Radioman Second Class (RM2c) Walter Carl Rathsack was selected for the tenth class of the On-The-Roof Gang training that began in March 1933. Along with the other seven Radiomen in the class, he graduated in June 1933 and was ordered to Station BAKER in Guam. In the years leading up to World War II, Petty Officer Rathsack performed Radio Intelligence operations in Guam, Philippines and Hawaii.
Continue reading “The Most Dangerous Assignment”
By Retired Captain Ros Poplar, USN
As we face the challenges of keeping the Straits of Hormuz open, “Quantity is indeed a Quality all of its own “
As I was reminded by Shipmate Michael Morano this A.M. 1987 marked the high point of the “600 Ship Navy,” with total numbers reaching 594 combatants. Included within those numbers were 119 frigates, 69 destroyers, and 35 cruisers, all of various classes.
Continue reading “Quantity Has a Quality All Its Own: Lessons from the 600-Ship Navy to Hormuz Today”
The Navy is looking to use virtual game engines and interactive team training for maintenance, a service official said Dec. 2.
Continue reading “I/ITSEC NEWS: Navy Wants to Leverage Video Game Engines for Maintenance Training”
This post has been updated with a statement from Fincantieri
The Navy is walking away from the Constellation-class frigate program to focus on new classes of warships the service can build faster, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan announced Tuesday on social media.
Continue reading “Navy Cancels Constellation-class Frigate Program, Considering New Small Surface Combatants”
Featured image: “The Spooks” of the USS Fox (DLG–33/CG-33) – Positive Identification Radar Advisory Zone, PIRAZ, Gulf of Tonkin, 1971. Special thanks to Bill Scholz for allowing his picture to be used on this post.
During the Vietnam War and other major conflicts, the U.S. Navy operated a select group of ships known as PIRAZ stations, short for Positive Identification Radar Advisory Zone. These vessels, often referred to by their radio callsign “Red Crown,” formed the backbone of radar coverage and command coordination for friendly aircraft in designated combat zones.
Continue reading “The Navy’s “Red Crown”: Guardians of the Skies – The Role of PIRAZ Stations”
PASCAGOULA, Miss., (Sept. 27, 2025) — HII’s (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division successfully completed builder’s sea trials for guided missile destroyer Ted Stevens (DDG 128), marking a major milestone in the construction of the second Flight III destroyer built at Ingalls. The trials were conducted over several days in the Gulf of America, and tested the ship’s engineering, navigation, and combat systems to ensure readiness for the future acceptance trials and eventual delivery to the U.S. Navy.
Continue reading “HII Successfully Completes Builder’s Sea Trials for Destroyer Ted Stevens (DDG 128)”
Station HYPO 