US Sea Power
By: Guy in Military on April 16, 2005 - 10:57 am
These are pictures that I recently took of some of the ships of the US Third Fleet in San Diego. The remainder of the Third Fleet is home ported at Pearl Harbor Hawaii. These ships, and the men that man them are playing an integral part in the GWOT.
USS Preble DDG 88
The destroyer in the foreground is the Preble- One of the newest and most sophisticated Arleigh Burke class destroyers in the fleet. Behind the Preble are several other Burke class destroyers. Interestingly enough, by Navy regs, only thirty percent of the fleet can be in port at the samne time.
USS Tarawa LHA 1
The Tarawa is an older LHA class of Amphibious Landing Ship. This class is slowly being relaced by the LHD class. As constructed, she will hold up to 1900 Marines with their attendant landing craft.
USS Lake Champlain CG 57
The Lake Champlain is a Ticonderoga class cruiser-the most electronically sophisticated ship afloat. Capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots, she has the capability of protecting an entire battle group with her electronics and weapons systems.
USS Ronald Reagan CVN 76
The Ronald Reagan is the newest Nimitz class nuclear carrier in the fleet. With her airwing aboard, she’ll house in excess of 5000 men.
Unknown Los Angeles class Fast Attack Submarine
These fast attack subs will stay at sea for up to six months without entering port. It takes a special breed of sailor to serve aboard these ships.
Great pics…brings me back to my Navy days.
April 22, 2005 - 3:12 pmOther than the amphibious landing ships is there an ship in those pictures that rally helps in the war on terror. I wonder if we have our military spending priority set right.
George
April 29, 2005 - 10:35 pmGeorge,
April 30, 2005 - 5:36 amCarriers are used to launch air strikes against suspected terrorist strongholds. Destroyers and cruisers alike are used for interdiction of suspected terrorist ships on the high seas. All in all….money well spent I’d say.
Every time I see a Burke-class destroyer, I flash back to the age of 10 when I found myself seated next to a very old man in the waiting area of a clinic at Bethesda Naval Hospital. He apoke to my brother and i very kindly, asking us about school and inquiring if we planned on following our father into the Navy. I remember picking up on the fact that all the staff in the clinic were very deferential to him, and so after he was called back for his appointment I asked my mother who he was. It was, she told me, Admiral Arleigh Burke, one of the great admirals of WWII. Over the years I’ve learned just how true that statement was, and as a student (and teacher) of history I have a fair knowledge of why that statement is true — but I will always remember him in my heart as that kind old man who took the time to chat with a couple of young boys who could have easily been ignored.
May 5, 2005 - 8:37 pmThanks! Those who understand might enjoy googling “Reflections of a Blackshoe” by VAdm Harold Koenig.
May 8, 2005 - 10:33 pm