Lockheed Shipbuilding Launches First Of Two Sub Tenders Building At Total Cost Of $253 Million

The 644-foot submarine tender Emory S.

Land (AS-39) was recently launched into the flood tide on the West Waterway of the Duwamish River at Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company's Harbor Island shipyard in Seattle, Wash.

Mrs. Sara H. Long, wife of Vice Adm.

Robert L.J. Long, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Submarine Warfare, christened the ship moments before it slid down the ways.

Admiral Long, the sponsor's husband, was principal speaker in launch ceremonies that preceded the christening.

Mrs. Long's matron-of-honor was Mrs.

Margaret F. Murray, wife of Rear Adm.

James D. Murray Jr., Commandant of the 13th Naval District. Flower girl was 6-yearold Rebecca Lee Edwards, daughter of Otis G. Edwards, steel production manager for the sub tender project.

Rear Adm. Bryan W. Compton Jr., Direc- Directorate for Aircraft Carriers, Auxiliaries and Amphibious Ships, spoke briefly as the top Naval Sea Systems Command representative.

Horton H. Ore Sr., Pipefitters International Representative, spoke as the labor representative.

Colors were presented by the Naval Support Activities color guard, while music for the ceremonies was provided by the 13th Naval District Color Guard Band under the direction of Chief Musician Gary McPherson.

Thirteenth Naval District Chaplain Capt.

Donald C. LeMaster gave the invocation.

Instructions to the sponsor were handled by Capt. Vincent J. Manara Jr., Supervisor of Shipbuilding, 13th Naval District, and John N. Watt, program manager, submarine tenders, Lockheed Shipbuilding.

G. Graham Whipple, president, Lockheed Shipbuilding, and Lawrence O. Kitchen, president of Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, also participated in the ceremonies. Among other guests on the platform were Capt. Lawrence Shafer, Ship Acquisition Project Manager for Auxiliary Ships, and Lt. Comdr. Edward A.

Jones, Resident Supervisor of Shipbuilding for the AS project.

The AS-39 ranks as one of the largest Naval ships to be built in a private shipyard in the Northwest. The ship and a sistership, Frank Cable (AS-40), are being built under a contract awarded to Lockheed by the U.S.

Navy's Sea Systems Command, November 20, 1974. At a price of $253 million, it was the largest contract in Lockheed Shipbuilding history.

The AS-39 is an auxiliary ship, providing mobile support to nuclear-powered SSN-688 Los Angeles-class attack submarines. The AS-39 and its sistership AS-40 Frank Cable, building on Shipway 3 at Lockheed, will provide undersea craft and their crews with repairs, spare parts, provisions, and medical, dental, mail, and legal services. The ship will contain some 50 specialized shops. The ship will provide living quarters for the more than 1,000 men manning the shops and operating the submarines alongside, with temporary quarters for their crews. Submarines moored alongside can be provided with various service connections.

The Navy is negotiating with Lockheed for a third submarine tender, AS-41. It is due to be delivered in 1981 if a contract is awarded in the near term.

Dual keel-laying ceremonies for the AS-39 and AS-40 were held March 2, 1976. The Land is named for Vice Adm. Emory S. Land, who was associated with the Navy's submarine development program for many years.

Admiral Land was also Chairman of the U.S.

Maritime Commission, and during World War II was Administrator of the War Shipping Administration.

The Cable was named for Frank Cable, a submarine pioneer who began his involvement with submarines while serving as chief engineer on the construction of the Holland, which became the Navy's first submarine.

The Cable, AS-40, will be launched February 15, 1978.

The Land is expected to be delivered early in 1979, and the Cable in the fall of that year.

Other stories from June 1977 issue

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