US Military Pictures & Videos

Jeff Head · Jan 25, 2007

Re: US Military pic thread

bd popeye said:
No they cannot be reloaded at sea. The ship needs to be inport. The reloading is not that difficult.

Actually, until recently, there was a reloading crane that took up three cells for replenishment at sea in the Mk 41 VLS blocks. That's why the capacity for those cells for so long was 61 missiles instead of 64.

For those vessels that still have the reloading crane fitted, it is diffcult, but possible. The missiles would either be heloed in, or brought in alongside, and reloaded with the crane. But the Tomohawks and the new TBMs are too heavy for the crane. Basically, it hasn't been done because the US has not been in any kind of extreme circumstance requiring it and now on the flight IIA Burkes and on later Ticos they added that three extra missile capacity to each Mk 41 and took out the reload crane.

I found the following interesting discussion regardig this on

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I personally believe it is a mistake because, even in an emergency, it would be nice while at sea, and in the midst of combat operations of that magnitude, to be able to reload, even if it took an extra day or two to get it all done. That would still be better than having to sail all the way back to port.

Naval Doctrrine Discussion said:
VLS Capabilities and Limitations: Reload and Loadout. A warship cannot live without fuel, but it cannot fight without ammunition. As weapons systems become increasingly complex and specialized, the ability of a weapons platform to execute a given mission is increasingly tied to its reserves of a specific munition. If the AEGIS CG demonstrates superior endurance for the remote NTW mission, that advantage is squandered if the ship carries an insufficient loadout of NTW interceptors.

If all its SM3 missiles are gone after two days on-station, the CG's superior fuel reserves are rendered irrelevant. Except as a sensor or cueing platform, the ship is useless for NTW and is probably out of position for any of the other missions it is potentially capable of performing. Furthermore, unlike fuel, VLS reloads cannot be provided on station. The ship must leave its patrol area and proceed to port, perhaps taking itself out of the fight entirely.

As originally designed, the Mk41 vertical launching system and its variants have a nominal underway replenishment capability. The practical limits of this capability are sufficiently great that in the late 1980s, the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA) studied a series of possible improvements. The results of that study, driven by the old Soviet regimental raid threat, are still relevant in light of the emerging TBMD mission.

Looking at older ship classes, CNA found that "typical rates for the transfer of large missiles between ships at sea [were] on the order of two to six missiles per hour."64 In regard to VLS, "limited testing of the VLS UNREP system indicates the fleet can expect about 3 missiles per hour as a consistent strike-down rate in calm seas (sea state 3 or less)."

The entire discussion is quite interesting.

Also, check out the following link:

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The second to the last paragraph indicates that the Navy continues to look hard at making the at sea replenishment of VLS a reality. Testing in 2006 was supposed to go ahead for reloading Tomohawks (the heaviest) and I am interested in finding out how that went.

bd popeye · Jan 25, 2007

Re: US Military pic thread

I personally believe it is a mistake because, even in an emergency, it would be nice while at sea, and in the midst of combat operations of that magnitude, to be able to reload, even if it took an extra day or two to get it all done. That would still be better than having to sail all the way back to port.

I don't know Jeff. I mine eyes view this would put the crew at an unecessary risk.. It just seems to me the ship would need be stationary to accomplish the reload and therefore be a sitting duck. Besides if they fired all 61 missiles or half that many there may not be a need to reload whereas most potential threats may be eliminated.

Jeff Head · Jan 25, 2007

Re: US Military pic thread

bd popeye said:
I don't know Jeff. I mine eyes view this would put the crew at an unecessary risk.. It just seems to me the ship would need be stationary to accomplish the reload and therefore be a sitting duck. Besides if they fired all 61 missiles or half that many there may not be a need to reload whereas most potential threats may be eliminated.

I agree that in most conditions it is a dangerous thing to do.

I believe they could do it in state 2 conditions...and yes, in most conflicts they would not expend all of their stores...but in a saturation attack against the carrier, they could...and then they would be relatively defenseless anyway so the ability to do it would be less dangerous under those conditions than not being able to do it.

That's why the reload crane was there in the first place because that's what we envisioned with the Soviets and even 2 missiles an hour reload was better than nothing.

Anyhow, I do not believe that saturation threat is completely gone.

Scratch · Mar 2, 2007

Re: US Military pic thread

an interesting view:

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bd popeye · Mar 20, 2007

Re: US Military pic thread

CVN-76 has been conducting excersises with the JMSDF and USAF. Captions for the pics from left to right. Click on the thumbnails to open for full view. Enjoy!!

1) PHILIPPINE SEA (March 18, 2007) - An F/A-18E Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115, an F-22A Raptor from the U.S. Air Force's 27th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, an F-15C Eagle from the U.S. Air Force's 44th Fighter Squadron...

2) PHILIPPINE SEA (March 18, 2007) - Off the port side of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), center, JS Myoko (DDG 175), right, and JS Hamagiri (DD 155) move into position to participate in a photo exercise (PHOTOEX) between the U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF).

3) PHILIPPINE SEA (March 18, 2007) - Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) ship JS Haruna (DDH 141), USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) and USS Russell (DDG 59) steam in formation.

4) PACIFIC OCEAN (March 17, 2007) - Sailors aboard Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) ship JS Myoko (DDG 175) pull the messenger line to set a fuel probe during a mock fueling at sea (FAS) exercise with Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Myoko and three other JMSDF ships pulled alongside the Ronald Reagan for the FAS exercise.

5) PACIFIC OCEAN (March 17, 2007) - JMSDF Sailors man the rails aboard Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) guided missile destroyer JS Myoko (DDG 175) as they prepare to pull alongside Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during a fueling at sea (FAS) exercise.

Jeff Head · Mar 25, 2007

Re: US Military pic thread

bd popeye said:
CVN-76 has been conducting excersises with the JMSDF and USAF. Captions for the pics from left to right. Click on the thumbnails to open for full view. Enjoy!

Popeye, in case no one else mentions it...thanks so much for posting all of these pics. I know it's a lot of work to find and then post pics (making sure they are suitable sized, thumb-nailing them in many cases, cropping, uploading, etc. etc.) and it is much appreciated. These latest pics of the joint USN and JMSDF exercises are very nice.

You have to say that the Japanese are, and for a long time have been, master ship builders. Their AEGIS destroyers (and the new ones are really just about as big displacement wise as our cruisers) are very, fine looking and capable vessels.

Next to the US, they have the largest, most powerful, and certainly the most diverse destroyer navy in the world.

Again, thanks. Between yourself, tphuang and swimmerXC (and others) we have never lacked on SD for a great look at the various militaries, particularly navies, of the world.

bd popeye · Mar 25, 2007

Re: US Military pic thread

Popeye, in case no one else mentions it...thanks so much for posting all of these pics. I know it's a lot of work to find and then post pics (making sure they are suitable sized, thumb-nailing them in many cases, cropping, uploading, etc. etc.) and it is much appreciated. These latest pics of the joint USN and JMSDF exercises are very nice.

Thanks Jeff!

I'm humbled by your remarks. My best source for pics is

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the worlds greatest navy of course. The USN still takes about 80% off the UD DoD photos.

Any of you other fellows that want to see some of the best real military pics on the web go here

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Those are the excellent galleries of USN pictures. If you can't find someting in there you like ..you ain't lookin' hard enough!!!

Thanks again Jeff!

bd popeye · Mar 30, 2007

Re: US Military pic thread

1) AFGHANISTAN (March 16, 2007) - An F/A-18C Hornet, assigned to the "Argonauts" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), conducts an in-flight refueling with a KC-10 Extender over Afghanistan along with two Super Etendards deployed from French Navy Ship (FNS) Charles de Gaulle (R 91).

2) ARABIAN SEA (March 25, 2007) – American, French and British ships operating with John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group and Combined Task Force 473 steam together

3) ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 27, 2007) - An AV/8B Harrier II from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 261 prepares to land aboard amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3).

4) ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 27, 2007) - An AV/8B Harrier II from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU 22) lands aboard amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3).

5) SOUTH CHINA SEA (March 29, 2007) - Republic of Korea Marines assault a landing zone from the United States Marine Corps CH-46E Sea Knights, assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 265 (Reinforced), in the rice fields east of Manripo Beach, Republic of Korea.

Jeff Head · Mar 30, 2007

Re: US Military pic thread

bd popeye said:
1) AFGHANISTAN (March 16, 2007) - An F/A-18C Hornet, assigned to the "Argonauts" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), conducts an in-flight refueling with a KC-10 Extender over Afghanistan along with two Super Etendards deployed from French Navy Ship (FNS) Charles de Gaulle (R 91).

2) ARABIAN SEA (March 25, 2007) – American, French and British ships operating with John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group and Combined Task Force 473 steam together.

Mmm...love to see that joint operation doctrine working. In addition, with the De Gualle and two US carriers, that places three nuclear carriers in the Arabian Sea. I wonder of one if the Brit carriers is there as well?

bd popeye said:
3) ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 27, 2007) - An AV/8B Harrier II from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 261 prepares to land aboard amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3).

4) ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 27, 2007) - An AV/8B Harrier II from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU 22) lands aboard amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3).

Now that is how an LHA, large deck ampphibious assault ship operates! The US has 12 of these and they are very capable at what they do!

bd popeye · Apr 9, 2007

Re: US Military pic thread

The USN has been conducting VBSS (Visit, Board, Search and Seizure) for some time now. Not only in the Persian Gulf but also near Africa and in the Pacific Ocean & Carribean Sea conducting drug seziures. Drug seizures are conducted with the USCG.

US Military Pictures & Videos

Jeff Head

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Jeff Head

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