PRODUCT LINES AT SUPSHIP BATH
Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Bath Maine is a field activity of SEA 04, the Naval Sea Systems Commands (NAVSEA) Department for Logistics, Maintenance and Industrial Operations. SUPSHIP's primary mission is to manage assigned contracts to construct, maintain and modernize surface ships. This requires engaging with Bath Iron Works (BIW) and other General Dynamics (GD) shipyards in a collaborative effort to design, build, modernize, and repair warships, destroyers (DDG 51), auxiliary support ships (T-AKE), Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), and support for development of the DDG-1000 land-attack destroyer.
AEGIS Destroyers (DDG)
Destroyers and guided missile destroyers operate in support of carrier battle groups, surface action groups, amphibious groups and replenishment groups. Destroyers primarily perform anti-submarine warfare duty while guided missile destroyers are multi-mission (ASW, anti-air and anti-surface warfare) surface combatants. The addition of the Mk-41 Vertical Launch System or Tomahawk Armored Box Launchers (ABLs) to many Spruance-class destroyers has greatly expanded the role of the destroyer in strike warfare.
Land Attack Destroyer (DD-1000)
The Land-Attack Destroyer (DDG-1000) is the first surface combatant founded entirely upon post-Cold War thinking and strategic concepts. Accordingly, the DD-X design concept will support joint-service requirements in littoral regions. Armed with an array of land-attack weapons, DD-X will provide sustained, offensive, distributed, and precise firepower at long ranges in support of forces ashore. With state-of-the-art information technologies, DD-X will operate seamlessly with other naval, ground, and land-based air forces, and will be in accordance with the Navy's evolving "Network-Centric Warfare" concept of operations and IT-21 (Information Technology for the 21st Century) architecture.
Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)
LCS will transform naval operations in the littorals: The littoral battle space requires focused capabilities in greater numbers to assure access against asymmetrical threats. The LCS is envisioned to be a networked, agile, stealthy surface combatant capable of defeating anti-access and asymmetric threats in the littorals. This relatively small, high-speed combatant will complement the U.S. Navy’s Aegis Fleet, DDG-1000 and CG(X) by operating in environments where it is less desirable to employ larger, multi-mission ships. It will have the capability to deploy independently to overseas littoral regions, remain on station for extended periods of time either with a battle group or through a forward-basing arrangement and will be capable of underway replenishment. It will operate with Carrier Strike Groups, Surface Action Groups, in groups of other similar ships, or independently for diplomatic and presence missions. Additionally, it will have the capability to operate cooperatively with the U.S. Coast Guard and Allies.
Auxiliary Dry Cargo Carrier (T-AKE)
In October 2000, then-Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig announced his decision to name the Navy's new class of underway replenishment ships to hat was to become one of American history's greatest adventure stories. Their well-documented expedition of two years and 6,000 miles opened vast new territories to the United States, allowing American settlers and traders to travel the routes they had blazed. In announcing his decision, Secretary Danzig said that, "The recent tragedy of the USS Cole reminds us not only of the precious cost but also of the essential value of our sons and daughters exploring uncharted waters. Lewis and Clark embodied the extraordinary courage of the journey and the reality that we cannot undertake any exploration alone — that trust and faith are necessary to truly get us safely through the frontier. This new class of ships and the men and women that serve on them will embody this spirit and ensure that our explorers have what they need to reach their destination." Designed to operate independently for extended periods at sea while providing replenishment services to U.S. and NATO ships, the Lewis and Clark Class ships will directly contribute to the ability of the Navy to maintain a forward presence.
Ship Disposal
A recent development has been the Command's support for ship disposals. We have an experienced staff that supports ship-breaking and disposal efforts, environmental monitoring, and fiscal responsibility for the disposal process. The most evident of these efforts was the sinking of the Oriskany to form an artificial reef in Florida.