U.S. Navy Celebrates Naming Ceremony Of Explorer-Class Ocean Surveillance Ships

The U.S. Navy has introduced the Explorer class ocean surveillance ships, naming the first two vessels after iconic explorers Captain Don Walsh and Commander Victor Vescovo.

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced on January 10 during a ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy in Maryland. Attendees included members of Congress, National Geographic Explorers, scientists, educators, and civic leaders.

The future USNS Don Walsh (T-AGOS 25) and USNS Victor Vescovo (T-AGOS 26) will be part of a new generation of ships, essential to anti-submarine warfare and maintaining strategic awareness in global waters.

Operated by the Military Sealift Command, these ships will gather underwater acoustical data for the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS), which will enhance the Navy’s operational capabilities.

The USNS Don Walsh (T-AGOS-25) honours the late Captain Don Walsh, a pioneering ocean explorer and 1954 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.

Walsh gained global recognition in 1960 when he piloted the bathyscaphe Trieste with scientist Jacques Piccard to Challenger Deep, the ocean’s deepest point. This historic dive, reaching 35,797 feet, earned him the Legion of Merit from President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Walsh, who passed away on November 12, 2023, at his Oregon home, was a celebrated oceanographer, submarine commander, and advocate for marine research. His contributions spanned over six decades, earning him numerous awards.

His daughter, Liz Walsh, expressed pride in the Navy’s decision to name a ship after her father, calling it a fitting tribute to his lifetime of exploration and service.

The USNS Victor Vescovo (T-AGOS-26) is named after Commander Victor Vescovo, a retired naval intelligence officer, renowned explorer, and private equity investor.

Vescova is celebrated for his record-breaking dive to Challenger Deep in his custom-built submersible, Limiting Factor. He has completed the Explorers’ Grand Slam, climbing the highest peaks on all continents and reaching the North and South Poles.

His extensive contributions to ocean exploration earned him the 2021 Captain Don Walsh Award for Ocean Exploration.

The Navy has selected Joan Walsh, Don Walsh’s wife, and their daughter, Liz Walsh, as sponsors for the future USNS Don Walsh. Victoria Vescovo Webster, Vescovo’s sister, will sponsor the future USNS Victor Vescovo.

Ship sponsors maintain lifelong ties with the vessel and its crew.

The Explorer class ships feature a Steel Waterplane Area Twin Hull (SWATH) design, providing high stability for operations in adverse weather.

Measuring 356 feet in length, the ships have an 8,500-ton displacement and can accommodate up to 68 personnel.

Equipped with the Surveillance Towed-Array Sensor System (SURTASS), these vessels will collect and transmit underwater acoustical data to shore stations via satellite for evaluation.

The SWATH design ensures minimal waterplane area, enhancing stability during surveillance missions. The first T-AGOS 25 ship was procured in 2022, with plans to build seven vessels in the class.

Reference: U.S Navy

Source: Maritime Shipping News