18th Aegis Guided Missile Destroyer Ready To Be Commissioned

MISSILE NEWS

File photo of a missile launch from an Aegis Guided Missile Destroyer

Pascagoula - Jul 24, 2003
The U.S. Navy will commission USS Mustin (DDG 89), its 39th Aegis guided missile destroyer, and the 18th built by Northrop Grumman Corporation's Ship Systems sector, Saturday, July 26, at 8pm PDT.

Adm. Vern Clark, chief of Naval Operations, will deliver the principal address at Naval Air Station North Island, Pier K, in Coronado, Calif. Mustin's sponsors, Lucy Holcomb Mustin, wife of ship's co-namesake retired Navy Vice Adm. Henry C. Mustin, II; Jean Phillips Mustin, wife of ship's co-namesake retired Navy Lt. Comdr. Thomas M. Mustin; and Mrs. Douglas Mustin St. Denis, sister of Henry C. Mustin, II and Thomas M. Mustin, will continue the Navy tradition and give the order to "man our ship and bring her to life!"

Anne Howard Thomas, who served as matron of honor for the first ship named Mustin in 1938, will also serve these sponsors as matron of honor.

Other ceremony participants include U.S. Rep. Susan Davis from California, 53rd congressional district; Vice Adm. Timothy W. LaFleur commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Navy Rear Adm. Charles S. Hamilton, II, program executive officer for ships; and Dr. Philip A. Dur, president, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems and corporate vice president, Northrop Grumman Corporation.

Mustin will honor the Mustin family who has a rich and honorable tradition of Naval service. The Mustin family's service lasted from 1896 to 1989 and is marked by officers who were extraordinary innovators.

Navy Capt. Henry C. Mustin (1874-1923), earned a distinguished-service commendation in the capture of Vigan, Philippines in 1899; flew the first aircraft ever catapulted from a ship; in 1914, flew the first operational missions of Naval aircraft during the Veracruz operation; and was the first commander of aircraft squadrons, battle fleet.

Henry C. Mustin's son, Navy Vice Adm. Lloyd Mustin (1911-1999), contributed to the development of the Navy's first lead-computing anti-aircraft gun sight, which proved of major importance in the air-sea actions of World War II, and served on the cruiser USS Atlanta (CL 51) during the battle of Guadalcanal. His post war service included the role of operations director, Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Lloyd Mustin's sons, Henry C. Mustin, II and Thomas M. Mustin, continue the family's service legacy. Henry C. Mustin, II is a decorated Vietnam veteran who was Naval inspector general, 2nd Fleet commander and deputy chief of Naval Operations for plans and policy in the 1980s. Thomas Mustin earned a Bronze Star during the Vietnam conflict for river patrol combat action.

The 509.5-foot, 9,300-ton Mustin has an overall beam of 66.5 feet and a navigational draft of 31.9 feet. Four gas turbine propulsion plants will power the ship to speeds above 31 knots. A crew of approximately 383 officers and others will operate the ship.

Mustin will be home ported in San Diego, as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Ten more Aegis destroyers are under contract. Navy Cmdr. Ann Phillips, a native of Annapolis, Md., is the new ship's commissioning commanding officer.

MISSILE DEFENSE

EADS Wins Development Share Of UK Missile Air Defense Project

Frankfurt - Jun 27, 2003
The largest European aerospace company EADS NV said Thursday that it has been selected together with British missile manufacturer MBDA by the U.K. Ministry of Defense as one of two teams awarded a contract to begin development of a new integrated air defense command and control system for the U.K. armed forces.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.