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USS Valley Forge (CG-50), shown on sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico, is the fourth Ingalls- built Aegis cruiser commissioned into the U.S. Navy Fleet. Aegis Missle Cruiser Valley Forge Commissioned At Ingalls Yard The U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet re- ceived its newest ship, and its sec- ond Aegis guided missile cruiser, following the recent commissioning of the USS Valley Forge (CG-50) at the Ingalls Shipbuilding yard in Pascagoula, Miss. Principal speaker at the commissioning ceremony was William H. Taft IV, Deputy Sec- retary of Defense. He was welcomed to Mississippi by Congressman Trent Lott (D-Miss.). The Valley Forge is the fourth in a series of Ticonderoga Class cruis- ers being built by Ingalls. She is equipped with the advanced Aegis weapons system, the most capable shipboard air defense radar and missile system in the world today. Also participating in the commis- sioning ceremony were: Adm. James B. Busey, vice chief of naval operations; Vice Adm. Jo- seph Metcalf III, deputy chief of naval operations for surface war- fare; Vice Adm. William H. Rowden, commander, Naval Sea Systems Command; Rear Adm. John W. Nyquist, commander Cruiser Destroyer Group Five; Rear Adm. John F. Shaw, Aegis pro- gram manager; Capt. George W. Dowell, supervisor of shipbuilding, Pascagoula; and Jerry St. Pe, vice president of Litton and president of Ingalls Shipbuilding. Mrs. Julia Vadala Taft, who served as sponsor of the Valley Forge during her September 1984 christening, also participated in the commissioning ceremony. The Valley Forge and other ships of the Aegis class, the most impor- tant surface shipbuilding program in America today, will provide the primary protection for the Navy's battle forces well into the next cen- tury. Aegis cruisers are big ships— 567 feet long with a beam of 55 feet. Four 20,000-shp gas turbine engines drive the 9,400-ton ship at speeds in excess of 30 knots. The ship's Aegis weapons system, the heart of her fighting capability, is a significant advance in fleet air defense. Four fixed array radar an- tennas mounted on the sides of the ship's superstructure replace con- ventional totaling antennas, enabl- ing the crew to "see" in all direc- tions simultaneously. The Aegis sys- tem can simultaneously fire and di- rect more missiles at more targets, with greater accuracy, than any oth- er system. The Valley Forge is also equiped with a fully integrated LAMPS (Light Airborne Multipurpose Sys- tem) MK III combat suite. This includes the SH 60B Seahawk heli- copter for antisubmarine warfare, ship surveillance, targeting, and search and rescue; The RAST (Re- cover, Assist, Securing, Traversing) recovery system that "pulls" the he- licopter to the ship's deck during heavy weather opertions; and ad- vanced electronic control systems. VALLEY FORGE Major Suppliers Main engines .... General Electric Reduction gears .... Westinghouse Propellers Bird-Johnson SS generators . . Stewart & Stevenson Auxiliary boilers . . Combustion Engineering Ship control system Litton Sonars General Electric Aegis computers programing . . Computer Sciences Fire control system, radar system Raytheon Combat system operating consoles Hughes Aircraft Combat system computers Sperry Univac Guns and missile launchers . . . FMC Fire control system . . . Lockheed Electronics Missile control directors GE Switchboards & panels Nelson Electric Shaft bearings .American Metal Bearings Deck covering Steigerwald Commissary equipment . .H.E.Green Distilling plants Aqua-Chem Air cond. & ref York Fan coil assemblies . Nuclear Cooling LP air compressors . . . Worthington Steering gear Jered Brown Pumps Carver and Warren Fans Joy Manufacturing Strikedown elevators . . Unidynamics Duplex strainers . . . .Chas. M. Bailey Control valves Cla Val Bronze valves . . Milwaukee and Pima Globe valves Waeco Electrical connectors SAE Electrical backshells Sunbank Gauges Weksler Valves & fittings Mobile Electrical symbol items . . . Henschel Steel plate .... Armco; U.S. Steel Steel shapes Inland Electrical cable Collyer House & hose fittings .... Aeroquip Contract design personnel Advanced Marine The LAMPS significantly improves the ship's antisubmarine warfare ca- pabilities. As lead shipbuilder for five of the latest classes of Navy surface com- batants, Ingalls has delivered 44 complex warships into the Navy Fleet since 1975, more than any oth- er shipyard in the country. The Mis- sissippi shipyard delivered the lead ship of the Aegis cruiser class, the USS Ticonderoga (CG-47), ahead of schedule in 1983. The second ship of the class, the USS Yorktown (CG- 48), joined the Atlantic Fleet abead of schedule in July 1984. The USS Vincennes (CG-49) became the first Pacific Fleet Aegis cruiser following commissioning in July 1985. New Straight Thread Ball Valve From PBM— Free Literature Offered Pittsburgh Brass Manufacturing, Irwin, Pa., has added straight thread tube fitting end connections to MS-33649, to its growing family of ball valves. These full port valves give maximum Cv factor, and are fitted with lock washers for vibra- tion-proof operation. Panel-mounted version with gull wing handle is available, as well as standard in-line and actuated ver- sions. Sizes range from Vi -inch to 2 inches in 316 stainless steel from stock, but other metals can be fur- nished with reasonable lead time. Pressures to 600 psi and tempera- tures to 500°F are possible, with TFE body cavity fillers as an op- tion. For free literature on the new ball valves with straight thread tube fit- tings and connections from Pitts- burgh Brass Manufacturing, Circle 69 on Reader Service Card Type "T" separator In-Line 31L separator since 1942. If you are plagued by condensate in any onboard air or steam systems, Wright- Austin separators with exclusive "BLC" will solve your problem. All Wright- Austin separators either meet or exceed all ABS, USCG and Navy requirements. Ships currently using Wright-Austin separators are: ARS-50 (Rescue/Salvage Vessel) CG47 (Guided Missile Cruiser) WMEC (Medium Endurance Cutter) DDG-51 (Guided Missile Destroyer) DD963 & DD997 (Destroyers) CVN (Nuclear Aircraft Carrier) Write for our general bulletin 811 WRIGHT-AUSTIN COMPANY 3245 Wight Street, Detroit, Michigan 48207 Phone (313) 259-1925 Telex 23-0700 Circle 340 on Reader Service Card WITH WRIGHT-AUSTIN GAS / LIQUID SEPARATORS Suppliers to the Navy and Merchant Marine 44 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
