Cmdr. Christopher Polnaszek, commanding officer of the soon-to-be-completed USS Augusta fight ship, and Margaret Noel, director of the Augusta Civic Middle, speak Thursday on the Civic Middle foyer. Polnaszek traveled to Augusta to study extra concerning the metropolis and neighborhood for which his ship is called. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
AUGUSTA — For the second time, Augusta may have a namesake that may take to the seas within the nation’s protection.
And because of some analysis by sailors possible to assist man it, and a go to to the town by its commanding officer this week, a little bit of the town might be going to sea with the warship.
The USS Augusta, a 419-foot-long, 104-foot-wide Independence-variant littoral fight ship designed to strike quick and with a shallow draft that permits it to supply defenses alongside the shoreline, is now being accomplished on the Austal USA shipyard in Cell, Ala.
Metropolis and Navy officers mentioned they hope it may be commissioned, or put into service, this fall in Maine, as shut as doable to its namesake metropolis of Augusta. Doubtlessly, that could possibly be Portland.
The USS Augusta at her christening Dec. 17, 2022, in Cell, Ala. The Independence-variant littoral fight ship is designed to strike quick and has a shallow draft that permits it to supply defenses alongside the shoreline. Picture courtesy of Austal USA
That’s a part of why Cmdr. Christopher Polnaszek, a extremely embellished naval officer who will command the USS Augusta, and Lt. Ada Willis, who’s dealing with public relations associated to the brand new ship, had been in Maine this week.
The 2 examined potential docking websites Thursday in Portland, earlier than touring to Augusta for a whirlwind tour of the town and a check-in with metropolis councilors.
“Our expectation is someday within the fall, we’ll be again right here on the coast of Maine and fee (the USS Augusta) into service as near the namesake metropolis as we will,” Polnaszek mentioned Thursday.
However discovering a possible location for the ship’s official commissioning was solely a part of the explanation for the go to. Polnaszek mentioned the go to can be a part of the Navy’s efforts to make sure the ship has extra ties to Augusta than simply its identify.
“One motive I got here to Augusta was so I used to be in a position to convey what made Augusta particular and distinctive,” he informed metropolis councilors. “We anticipate to get 20 to 30 years out of the ship. We needed to verify it was stamped with what we all know from the nice individuals right here.”
The journey to Augusta was funded by the Navy, Willis mentioned, as a result of the Navy allots funding for neighborhood outreach to develop, keep and strengthen the vital relationship between sailors and ships’ namesake cities.
Polnaszek mentioned efforts to attach with the ship’s namesake metropolis transcend that, nonetheless. He mentioned two sailors who do graphic arts as a pastime spent months researching Augusta so they may design a crest for the ship that’s rife with references to Augusta and the ship’s mission. Crests are usually displayed as patches on sailors’ uniforms, on ship’s plaques and in different areas.
Sarah Schultz-Nielsen, left, director of Lithgow Public Library, leads Cmdr. Christopher Polnaszek, commanding officer of the soon-to-be-completed USS Augusta fight ship, on a tour Thursday on the library’s studying room. Polnaszek traveled to Augusta to study extra concerning the metropolis and neighborhood for which his ship is called. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
Particulars inside the crest with ties to Augusta embrace the Previous Fort Western blockhouse over two crossed cannons and a pine tree; an aggressive-looking, obtrusive moose head topped by the Maine Dirigo star; a defend in conventional Navy colours within the middle; a wreath, together with blueberries; and the phrases “Defending the Frontier,” noting the ship’s mission and echoing the motto of the unique USS Augusta.
The primary USS Augusta, a Los Angeles Class nuclear-powered Navy submarine launched in 1984, was decommissioned in 2009 after patrolling the seas for greater than twenty years. It served by the Chilly Battle, stalking Soviet submarines and serving to launch the battle in Iraq in 2003.
Willis mentioned that in 2019, Richard V. Spencer, then the secretary of the Navy, named the longer term USS Augusta, citing the lengthy historical past of service from the individuals of Maine.
The crest of the brand new USS Augusta, designed by two sailors, options the town’s Previous Fort Western blockhouse over two crossed cannons and a pine tree, amongst different nods to Augusta and Maine. Contributed picture
“From the earliest days of the American Revolution to each battle since, the residents of Maine have been an vital a part of the Navy and Marine Corps workforce,” Spencer mentioned in an announcement supplied by Willis. “I’m happy {that a} future ship will stick with it that custom of service by bearing the identify and historical past of their nice capital metropolis.”
About 70 sailors might be assigned to the ship, based on officers.
Polnaszek mentioned the USS Augusta is a category of ship that was designed as a smaller, high-speed craft that may be arrange for quite a lot of missions. It could actually go about 45 knots (about 52 mph), properly quicker than most ships, and has a shallow draft that permits it to work alongside the shoreline, offering defenses between the shore and sea. It has a singular trimaran hull.
The littoral ships value about $500 million, based on media studies.
Augusta Mayor Mark O’Brien traveled to Alabama in December for the ship’s christening.
“I’m shocked at how detailed your analysis has been about our metropolis,” Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Judkins informed the visiting Navy officers. “The crest is totally superb. I’d like to search out out the place I may get a type of. They nailed it.”
Polnaszek’s itinerary in Augusta included excursions of the Maine State Home, Cony Excessive Faculty, the Augusta Civic Middle, Lithgow Public Library and Fort Western.
“I’m extraordinarily humbled by the historical past, custom and neighborhood of Augusta,” Polnaszek mentioned. “Each individual I met and place I visited confirmed me extra of what it means to bear the identify Augusta.”
A latest Authorities Accountability Workplace report discovered Navy ships are experiencing rising upkeep delays and prices. The report cited littoral fight ships as among the many craft having the best variety of issues that impair ships’ potential to function successfully.
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