Surface Force Atlantic

Sailors mingle with TV stars at 'The Last Ship' premiere

By Meghann Myers on June 5, 2014 Entertainment, Navy, Ships, Surface Force Atlantic

WASHINGTON — Cast members, producers, hundreds of sailors and even a few Coasties gathered here Wednesday night to attend the premiere of “The Last Ship,” a TV show in which the crew of the fictional destroyer Nathan James attempts to save the world from a deadly virus. The stars walked the blue carpet at the Newseum in downtown Washington, D.C., while sailors mingled at a reception in the lobby to music from a Navy band to celebrate the opening of a drama where the U.S. Navy is the world’s last, best hope. The Navy’s Office of Information-West played a key…

Not-so-fair winds at farewell

By Bill McMichael on January 17, 2012 Deployment, Life at Sea, Maritime operations, Navy, Norfolk Naval Station, Photos, Surface Force Atlantic

The temperature would rise to near 60 in Hampton Roads Tuesday, but winds gusting to 37 mph made it feel 45ish — and it always feels colder down at the Naval Station Norfolk waterfront, where the frigate Nicholas left around 10 a.m. How windy was it? The line handlers had to go hatless: The chop also made for a tricky getaway: And off they went: Nicholas will be joining other U.S. and partner-nation ships in support of Navy Maritime Interception Operations, according to Naval Surface Force Atlantic.

Haze gray in Charm City

By Bill McMichael on November 16, 2011 Community relations, Historical, Navy, Photos, Ships, Surface Force Atlantic, War of 1812

Next year marks the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, and the Navy is helping the state of Maryland kick off its multi-year commemoration with a two-ship visit to Baltimore’s beautiful Inner Harbor. The war with Great Britain that gave us the Star-Spangled Banner and “Don’t give up the ship!” was declared on June 18, 1812, and lasted another 2 1/2 years. The Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard will be marking the bicentennial through 2015 with week-long events, parades of sail, public visits and numerous other community relations activities in Baltimore, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Boston, and…

McFaul's new chiefs beat the crowd

By Bill McMichael on September 15, 2011 Chiefs, leadership, Navy, Photos, Pinning, Promotion, Surface Force Atlantic, Traditions

The Norfolk-based destroyer McFaul broke ranks Thursday and pinned its five new chief petty officers day earlier than the rest of the Navy. There was a good reason for that. McFaul did so to accommodate a scheduled deployment. So even when a short-notice delay changed that deployment date, the ship held the ceremony so as not to exclude family members who’d traveled to take in the rich tradition. “It was very important to have my family here with me today,” said Chief Logistics Specialist (AW/SW) Tamika Tillman. “I can’t even describe what it means to have them present.” Tillman was…

San Antonio: still pierside — but getting there

By Bill McMichael on March 23, 2011 Board of Inspection and Survey, Fleet Forces Command, Gator Navy, LPD-17, Maintenance, Navy, Photos, San Antonio class, Ships, Surface Force Atlantic

The amphibious transport dock Mesa Verde left its Naval Station Norfolk pier at 9:05 Wednesday morning as the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group began deploying to the Med and the Libya crisis. As it pulled away, its wake gently lapped up against the starboard-side hull of San Antonio, moored at the next pier over, in what amounted to a love tap. Mesa Verde’s crew might have preferred delivering more of a kick in the rear. The third ship in the class, Mesa Verde had been home only eight months since its last overseas deployment, and it wasn’t supposed to deploy until…

A new San Antonio-class ship that's ready to fight

By Bill McMichael on February 16, 2011 Board of Inspection and Survey, LPD-17, Maintenance, Navy, Photos, Surface Force Atlantic

It took the Navy just five tries to get it right the first time — at least, when it comes to San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships. Naval Surface Force Atlantic announced Monday that the New York successfully completed its post-commissioning Final Contract Trials Feb. 4. CORRECTION: SURFLANT incorrectly first reported that the New York is the first of the five ships of the LPD-17 class to be certified for sustained combat operations on its first such evaluation. Rather, SURFLANT says, the ship produced the highest score during the FTC process of all previous San Antonio-class ships. The class has…

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