! Screengrab from U.S. Navy Video
NEW YORK – Now on its 35th year, Fleet Week New York (FWNY) returns to New York from May 24 to 30. The seven-day celebration honoring the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps will include general public ship tours, aviation demonstrations, military band performances, parades, and interactive displays throughout the tri-state area.
“The U.S. Navy is excited to be back in New York to showcase how the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard provide us with an advantage at sea,” said Rear Adm. Christopher S. Gray, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic (CNRMA) in a press statement.
CNRMA, the lead planning organization for FWNY this year, is the regional coordinator for all shore-based naval personnel and shore activities in the Mid-Atlantic region, encompassing 20 states, 14 installations, and 50 Naval Reserve Centers.
FWNY, held in New York City nearly every year since 1984, was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was held virtually on social media.
According to Gray, NATO allies — Great Britain, Italy, and Canada — will join this year’s FWNY. “Preserving our military advantage and upholding the rules-based international order depend on a strong integration with our joint force, allies, and partners. We operate and train together, and it is an honor to have them join us for this celebration,” he said. “New York is always an incredible host,, and we can’t wait for all of the brave men and women serving our country, and those of our allied guests, to get an opportunity to experience all the city offers.”
The participating ships will be the USS Wasp (LHD 1) and the USCGC Warren Deyampert (WPC 1151). They are docked at New York Passenger Ship Terminal at Pier 88 on the Hudson River on the West Side of Manhattan and Stapleton in Staten Island.
USS Wasp (LHD 1) is a U.S. Navy multipurpose amphibious assault ship, the lead ship of her class, and the flagship for FWNY 2023. Wasp is a critical asset in the U.S. Navy’s fleet, equipped with advanced technology and capable of accommodating a range of aircraft. Wasp is vital in supporting humanitarian missions, disaster relief efforts, and military operations worldwide alongside embarked Marines ready to respond to threats across all domains.
On the other hand, the USCGC Warren Deyampert (WPC 1151) is a multi-mission vessel designed for drug and migrant interdiction; ports, waterways, and coastal security; fishery patrols; search and rescue; and national defense. The cutters feature advanced technology, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance equipment that is fully interoperable with existing Coast Guard assets and with the departments of Homeland Security and Defense.
Marines from II Marine Expeditionary Force, 1st Marine Corps District, and Marine Forces Reserve from Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-New York (SPMAGTF-NY) are embarked on the Wasp. Like all Marine Air-Ground Task Forces, SPMAGTF-NY showcases the scalable ground, aviation, and logistics forces capable of supporting various operations.
Before FWNY, CRNMA said, the Wasp returned to its homeport, Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va., after concluding initial Basic Phase testing and assessments on May 11. During the month-long, Wasp’s crew completed certifications in multiple mobility areas. Assessors from Afloat Training Group (ATG) Norfolk inspected warfighting competency to qualify the ship for sea operations. Inspections included Mobility Aviation (MOB-A), Mobility Seamanship (MOB-S), Mobility Engineering (MOB-E), Mobility Damage Control (MOB-D), and amphibious warfare (AMW).
All FWNY-participating ships will host general public ship tours Thursday, May 25 through Monday, May 29, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at piers 88 and 90 in Manhattan and Staten Island Homeport Pier. All ship tours are free and open to the public.
–With Jay Domingo/PDM
