounted for in every way." Six Ingalls-built LHDs preceded LHD 7 into the fleet. Ingalls is also under contract to the Navy to prepare for the construction of LHD 8.

Captain John T. Nawrocki, USN, a native of Ambridge, Pennsylvania, and a 1975 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, assumed command of the new vessel, offering "special recognition to the Northrop Grumman Ingalls team that helps keep our Navy vibrant and modern...they are master shipbuilders. The success of this government-industry team is manifested in the on-time delivery of this ship," Capt. Nawrocki said. "IWO JIMA’s entry into the fleet represents the very best cooperation of both the civilian and military components of our armed forces." LHD 7 will now sail to her new homeport, Norfolk, Virginia, where she will become the newest member of Amphibious Group Two.

Other commissioning participants included Vice Admiral Alfred G. Harms Jr., USN, Chief of Naval Education and Training; Rear Admiral John B. Foley III, USN, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; Major General William A Whitlow, USMC, Director, Expeditionary Warfare, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations; Rear Admiral James K. Moran, USN, Commander, Amphibious Group Two; and Captain Philip N. Johnson, USN, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion & Repair, Pascagoula.

LHD 7 becomes the second U.S. Navy warship named to honor the enduring legacy of those who fought and dedicated their lives to the United States of America in the February 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima. More than 100 veterans of the epic battle were on hand for the commissioning. The first ship named for the battle, LPH 2, was the lead ship of the LPH class of amphibious assault ships, built in the 1960s as the first "keel-up" amphibious assault ship, and decommissioned in January 1993. To "set the first watch" aboard USS IWO JIMA, the last officer of the deck of LPH 2, retired Navy Lieutenant Martin Levering, passed the ceremonial long glass to LHD 7's first officer of the deck, Chief Boatswains Mate Michael Wallace.

The 40,500-ton LHD 7, second in size only to the Navy’s aircraft carriers, is designed to lay off a troubled area of the world, and insert its 2,000-member Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) ashore by helicopters and 40 m.p.h. LCAC hover craft. As the centerpiece of an Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), an LHD is fully capable of amphibious assault, advance force and special purpose operations, as well as noncombatant evacuation and other humanitarian missions.

In their principal mission, LHDs embark, transport, deploy, command and fully support a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) of over 1,500 troops. For operational support, an LHD carries its own squadron of AV-8B Harrier II jets, as well as a full range of Navy/Marine Corps helicopters and amphibious vehicles. Additionally, the ships are fully equipped with command and control (C ⁴ I) systems for flagship command duty; and have medical facilities – including a hospital with up to 600 beds – second only to the Navy's Hospital Ships in capability.

LHD 7's armament system includes two NATO Sea Sparrow Surface Missile Systems (NSSMS) for antiair warfare protection, two Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Systems and two Phalanx Close-In-Weapon-System (CIWS) mounts to counter threats from low flying aircraft and missiles. Passive defense systems augment LHD 7’s antiship missile capability.

Miscellaneous armament provisions include four .50 caliber machine guns and three 25mm machine guns for defense against close-in small craft.

LHD 7 is 844 feet long, with a 106-foot beam. Two steam propulsion plants, developing a combined 70,000 horsepower, will drive the 40,500-ton ship to speeds in excess of 20 knots.

Ingalls Shipbuilding is part of Northrop Grumman’s Ship Systems (NGSS) Sector, headquartered in Pascagoula, Mississippi. NGSS also includes the Ship Systems Full Service Center in Pascagoula, as well as Avondale Industries, located in New Orleans and Tallulah, Louisiana, and Gulfport, Mississippi. NGSS, 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. NGSS has a firm business backlog exceeding $5.6 billion, in a variety of naval and commercial shipbuilding programs.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is a $15 billion, global aerospace and defense company with its worldwide headquarters in Los Angeles. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in defense and commercial electronics, systems integration, information technology and non-nuclear shipbuilding and systems. With 80,000 employees and operations in 44 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.