Todays United States Navy

[smartster]

Originally Posted by bd popeye

Never served on a "small boy"..only carriers for me. My step-son served on the USS Nicholas at the beginning of the GWOT.. they were deployed with the Enterprise CSG. Yess the Oliver Hazzard Perry class FFG are a slowly dieing breed. I'm not 100% sure but they besides subs are the only ships in the USN without females aboard.. and yes I know two female officers have been assigned to a sub..I forget which one.

The Perrys have had females. A few years ago, when the RN hosted 'Navy Days' (an event where you can wander round various ships of different navies) I toured the Elrod. At the time she had a female CO, although I cannot remember her name.

[desertswo]

Originally Posted by smartster

The Perrys have had females. A few years ago, when the RN hosted 'Navy Days' (an event where you can wander round various ships of different navies) I toured the Elrod. At the time she had a female CO, although I cannot remember her name.

I didn't think there would be any impediment. Whatever; not my concern now.

[bd popeye]

Download HiRes

BANGOR, Wash. (Dec. 5, 2012) Lt. j.g. Jennifer Noonan, assigned to the Blue crew of the ballistic missile submarine USS Maine (SSBN 741), receives her submarine warfare officer device from former shipmate Lt. Jason Brethauer during a ceremony at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor. Noonan is one of three Sailors to become the first female unrestricted line officers to qualify in submarines. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Ahron Arendes/Released)

Download HiRes

BANGOR, Wash. (Dec. 5, 2012) Rear Adm. James Caldwell, commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, congratulates Lt. j.g. Amber Cowan, assigned to the Blue crew of the ballistic missile submarine USS Maine (SSBN 741), for earning her submarine warfare officer device. Cowan is one of three Sailors to become the first female unrestricted line officers to qualify in submarines. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Ahron Arendes/Released)

Download HiRes

KINGS BAY, Ga. (Dec. 5, 2012) Lt. j.g. Luke Leveque, assigned to the Gold crew of the ballistic missile submarine USS Maryland (SSBN 738) pins the submarine officer warfare device on his wife, Lt. j.g. Marquette Leveque, assigned to the Gold crew of the ballistic missile submarine USS Wyoming (SSBN 742), at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. Leveque is one of three Sailors to become the first female unrestricted line officers to qualify in submarines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James Kimber/Released)

[desertswo]

71 years ago today. Much like we've learned to do on 9/11 and 7/7; we shouldn't forget to take a moment on 12/7 to stop and reflect. Once and for all, for better or worse, warts and all, we Americans were finally in it, and a pretty angry bunch we were too.

[bd popeye]

Amen to that!

In another forum it was discussed which was the best Pearl Harbor film.. of course I stated Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)

TORA! TORA! TORA! (1970) in my opinion is the most accurate portrayal of the events of December 7th 1941 in Oahu. A rather long film but historically accurate with the exception of some wardrobe gaffs.

In Tora! Tora! Tora! the interior & exterior scenes of the IJN battleships were filmed aboard the Mikasa. Which is a museum ship in Yokosuka Japan.

Mikasa Museum

The air operations scenes aboard the IJN carriers were filmed aboard the USS Yorktown (CVS-10) & USS Lexington (CVT-16).

there's a scene where a carrier can be seen entering Pearl harbor That's the USS Coral Sea(CVA-43) which was operating near Pearl at the time of the shooting of scenes in Oahu...

Oh yea.. the scenes filmed in the Japanese language were filmed by a Japanese crew in of course Japan.

Watch the trailer..It plays twice..hence the 7+ minute length.

[smartster]

There's a lot of great war films out there. When I say 'great' I don't mean to trivialise or dumb down the grim reality of war (so please, those of you who have seen conflict, do not be offended, as that is never my intention). I like "Sink the Bismarck", but perhaps my favourite would have to be "The Enemy Below" although I appreciate it is not a Pearl Harbour related film. You can go anywhere and watch any film if you just want straight up action, but I appreciate the human 'face' they show during portraying a war scene. It's basically WW2, US Destroyer vs U-boat. They play waiting games and attempt to sink each other but the battle takes its toll on both crews - and perhaps this is what makes the film so good, because it lets the mind imagine what the sailors or submariners are actually going through. The ending is probably my favourite part, but I won't spoil it for you.

There's also some pretty terrible naval films out there (although Crimson Tide is a notable exception). I would avoid Danger beneath the Sea - USS LA class SSN is immobilised by an EMP type blast from a North Korean missile test and you get the crew arguing over to launch their nuclear headed Tomahawks. It's got some pretty bad acting. It's a sort of dumbed down, failed take off of Crimson Tide.

Phantom Below isn't great, but it's OK. It's got some nice twisty plots to it and is entertaining, but one has to question the validity of the main plot itself. Still lightyears ahead of the awful Titanic 2 (if you haven't watched, take my advice and don't!).

I haven't actually seen many PH films. Maybe it's because they're not as popular in the UK.

[bd popeye]

like "Sink the Bismarck", but perhaps my favourite would have to be "The Enemy Below" although I appreciate it is not a Pearl Harbour related film.

Also my two favorite all time military films. TTT comes in third. "The enemy below" is extremely tense. I also like the Caine Mutiny.

Who can forget this from the Enemy Below..

[blahblahv2]

What about films from the days of sail?

I Liked "Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World" but you really can't beat "The Bounty." Anthony Hopkins. Daniel Day Lewis. Mel Gibson before he became a knob. Liam Neeson. Laurence Olivier, and many more great actors. It's a Brilliant film which is superbly acted and shows Captain Bligh in a much more intelligent light than is the usual portrayal of him.

[bd popeye]

All the survivors have to be in their 90's.. They will take events to their graves that we may never know about.


Download HiRes

PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 7, 2012) Pearl Harbor survivors attend the 71st Anniversary Pearl Harbor Day Commemoration ceremony at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. More than 2000 guests attended the National Park Service and U.S. Navy-hosted joint memorial ceremony at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. This year's theme focused on "Coming of Age - From Innocence to Valor." (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Diana Quinlan/Released)

Download HiRes

NORCO, Calif. (Dec. 7, 2012) Capt. Eric Ver Hage, commanding officer of Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Corona Division, chats with Pearl Harbor survivor Peter Nichols before the 6th annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach (NWSSB) Detachment Norco. The event commemorates the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. (U.S. Navy photo by Greg Vojtko/Released)

Download HiRes

NORCO, Calif. (Dec. 7, 2012) Pearl Harbor survivor John Busma rings bell as fellow survivor Roger Marron waits his turn during 6th annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach (NWSSB) Detachment Norco. The event commemorates the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. (U.S. Navy photo by Greg Vojtko/Released)

Download HiRes

PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 7, 2012) Pearl Harbor survivors salute during the 71st Anniversary Pearl Harbor Day Commemoration. More than 2000 guests, including Pearl Harbor survivors and other veterans, attended the National Park Service and U.S. Navy-hosted joint memorial ceremony at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. This year's theme focused on "Coming of Age - From Innocence to Valor." (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dustin W. Sisco/Released)

Download HiRes

PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 7, 2012) Pearl Harbor survivor Allen Bodenlos speaks with a chief petty officer at the 71st Anniversary Pearl Harbor Day Commemoration. More than 2000 guests, including Pearl Harbor survivors and other veterans, attended the National Park Service and U.S. Navy-hosted joint memorial ceremony at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. This year's theme focused on "Coming of Age - From Innocence to Valor." (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dustin W. Sisco/Released)

Download HiRes

SAN DIEGO (Dec. 7, 2012) Retired Navy Capt. Jack R. Evans salutes the American flag and recites the Pledge of Allegiance during a Pearl Harbor Memorial Ceremony at the Veterans Museum and Memorial Center. The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association is dedicated to the memory of the attack on the Island of Oahu, Dec. 7, 1941. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Karolina A. Martinez/Released)

Download HiRes

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Dec. 7, 2012) Preston A. Parham, a Pearl Harbor survivor, points to his name on the Pearl Harbor Memorial at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story after a Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony. The event commemorated the 71st anniversary of the attack on the Pearl Harbor. (U.S. Navy photo by Robin Hicks/Released)

[Maximinus Thrax]

Great photos you posted there Big Daddy, thank you.

I don't know, there have been many wars since in which the young men of both our countries have given us ample reason to be proud, but there is something about that generation that makes one stand back in admiration. It is a combination of factors I suppose.

Anyway, as an ex soldier who's greatest seaborne achievement is vomiting, I wish you and yours a very merry Christmas and the same to all the members of this board who have been the 'rough men [ who] stand ready ready in the night', Desertswo and Northern Lad, I'm thinking of you.

Serving in the forces is though very far from the only mark of a man (or woman), and I would wish the very happiest of Christmases to all the members of this forum, all of who's contributions I enjoy reading very much indeed.

Merry Christmas to you all!

[chchdesign]

Robert Work, Undersecretary of the Navy
"When the F-35B hits the fleet and starts operating off of our big deck amphibs, those will in essence become like carriers once again, in which the airplane flying off the big deck will be every bit as capable as the aircraft that are flying off the carriers. Instead of having 11 aircraft carriers, we'll have 22."

[bd popeye]

Originally Posted by Maximinus Thrax

Great photos you posted there Big Daddy, thank you.

I don't know, there have been many wars since in which the young men of both our countries have given us ample reason to be proud, but there is something about that generation that makes one stand back in admiration. It is a combination of factors I suppose.

Anyway, as an ex soldier who's greatest seaborne achievement is vomiting, I wish you and yours a very merry Christmas and the same to all the members of this board who have been the 'rough men [ who] stand ready ready in the night', Desertswo and Northern Lad, I'm thinking of you.

Serving in the forces is though very far from the only mark of a man (or woman), and I would wish the very happiest of Christmases to all the members of this forum, all of who's contributions I enjoy reading very much indeed.

Merry Christmas to you all!

thank you sir! And a very Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[desertswo]

Originally Posted by Maximinus Thrax

Great photos you posted there Big Daddy, thank you.

I don't know, there have been many wars since in which the young men of both our countries have given us ample reason to be proud, but there is something about that generation that makes one stand back in admiration. It is a combination of factors I suppose.

Anyway, as an ex soldier who's greatest seaborne achievement is vomiting, I wish you and yours a very merry Christmas and the same to all the members of this board who have been the 'rough men [ who] stand ready ready in the night', Desertswo and Northern Lad, I'm thinking of you.

Serving in the forces is though very far from the only mark of a man (or woman), and I would wish the very happiest of Christmases to all the members of this forum, all of who's contributions I enjoy reading very much indeed.

Merry Christmas to you all!

And a Happy Christmas to you and yours as well, and to Popeye, Northern Lad, and Southeaststeve, and anyone else I've forgotten. Thank you for using one of my favorite quotes with regard to the profession of arms. I rather liked being thought of as a "rough man" standing ready in the night to visit violence upon those who would do us harm. It's right in there with Kipling's poem "Tommy" as being among the greatest commentaries on the irony of a professional armed forces.

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by chchdesign

Robert Work, Undersecretary of the Navy
"When the F-35B hits the fleet and starts operating off of our big deck amphibs, those will in essence become like carriers once again, in which the airplane flying off the big deck will be every bit as capable as the aircraft that are flying off the carriers. Instead of having 11 aircraft carriers, we'll have 22."

Undersecretary Work might want to choose his words more carefully. i believe this is exactly the kind of dangerous talk that desertswo was speaking of in terms of it potentially falling on the ears of capitol hill bean counters who might then surmise that the CVN is an unnecessary luxury.

[smartster]

objectively, the USN can do immeasurably more with one CVBG than most nations can with the entirity of their Navy and Airforce. The USFAA (I'm using that to describe fleet air arm, I can't remember the USN designation) can maintain round the clock strike aircraft sorties, CAPs, ASW, Vertreps, mid-air refuels etc all off one deck. How many other nations could do that with all their assets? If you add an amphib asset to the equation you get an even larger difference. The Marines may not be the most highly trained soldiers in the world, and they may not be the largest gathering of troops around, but one wouldn't easily bet against them. That aside, the Marines have a further reach than most armies. Who can mass transport troops to the battlefield AND sustain them virtually overnight?

Yes, a CVN is a 'luxury' if you are from another nation and you're drooling. However for the US with their political position and international role (be that right or wrong) does demand certain 'luxuries'.

Mind you, the CVBG does have it's vulnerabilities. Small SSKs lurking already in position are a risk. Why get detected by trying to sneak in from the sides when you can sit ahead, make like a hole in the water and wait for the group to come to you. Let me ask our USN friends:

What's the possibility of an AIP sub (maybe a small German or Swedish design) using it's ability to remain submerged more quietly than an SSN and just waiting ahead of a track it knows the carrier will sail. Could the ASW assets miss her presence and therefore allow the sub a chance to rapidly launch a series of weapons very quickly?

[bd popeye]

Excellent post.

he USFAA (I'm using that to describe fleet air arm, I can't remember the USN designation)

That would be NAVAIR, Naval Air Systems Command.

http://www.navair.navy.mil/

[smartster]

Originally Posted by bd popeye

Excellent post.



That would be NAVAIR, Naval Air Systems Command.

http://www.navair.navy.mil/

Many thanks!

[bd popeye]

You are welcome!


Download HiRes

Bravo Zulu shipmates!

SAN DIEGO (Dec. 10, 2012) Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Stephanie Moor, left, and Ensign Janean Wujek reunite at Naval Medical Center San Diego. The two successfully provided life-saving measures during a visit to the San Diego Zoo. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Philip Wagner Jr./Released)

Sailors Save Zoo Visitor's Life - Local News - San Diego, CA | NBC News

Two sailors visiting the San Diego Zoo with their families resuscitated a man who had collapsed.
On the afternoon of Nov. 23, 65-year-old Navy veteran James Thompson collapsed at the zoo during a visit from Minnesota, the Naval Medical Center said in a statement Monday.
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Stephanie Moor came to Thompson's aid and starting giving him CPR. Moor is a corpsman from the Cardiac Rehab clinic at NMCSD.
Ensign Janean Wujek, a registered nurse at the center, saw the crowd and came to Moor's side. She helped Moor with chest compressions and rescue breathing.
"When I arrived, the victim was not breathing," Wujek said in a statement. "He was blue as a blueberry and had a thready pulse, so we continued with chest compressions and rescue breathing."
Thompson was then transported to the hospital, where he stayed for eight days and had a pacemaker defibrillator implanted. He returned home this week.
"I'm at a loss for words," he said. "Their dedication to duty -- it's awesome. Coming to the aid of a complete stranger," Thompson said.
The two sailors were recognized and received a standing ovation at a NMCSD meeting this month.

[smartster]

although attempting not to ask silly questions:

Noticing the sailor on the right has yellow name and emblems whilst the left does not. Is it a difference in rank or commission?

[bd popeye]

Originally Posted by smartster

although attempting not to ask silly questions:

Noticing the sailor on the right has yellow name and emblems whilst the left does not. Is it a difference in rank or commission?

Yes...The sailor on the right is an officer hence the gold emblems. Enlisted sailors have white emblems.

Latest F-35B Photo..


Download HiRes

PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (Dec. 7, 2012) Maj. C. R. Clift, a Marine Corps test pilot, flies BF-1, an F-35B Lightning II, on a short take off and vertical landing mode mission. The flight marked the 1000th developmental test flight for the F-35B Lightning II in the program's program's system development and demonstration phase. The F-35B is the variant of the Lightning II designed for use by the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as F-35 international partners in the United Kingdom and Italy. The F-35B is capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings to enable air power projection from amphibious ships, ski-jump aircraft carriers and expeditionary airfields. The F-35B is undergoing flight test and evaluation at NAS Patuxent River, Md., prior to delivery to the fleet. (Photo by Dane Wiedmann/Released)