Navy bringing party to Wilmington

By Ken Little

The events surrounding the commissioning date of the USS North Carolina are being touted as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And the economic impact of the event will be felt in the city’s hospitality industry.

The State Port will host the ceremony on Saturday, May 3, but the presence of the Navy’s newest fast attack submarine and its crew has been felt locally for weeks.

Event organizers say the commissioning will add a memorable chapter to Wilmington’s rich maritime history and serve to highlight the legacy of other ships that carried the name North Carolina.

Its immediate predecessor, the World War II-era Battleship North Carolina, has been an integral part of the city’s landscape since 1961. Battleship Capt. David R. Scheu, a retired naval officer, is among those eagerly anticipating the arrival of the submarine and its crew of 134.

“It’s sort of like a once-in-a-lifetime event when you talk about commissioning a ship named for your state, in your city,” said Scheu, co-chair of the commissioning committee with Louise McColl.

The USS North Carolina is scheduled to navigate up the Cape Fear River on April 28 and dock at the port. When the submarine is commissioned on May 3, about 5,000 invited guests will be along for the ride.

In between, members of the crew will be visible in the community at a number of events. A fireworks display rivaling the one seen downtown each Fourth of July will commence at 9 p.m. Friday, May 2 in Riverfront Park.

Sea trials
The 7,800-ton North Carolina was built in Newport News, Va., by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, at a cost of about $2.4 billion. Its keel was laid in May 2004 and the 377-foot sub was christened in April 2007. The North Carolina first went to sea in May 2007 and has undergone extensive sea trials leading up to the commissioning.

“Nothing major has gone wrong. It has performed very well,” Navy public affairs officer Lt. James Stockman said.

Members of North Carolina’s crew are no strangers to Wilmington. The ship’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Mark E. Davis, and other sailors have made a series of goodwill visits to the city.

Crew members rode on a submarine float in the recent Azalea Festival Parade, and Davis served as the parade’s grand marshal. Crew members will also visit local schools, hospitals and civic organizations. They’ll participate in events like a 5K run on April 29 at Greenfield Lake and assist April 19 in constructing a playground, also at Greenfield Lake.

Economic Impact
The city and New Hanover County each contributed $50,000 to help pay for events connected to the North Carolina’s visit. The Navy is picking up most of the tab for the commissioning ceremony, which will cost about $200,000, McColl said.

Wilmington won out as the commissioning site over at least two other locations. Local officials like Mayor Bill Saffo and U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre lobbied effectively for the city.

“We were all pulling for North Carolina because it was a namesake state. There is a historic representation there,” Stockman said.

Davis recently said that he was proud of his crew, which has trained extensively to familiarize themselves with the cutting-edge technology used on board the North Carolina.

“To see a group of 134 sailors come together is the ultimate reward,” Davis told the Associated Press.

The USS North Carolina is not your father’s Navy ship, and its crew must train accordingly.

“They go through probably some of the most difficult and extensive training in the Navy,” Stockman said. “The crew is looking forward to getting to North Carolina and Wilmington and being commissioned, instead of being called a precommissioning unit.”

State of the art
The nuclear-powered North Carolina is the fourth in the Virginia class of submarines. It incorporates state-ofthe- art stealth and surveillance capabilities that enable it to tackle a variety of mission requirements. It’s capable of anti-submarine and anti-surface ship warfare, mine delivery, battle group support and reconnaissance in both shallow and deep waters.

The submarine carries Tomahawk cruise missiles that allow accurate attacks on land targets. Its top speed is listed at 25-plus knots, and the plus part is classified. Also classified are the depths the North Carolina is capable of reaching.

Because it is nuclear-powered, the submarine is able to remain at sea indefinitely. A typical deployment lasts about six months. “It’s only really limited as to how much food it carries,” Stockman said.

An immediate challenge to the crew is navigating the sizable vessel down the Cape Fear River. The Coast Guard will assist. Port officials have secured a barge for the submarine to tie up to, State Port spokeswoman Susan Clizbe said.

“The technicalities of getting the sub docked are a big issue,” she said. “It will impact (port) operations very minimally. The only time it will stop operations is the day of the ceremony.”

Security will be tight, and the general public will not be allowed onto port property.

Fittingly, the fireworks on May 2 will be launched from Battleship Park. When the submarine was constructed, some teak from the battleship’s deck was built into its control room and decking outside the captain’s and chief’s quarters.

Scheu said the North Carolina will also carry a reminder of the 1908 ship, in the form of two pieces from a sterling silver serving set commissioned by the state of North Carolina for the armored cruiser. The silver was eventually transferred to the battleship when it went to sea. Event organizers believe the submarine’s visit will be long remembered.

“It’s the most historic event Wilmington has seen in a long time,” McColl said. “You very seldom get to see a submarine in Wilmington.”