USNS Howard O. Lorenzen

Last updated
USNS Howard O. Lorenzen
Howard O. Lorenzen on the Columbia River (140516-Z-PL933-055).jpg
History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
Namesake Howard O. Lorenzen [1]
Awarded26 September 2006 [2]
Builder
Laid down13 August 2008 [2]
Sponsored bySusan Lorenzen Black [1]
Christened26 June 2010 [1]
Launched30 June 2010 [2]
Acquired10 January 2012 [2]
Identification
StatusOperational
Badge USNS Howard O Lorenzen coat of arms.png
General characteristics
Displacement
  • 9,543 long tons (9,696 t) light [2]
  • 12,642 long tons (12,845 t) full [2]
Length534 ft (163 m) [2]
Beam89 ft (27 m) [2]
Draft21 ft (6.4 m) [2]
Propulsion20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph) [3]
Complement88 [4]

USNS Howard O. Lorenzen (T-AGM-25) is a Missile Range Instrumentation Ship built for the U.S. Navy by VT Halter Marine of Pascagoula, Mississippi. [5] The keel was laid during a ceremony on August 13, 2008, [6] and the vessel became operational in 2014. This ship carries a next-generation active electronically scanned array radar system named Cobra King. This system is the first use of a radar system that can be used to target, and then through phase change, overwhelm an adversaries electronic systems to force shut down.

Contents

Description

Lorenzen at Port Canaveral US Navy Missile Range Instrumentation Ship Howard O. Lorenzen (T-AGM-25).JPG
Lorenzen at Port Canaveral

USNS Howard O. Lorenzen is 12,642 long tons (12,845  t ), [2] 534 feet (163 m) in length, and has a beam of 89 feet (27 m). Crewed by a combined complement of 88 sailors and civilian mariners, the ship hosts embarked military and civilian technicians from other U.S. government agencies. It is operated by the Military Sealift Command and conducts missions sponsored by the U.S. Air Force. [4]


History

The ship is named for the late Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) electrical engineer who was instrumental in the creation of the electronic intelligence capabilities of the United States. [4] It was due to be delivered in 2010. [6]

In May 2011, it was announced that the ship had failed its Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) inspection and was being sent back for repairs before the Navy would accept the ship. The ship was judged inadequate in the electrical, damage control and aviation inspections and also had problems with her anchor, steering and the temperature in her thrust bearings. [7]

The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of Howard O. Lorenzen on 10 January 2012. [8] Final contract trials were completed on 5 December 2013, with transfer of some responsibilities for the ship to the US Air Force expected to occur in 2014. [9] On 31 March 2014, the Cobra Judy Replacement (Cobra King) program reached initial operational capability (IOC). According to the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the U.S. Air Force also assumed operational and sustainment responsibilities for the ship with the goal of enhancing missile defense through the use of it's powerful radar to create dead areas in low earth orbit to scramble a ballistic missiles electronics prior to last stage separation of MIRVs, thus rendering their proximity fuses inert. [10]

The Howard O. Lorenzen and her Cobra King radar system were declared operational in August 2014. It replaced the USNS Observation Island (T-AGM-23), which was inactivated for dismantlement earlier in the year. [11] [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AGM-88 HARM</span> U.S. high-speed air-to-surface anti-radiation missile

The AGM-88 HARM is a tactical, air-to-surface anti-radiation missile designed to home in on electronic transmissions coming from surface-to-air radar systems. It was originally developed by Texas Instruments as a replacement for the AGM-45 Shrike and AGM-78 Standard ARM system. Production was later taken over by Raytheon Corporation when it purchased the defense production business of Texas Instruments.

The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consist of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. All six armed services are among the eight uniformed services of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Sealift Command</span> United States Navy command for logistics

The Military Sealift Command (MSC) is an organization that controls the replenishment and military transport ships of the United States Navy. Military Sealift Command has the responsibility for providing sealift and ocean transportation for all US military services as well as for other government agencies. It first came into existence on 9 July 1949 when the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) became solely responsible for the Department of Defense's ocean transport needs. The MSTS was renamed the Military Sealift Command in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cobra Dane</span> US radar installation for monitoring Soviet missile tests

The AN/FPS-108 COBRA DANE is a PESA phased array radar installation operated by Raytheon for the United States Space Force at Eareckson Air Station on the island of Shemya, Aleutian Islands, Alaska. The system was built in 1976 and brought online in 1977 for the primary mission of gathering intelligence about Russia's ICBM program in support of verification of the SALT II arms limitation treaty. Its single face 29 m (95 ft) diameter phased array radar antenna 52.7373°N 174.0914°E faces the Kamchatka Peninsula and Russia's Kura Test Range. COBRA DANE operates in the 1215–1400 MHz band and can track items as small as a basketball sized drone at distances of several hundred miles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea-based X-band Radar</span> Part of US ballistic missile defense system

The Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX-1) is a floating, self-propelled, mobile active electronically scanned array early-warning radar station designed to operate in high winds and heavy seas. It was developed as part of the United States Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Ballistic Missile Defense System.

USNS <i>Mission San Fernando</i>

SS Mission San Fernando was a Type T2-SE-A2 tanker built for the United States Maritime Commission during World War II. After the war she was acquired by the United States Navy as USS Mission San Fernando (AO-122). Later the tanker transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS Mission San Fernando (T-AO-122). She was a member of the Mission Buenaventura-class oiler and was named for Mission San Fernando Rey de España in Los Angeles. She was later renamed USNS Muscle Shoals (T-AGM-19), and, later, USNS Vanguard (T-AG-194).

USNS <i>Observation Island</i> Mariner-class merchant ship

USNS Observation Island (T-AGM-23) was built as the Mariner-class merchant ship Empire State Mariner for the United States Maritime Commission, launched 15 August 1953, and operated by United States Lines upon delivery on 24 February 1954, making voyages for the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) until going into reserve at Mobile, Alabama on 9 November 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracking ship</span> Class of ships used for tracking missiles and satellites

A tracking ship, also called a missile range instrumentation ship or range ship, is a ship equipped with antennas and electronics to support the launching and tracking of missiles and rockets. Since many missile ranges launch over ocean areas for safety reasons, range ships are used to extend the range of shore-based tracking facilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AN/SPQ-11</span>

The AN/SPQ-11 Cobra Judy was a PESA radar found on the USNS Observation Island (T-AGM-23) missile range instrumentation ship.

USNS <i>Invincible</i>

USNS Invincible (T-AGM-24), also known as ex-AGOS 10, is one of two tracking ships operated by the Military Sealift Command. One of the radars it carries is the Cobra Gemini dual band, X band and S band, radar.

USAS <i>American Mariner</i> United States Army research vessel

USAS American Mariner was a United States Army research vessel from January 1959 to 30 September 1963. She was originally assigned to the DAMP Project by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) to attempt to collect radar signature data on incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles in the Caribbean, the South Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. Her initial operations involved providing radar track on the Atlas missile, which was under development at the time. Subsequently, she provided track on other types of missiles as they proceeded through their development and operational stages. In September 1963 the original contract was transferred to the USAF until the completion of the testing phase in 1964.

USNS <i>General H. H. Arnold</i>

USNS General H. H. Arnold (T-AGM-9) was a General G. O. Squier-class transport ship for the U.S. Navy in World War II. She was named in honor of U.S. Army general Robert Emmet Callan. She was transferred to the U.S. Army as USAT General R. E. Callan in 1946. On 28 April 1950 she was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS General R. E. Callan (T-AP-139). Placed in reserve in 1958, she was transferred to the U.S. Air Force in 1961 and renamed USAFS General H. H. Arnold in 1963, in honor of Henry H. Arnold, the first and only General of the Air Force. She was reacquired by the Navy in 1964 as USNS General H. H. Arnold (T-AGM-9). She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 March 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operational Test and Evaluation Force</span> U.S. Navy organization for operational testing and evaluation

The Operational Test and Evaluation Force (OPTEVFOR) is an independent and objective agency within the United States Navy for the operational testing and evaluation (OT&E) of naval aviation, surface warfare, submarine warfare, C4I, cryptologic, and space systems in support Navy and Department of Defense acquisition programs.

USNS <i>Range Tracker</i>

USNS Range Tracker (T-AGM-1/T-AG-160) was an Air Force Systems Command Range Tracker-class missile range instrumentation ship. She was acquired from the National Defense Reserve Fleet in the 1950s and converted into a missile range tracking ship with a civilian crew. She performed tracking duties from 1961 through 1969 on the Western Launch and Test Range.

USNS <i>Montford Point</i> Ship built in 2013

USNS Montford Point (T-ESD-1),, the lead ship of her class of Expeditionary Transfer Docks (ESD), is a ship named in honor of African American Marine Corps recruits who trained at Montford Point Camp, North Carolina, from 1942 to 1949. After $115 million was allocated for long-lead time material and advanced design efforts, in late 2010 General Dynamics's National Steel and Shipbuilding Company was awarded the contract, worth approximately $500 million, to build the first of three planned vessels.

USS <i>Lewis B. Puller</i> (ESB-3) US Navy expeditionary mobile base vessel

USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3), is the first purpose-built expeditionary mobile base vessel for the United States Navy, and the second ship to be named in honor of Chesty Puller. The lead ship in her class of expeditionary mobile bases, she is also a sub-variant of the Montford Point-class expeditionary transfer docks. Lewis B. Puller replaced USS Ponce with the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf in late 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HSM-73</span>

Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 (HSM-73) is a United States Navy Maritime Strike helicopter squadron based on Naval Air Station North Island, California.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Navy To Christen USNS Howard O. Lorenzen" (Press release). U.S. Department of Defense. 24 June 2010. No. 531-10. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "USNS Howard O Lorenzen (T-AGM 25)". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  3. ↑ "Ship Inventory: Missile Range Instrumentation Ships". U.S. Military Sealift Command. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 "Navy Names Ship After Howard O. Lorenzen 'Father Of Electronic Warfare'" (Press release). U.S. Department of Defense. 10 October 2008. No. 863-08. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  5. ↑ "USNS Howard O. Lorenzen (T-AGM-25)". Navsource.org. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
  6. 1 2 "Keel Laid for New Missile Range Instrumentation Ship" (PDF) (Press release). Naval Sea Systems Command. 13 August 2008. No. 08-02. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  7. ↑ Cavas, Christopher P (26 May 2011). "U.S. Navy Rejects New Radar Ship". Defense News. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  8. ↑ "Navy Accepts Delivery of USNS Howard O. Lorenzen". Navy.mil. 12 January 2012. No. NNS120112-16. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  9. ↑ "Howard O. Lorenzen completes Final Contract Trials". Navy.mil. 5 December 2013. No. NNS131205-03. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  10. ↑ "Cobra Judy Replacement Achieves Initial Operational Capability". Navy.mil. 1 May 2014. No. NNS140501-26. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  11. ↑ Fein, Geoff (12 August 2014). "Cobra King begins at-sea ballistic missile launch-detection mission". Jane's Information Group . Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  12. ↑ Romano, Susan A. (7 August 2014). "AFTAC's maritime radar becomes operational". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.