060915-N-4772B-102 Sasebo, Japan (Sept. 15, 2006) - Newly pinned Chief Engineman Danny Enriquez takes his place in line with fellow chief petty officers aboard dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) following their pinning ceremony in the ship's well deck. Today, the honor will be bestowed upon new chiefs in ceremonies on ships and at bases all over the world. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Brian P. Biller (RELEASED)
060921-N-0780F-003 Souda Bay, Crete, Greece (Sept. 21, 2006) - The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Dallas (SSN 700) heads to sea following a brief port visit. Dallas is homeported in Groton, Conn., and is currently on a scheduled deployment. Commissioned in 1981, Dallas is the first Los Angeles-class submarine to have a dry deck shelter (DDS). DDSs provide specially configured nuclear-powered submarines with a greater capability of deploying special operations forces (SOF). U.S. Navy photo by Mr. Paul Farley (RELEASED)
060923-O-0000X-001 Marinette, Wis. (Sept. 23, 2006) – The nation’s first Littoral Combat Ship, Freedom (LCS 1) – the inaugural ship in an entirely new class of U.S. Navy surface warships – makes a spectacular side launch during her christening at the Marinette Marine shipyard. The agile 377-foot Freedom -- designed and built by a team led by Lockheed Martin -- will help the U.S. Navy defeat growing littoral, or close-to-shore, threats and provide access and dominance in coastal water battle-space. Displacing 3,000 metric tons and with a capability of reaching speeds well over 40 knots, Freedom will be a fast, maneuverable and networked surface combatant with operational flexibility to execute focused missions, such as mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare and humanitarian relief. Photo released courtesy Lockheed Martin.