747400sp From United States, joined Aug 2003, 1670 posts, RR: 2 Posted (2 months 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 2089 times:
I was reading a paper, that stated that the USS Gorge Washington CVN 73 has finally left San Diego, for Japan. There was a photo of tugs pulling her into the San Diego bay. The GW had to stay in San Diego after it fire this past May.
CX747 From United States, joined May 1999, 4207 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (2 months 3 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 2077 times:
Glad to hear that the GW is finally off to her new home. It was nice to see some shots of the forward based Air Wing at North Island though! It's a shame to see the last of the "oldies" retired. I remember growing up hearing the names Ranger, Forrestal, Constellation, Kennedy and Kitty Hawk......
"History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or timid." D. Eisenhower
DeltaGuy From United States, joined Sep 2001, 4095 posts, RR: 19 Reply 2, posted (2 months 3 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 2027 times:
I was all too sad to see the JFK leave Jacksonville for the last time last year. She was towed out, all buttoned up and quiet...no horns, no sailors, no hum of vent fans. All too eerie.
DeltaGuy
Barack Hussein Obama is his own terrorist sleeper cell
Studedave From United States, joined Oct 2006, 179 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (2 months 3 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 2002 times:
Yup- GW's been gone since one day late last week I believe. A little birdie told me the Kitty Hawk has put out to sea for the last time as well- just within the last day or so.
I don't know for sure 'cuz I retired almost three weeks ago~ no need for me to go over on the Island anymore!!!
I'm sure you were just playing around- here's how I know~
The base at Mayport is inside the city limits of the City of Jacksonville- as is most (if not all) of Duval County. There is no 'City' of Mayport so to speak-- they have no mayor of their own like Atlantic Beach. Mayport is just a part of town-- like the WestSide, San Pablo, or SouthSide- but there just happens to be a Naval Station named Mayport over there too. This means that base is in the City of Jacksonville.
I was only stationed at NAS Jasksonville for 2 1/2 years, and NS Mayport for three- so maybe I got it wrong? But I'm still going to say that Delta Guy can get away with what he's said- don't you agree?
It would be kinda cool to see a Carrier far enough up the river to be at NAS Jax, wouldn't it?
I'm sure there are too many bridges in the way for that to happen, though...
Sprout5199 From United States, joined Feb 2005, 1428 posts, RR: 11 Reply 6, posted (2 months 3 weeks 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 1809 times:
Quoting StudeDave (Reply 5): It would be kinda cool to see a Carrier far enough up the river to be at NAS Jax, wouldn't it?
I'm sure there are too many bridges in the way for that to happen, though...
I don't think one could get under the Dames Point Bridge.
Quoting StudeDave (Reply 5): There is no 'City' of Mayport so to speak--
When I was stationed there(LOOOOONG time ago---1987 to 1991) Mayport was a "town" on the St Johns where the ferry was and where the shrimp boats were.
Quoting StudeDave (Reply 5): But I'm still going to say that Delta Guy can get away with what he's said- don't you agree?
Was just messin with him. Its just that now Mayport is the Third largest Naval Base in the US. Hard to believe!!!
JakeOrion From United States, joined Oct 2005, 582 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (2 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1777 times:
Quoting 747400sp (Thread starter): I was reading a paper, that stated that the USS Gorge Washington CVN 73 has finally left San Diego, for Japan. There was a photo of tugs pulling her into the San Diego bay. The GW had to stay in San Diego after it fire this past May.
Somewhat correct. She's still off the coast of San Diego, still conducting her "trials" and whatnot, but she will not come back into port.
Quoting Studedave (Reply 3): Yup- GW's been gone since one day late last week I believe. A little birdie told me the Kitty Hawk has put out to sea for the last time as well- just within the last day or so.
She pulled out this morning around 9~10ish. She's on her way to Washington for her decommissioning.
On a unrelated note, there was an F-14 Tomcat on her decks when she pulled out. Any reason for this? Possibly already a museum ship and the F-14 is one of the first museum pieces?
Quoting CX747 (Reply 1): I remember growing up hearing the names Ranger, Forrestal, Constellation, Kennedy and Kitty Hawk
On another note, how difficult would it be to convert these old oil burners into nukes? I'm sure it would be a hell of a lot cheaper than to buy a whole new ship.
747400sp From United States, joined Aug 2003, 1670 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (2 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1760 times:
Quoting JakeOrion (Reply 7): On another note, how difficult would it be to convert these old oil burners into nukes? I'm sure it would be a hell of a lot cheaper than to buy a whole new ship.
I would think, it would cost more than it worth. Anyway, part of these ship charm was that they was oil burners. A dude on my ship, who came from the JFK, said he miss seeing exhaust come for his ship. He said it was like being on a train.
I wish I got to hear the Kitty Hawk horn in person, she still has the old steam horn system. I seen video of the Hawk blowing her horn, and let's just say, these Nimitz class ships do not have the powerful voice the Hawk has, The Big E do not even have the voice the Hawk has.
StudeDave From United States, joined Oct 2006, 179 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (2 months 3 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 1728 times:
Quoting Sprout5199 (Reply 6): When I was stationed there(LOOOOONG time ago---1987 to 1991) Mayport was a "town" on the St Johns where the ferry was and where the shrimp boats were.
That "town" was still there when I was there in 1999 to 2002. It was a great place to get some seafood!!! I lived in one of the townhomes near the corner of Wonderwood and St Route 1A- just over a mile away. But when you read the rest of what I wrote, you'll see that it's not really a town (of it's own) at all. Now that I think about it, though~ they did have their own post office, so maybe I'm wrong? But I never saw a City Hall if that means anything.
Quoting JakeOrion (Reply 7): On a unrelated note, there was an F-14 Tomcat on her decks when she pulled out. Any reason for this? Possibly already a museum ship and the F-14 is one of the first museum pieces?
Besides during a deployment, Carriers have an old bird of some sort to train their deck crews with just about all the time. I have no idea why they'd take their Tomcat with them to Bremerton. Maybe one of the boats up there needs one? You think it could've been left in the better weather of NAS North Island's Bone Yard, though. Did you see what sort of shape that thing was in? It's not a museum piece by any means, but maybe it's a start in the right direction in that it's already onboard...
JakeOrion From United States, joined Oct 2005, 582 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (2 months 3 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 1509 times:
Quoting StudeDave (Reply 9): Did you see what sort of shape that thing was in?
Dave, from what I could tell, it looked to be in very good shape. In fact, freshly painted, and even looked flyable. Still had its wings, and by the looks of it, its engines. But wouldn't it make more sense if the trainer was a Hornet? I mean, the 14 is long gone, why use it as a trainer?
Sprout5199 From United States, joined Feb 2005, 1428 posts, RR: 11 Reply 11, posted (2 months 3 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 1489 times:
Quoting 747400sp (Reply 8): I wish I got to hear the Kitty Hawk horn in person, she still has the old steam horn system. I seen video of the Hawk blowing her horn, and let's just say, these Nimitz class ships do not have the powerful voice the Hawk has, The Big E do not even have the voice the Hawk has.
Little tradition in the Navy, on New Years, at midnight, all the ships in the basion sounded thier horns. You could tell when the Forrestal or Sara(which ever was in Mayport at the time) let loose. Drowned out everyone else.
Studedave From United States, joined Oct 2006, 179 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (2 months 3 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1463 times:
Quoting JakeOrion (Reply 10): But wouldn't it make more sense if the trainer was a Hornet? I mean, the 14 is long gone, why use it as a trainer?
When I took the USS Kitty Hawk out to sea after her SLEP- she had an F-4 onboard-- that was in 1991!!! I think it's more about learning what to do when moving birds around on the deck and in the hanger bay, as well as fighting fires then anything else-- a bird's a bird- right? After 20 years- that's what I learned...
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