Visits to Naval Bases (pictures from those visits)
- Thread starter Jeff Head
- Start date
Re: My trip to U.S. Naval Station Norfolk & Newport News Shipbuilding
More capability and power there at that one time than most entire navies. If all the vessels were in port, it would be surely so.
Norfolk made history on Jul 2, 1997 when all five of its nuclear carriers were in port at once. It's the only time five nuclear carriers (half the force) have been together at once. (There have been occassions before when five were together, but they were not all nuclear).
In August 2003, four were in port at once:
Very impressive.
San Diego, I believe, is seocnd only to Norfolk in terms of the numbers of US surface combatants that are home ported there. I really enjoyed my trip down there earlier this year.
Yes they do.
More capability and power there at that one time than most entire navies. If all the vessels were in port, it would be surely so.
Norfolk made history on Jul 2, 1997 when all five of its nuclear carriers were in port at once. It's the only time five nuclear carriers (half the force) have been together at once. (There have been occassions before when five were together, but they were not all nuclear).
In August 2003, four were in port at once:
Very impressive.
San Diego, I believe, is seocnd only to Norfolk in terms of the numbers of US surface combatants that are home ported there. I really enjoyed my trip down there earlier this year.
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
Re: My trip to U.S. Naval Station Norfolk & Newport News Shipbuilding
amazing pics Jeff! really loved them!
is the port open to general public to go down and see? the pic of those 5 carriers in port is a one-off nice post
amazing pics Jeff! really loved them!
is the port open to general public to go down and see? the pic of those 5 carriers in port is a one-off nice post
Re: My trip to U.S. Naval Station Norfolk & Newport News Shipbuilding
US military bases are generally not open to the public. However legal gaining access is a simple procedure. Visiting the ships any closer than the end of the pier is a "no-no" since 09.11.2001. . on occasions ships do have "Open house" events.
You cannot get in a small boat and intrude on any naval base. More than likely a person would be detained by security.
US military bases are generally not open to the public. However legal gaining access is a simple procedure. Visiting the ships any closer than the end of the pier is a "no-no" since 09.11.2001. . on occasions ships do have "Open house" events.
You cannot get in a small boat and intrude on any naval base. More than likely a person would be detained by security.
asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
Re: My trip to U.S. Naval Station Norfolk & Newport News Shipbuilding
so is that what Jeff did? get a legal gaining access or is it different rule for servicemen and women
also a question, whats the highest number of aircraft carriers USN has operated in its history at any one time?
so is that what Jeff did? get a legal gaining access or is it different rule for servicemen and women
also a question, whats the highest number of aircraft carriers USN has operated in its history at any one time?
Re: My trip to U.S. Naval Station Norfolk & Newport News Shipbuilding
Also, in the town/city of Norfolk they have a place where you can do the same and sign up for tours that will take you onto the base in a bus.
To drive freely onto the base you would have to have either a military or official US government ID, or be the guest of someone on the base who has arranged for your visit..
Naval Station Norfolk does have a tour facility/building/service set up next to Gate 6 (I believe that's the gate number for it) where you can go on a tour of the ship line and other areas of the base.
Also, in the town/city of Norfolk they have a place where you can do the same and sign up for tours that will take you onto the base in a bus.
To drive freely onto the base you would have to have either a military or official US government ID, or be the guest of someone on the base who has arranged for your visit..
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Re: My trip to U.S. Naval Station Norfolk & Newport News Shipbuilding
I don't know. That more than likely occurred during WWII..
When I joined the USN on 25 August 1971 these 18 carriers where in commission.
Intrepid CVS-11
Ticonderoga CVS-14
Lexington CVT-16
Wasp CVS-18
Hancock CVA-19
Oriskany CVA-34
Midway CVA-41
Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42
Coral Sea CVA-43
Forrestal CVA-59
Saratoga CVA-60
Ranger CVA-61
Independence CVA-62
Kitty Hawk CVA-63
Constellation CVA-64
Enterprise CVA(N)-65
America CVA-66
John F. Kennedy CVA-67
I don't know. That more than likely occurred during WWII..
When I joined the USN on 25 August 1971 these 18 carriers where in commission.
Intrepid CVS-11
Ticonderoga CVS-14
Lexington CVT-16
Wasp CVS-18
Hancock CVA-19
Oriskany CVA-34
Midway CVA-41
Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42
Coral Sea CVA-43
Forrestal CVA-59
Saratoga CVA-60
Ranger CVA-61
Independence CVA-62
Kitty Hawk CVA-63
Constellation CVA-64
Enterprise CVA(N)-65
America CVA-66
John F. Kennedy CVA-67
Re: My trip to U.S. Naval Station Norfolk & Newport News Shipbuilding
As to the most carriers operated, during World War II, the US operated over 39 major fast fleet carriers or light carriers, and over 78 smaller, escort carriers around the world...European theater and Pacific theater.
That's a total of 117 carriers. Of those, seven had been launched before the war. 12 carriers were sunk during the war. Six large carriers and six escort carriers. So, during the four years of the war, the US built 110 carriers in total. That's pretty phenominal.
Right after the war, those numbers reduced drastically and rapidly such that by 1950, the US had 22 carries, by 1960 the US Navy was operating 17 carriers, in the 1970s, the US reduced its carrier force to 12 carriers by the mid 1980s, which remained about the same until only recently. Today, the US has 11 carriers operating.
The Ford shown in this thread will bring the force back up to 11, because late this year when the Enterprise is decommissioned, for a short while they US will be down to ten carriers. The Carrier force will climb back to 12 carriers sometime in the late teens or early twenties.
But this does not include the large Amphibious Assault LHDs and LHAs which the US operates. There are 10 of those , which with their helos and Harriers (and then the new F-35s) are really 40-45,000 ton carriers themselves. So in reality, the US is operating 21-22 carriers by the world's standards.
I have an official US government ID that got me onto the base.
As to the most carriers operated, during World War II, the US operated over 39 major fast fleet carriers or light carriers, and over 78 smaller, escort carriers around the world...European theater and Pacific theater.
That's a total of 117 carriers. Of those, seven had been launched before the war. 12 carriers were sunk during the war. Six large carriers and six escort carriers. So, during the four years of the war, the US built 110 carriers in total. That's pretty phenominal.
Right after the war, those numbers reduced drastically and rapidly such that by 1950, the US had 22 carries, by 1960 the US Navy was operating 17 carriers, in the 1970s, the US reduced its carrier force to 12 carriers by the mid 1980s, which remained about the same until only recently. Today, the US has 11 carriers operating.
The Ford shown in this thread will bring the force back up to 11, because late this year when the Enterprise is decommissioned, for a short while they US will be down to ten carriers. The Carrier force will climb back to 12 carriers sometime in the late teens or early twenties.
But this does not include the large Amphibious Assault LHDs and LHAs which the US operates. There are 10 of those , which with their helos and Harriers (and then the new F-35s) are really 40-45,000 ton carriers themselves. So in reality, the US is operating 21-22 carriers by the world's standards.
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asif iqbal
Lieutenant General
Re: My trip to U.S. Naval Station Norfolk & Newport News Shipbuilding
a brilliant post Jeff! Thanks for that
but i count 11 carriers lost during WWII, 5 fleet carriers and 6 light aircraft carriers
5 fleet carriers
Hornet
Lexington
Princeton
Wasp
Yorktown
6 light carriers
Bismarck Sea
Block Island
Gambier Bay
Liscome Bay
Ommaney Bay
St. Lo
4 were killed by submarines
a brilliant post Jeff! Thanks for that
but i count 11 carriers lost during WWII, 5 fleet carriers and 6 light aircraft carriers
5 fleet carriers
Hornet
Lexington
Princeton
Wasp
Yorktown
6 light carriers
Bismarck Sea
Block Island
Gambier Bay
Liscome Bay
Ommaney Bay
St. Lo
4 were killed by submarines
Re: My trip to U.S. Naval Station Norfolk & Newport News Shipbuilding
110 carriers in 4 years that boggles the mind. And how did the USN train up so many crew and air men in such short time doesn't it take years and years to perfect carrier ops ? And the USN in june 1944 just 2,5 years after Pearl Harbor at the battle of the Philipinnes sea already made mince meat out of the Japanese navy. Where 15 US heavy and light carriers and 79 other ships and 28 subs vs 9 Japanese heavy and light carriers and 19 other ships and 24 subs in the world's largest naval battle.
Today one Nimitz class carrier has about the fire power of all of the 5 carriers of Europe put together if not more.
110 carriers in 4 years that boggles the mind. And how did the USN train up so many crew and air men in such short time doesn't it take years and years to perfect carrier ops ? And the USN in june 1944 just 2,5 years after Pearl Harbor at the battle of the Philipinnes sea already made mince meat out of the Japanese navy. Where 15 US heavy and light carriers and 79 other ships and 28 subs vs 9 Japanese heavy and light carriers and 19 other ships and 24 subs in the world's largest naval battle.
Today one Nimitz class carrier has about the fire power of all of the 5 carriers of Europe put together if not more.