Namesake Howard O. Lorenzen Laid down 13 August 2008 Christened 26 June 2010 Construction started 13 August 2008 Length 163 m | Awarded 26 September 2006 Sponsored by Susan Lorenzen Black Acquired 10 January 2012 Launched 30 June 2010 | |
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Builders Vt Halter Marine Inc, Pascagoula | ||
USNS Howard O. Lorenzen (T-AGM-25) is a Missile Range Instrumentation Ship built for the U.S. Navy by VT Halter Marine of Pascagoula, Mississippi. The keel was laid during a ceremony on August 13, 2008, and the vessel became operational in 2014. This ship carries a next-generation active electronically scanned array radar system named Cobra King.
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Description
USNS Howard O. Lorenzen is 12,642 long tons (12,845 t), 534 feet (163 m) in length, and has a beam of 89 feet (27 m). Manned by a combined crew of 88 sailors and civilian mariners, the ship will host embarked military and civilian technicians from other U.S. government agencies. It will be operated by the Military Sealift Command and conduct missions sponsored by the U.S. Air Force.
History
The ship is named for the late Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) electrical engineer who was instrumental in the creation of the electronic intelligence capabilities of the United States. It was due to be delivered in 2010.
In May 2011 it was announced that the ship had failed its Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) inspection and was being sent back for repairs before the Navy would accept the ship. The ship was judged inadequate in the electrical, damage control and aviation inspections and also had problems with her anchor, steering and the temperature in her thrust bearings.
The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of Howard O. Lorenzen on 10 January 2012. Final contract trials were completed on 5 December 2013, with transfer of some responsibilities for the ship to the US Air Force expected to occur in 2014. On 31 March 2014, the Cobra Judy Replacement (Cobra King) program reached initial operational capability (IOC). According to the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the U.S. Air Force also assumed operational and sustainment responsibilities for the ship.
The Howard O. Lorenzen and her Cobra King radar system were declared operational in August 2014. It replaced the USNS Observation Island (T-AGM-23), which was inactivated for dismantlement earlier in the year.