[Scan-DC] USS FREEDOM VISITS NAVAL ACADEMY

[John Bacon]

She must move quick. She was in Boston over the weekend. IF you plan to take
a tour the only pictures you can get are on the flight deck. 

JOHN

-----Original Message-----
From: scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Alan Henney
Sent: Monday, December 08, 2008 11:10 PM
To: Scan DC
Subject: [Scan-DC] USS FREEDOM VISITS NAVAL ACADEMY

Media
Advisory
      United States
   Naval Academy
Public Affairs Office                 121 Blake Rd, Annapolis, MD
21402
        #240-08
        Dec. 8, 2008

Contacts:
Jennifer M. Erickson
Deborah Goode

USS FREEDOM VISITS NAVAL ACADEMY

ANNAPOLIS, Md.-USS Freedom (LCS 1), the Navy's newest warship and
Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), will visit the Naval Academy Dec. 10-15
during its maiden voyage from the Great Lakes en route to Norfolk, Va.
Media interested in attending the following events are asked to call
the Naval Academy's Public Affairs office by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9 in
order to R.S.V.P. and to coordinate access to the Naval Academy and
ship.

Wednesday, Dec. 10
9 a.m.- 10 a.m.
Photo Opportunity
Ship arrival at Naval Academy

Wednesday, Dec. 10
12:30 p.m.- 2 p.m.
Photographers and Reporters
Media tours of ship and interview opportunities with crew members

 The ship will also be open for general public visitation Friday, Dec.
12 from 12:30 p.m.- 4 p.m.  Space is limited and will be granted on
first come, first served basis.  Visitors to the Naval Academy may
walk through Gate 1 (King George St.) and Gate 3 (Maryland Ave.) and
will be required to show valid, government issued picture ID.

Vehicles without Department of Defense decals are not permitted on the
Naval Academy grounds.  Handicapped visitors with proper decals are
permitted through Gate 1 after a vehicle inspection. All bags are
subject to search.

Freedom, the first of two dramatically different LCS seaframes being
produced, will be optimized for littoral or coastal missions, focusing
on high-speed maneuverability, agility and adaptability.  The LCS is
capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots and can operate in water less
than 20 feet deep.

The LCS class will act as a platform for launch and recovery of manned
and unmanned vehicles.  Its modular design supports interchangeable
mission packages, allowing the ship to be reconfigured for
antisubmarine, mine or surface warfare missions on an as-needed basis.
LCS will be able to swap out mission packages pierside in a matter of
hours, adapting as the tactical situation demands.  These ships will
also feature advanced networking capability to share tactical
information with other Navy aircraft, ships, submarines, and units
ashore.

Freedom is manned by one of two rotational crews (blue or gold),
consisting of 40 core sailors each.  The rotation of crews increases
the amount of time the ship can remain operational and on station.
The crews will be augmented by one of three mission package crews
during focused mission assignments.  The commanding officer of the
Freedom (Blue) crew is Cmdr. Donald Gabrielson, who was born in
Hibbing, Minn., and is a 1989 U.S. Naval Academy graduate.  The
Freedom (Gold) crew commanding officer is Cmdr. Michael Doran, who was
born in Harrisonville, Mo., and graduated from Villanova University in
1989.  Freedom will eventually be homeported at Naval Base San Diego,
Calif., as part of the Pacific Fleet.
USNA

_______________________________________________
Scan-DC mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/scan-dc
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html
Post: mailto:Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net