And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Sunday, January 19, 2025
Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval station
Possibly still useful for sea control, but the land attack role is no longer feasible for any defended coastline. The amphibious role, too, is gone, except for a very few areas with Third World governments.
Your deeply flawed and highly judgmental position sounds like the "game playing" ex-Commandant of the Marine Corps who had his head deeply imbedded in his butt.
I am sure John's not talking about General Ripper because he wargamed all the carriers and amphibs to death and they forced him to stop playing anymore games.
With the proliferation of precision guided munitions, and the satellites to guide them, it’s now a lot more difficult to protect those big ships against most opponents.
One evening, buddy and myself ( from Langley AFB) went to see a aircraft carrier shipping out, like one here. Being military easily got in but was told not past rope for families. Might been that dock in the picture
Went to the National Jamboree back in 1989 at Fort A.P. Hill and we took a side trip to Norfolk. I read in the base paper the USS Wasp, LHD-1 was just commissioned and the Captain was from our town.
You should have seen the sailors on board trying to get the last of the plankowner hats after a bunch of kids bought most of the rest. Still got mine somewhere, my dad got his Chief's cap without plankowner for his next naval reserve weekend....
You can't appreciate how large carriers are until you stand on the pier beside one and look up. I was stationed there winter of '65/66. That was before they started building the really BIG ones that we have today.
Nemo, you're right! The carriers are huge. A college/ROTC classmate was on the Nimitz for freshman summer cruise, I went to visit him. On the main deck (below the flight deck), the 60' lifeboats were stacked three high. At that time, there were 6000 souls on board!!
I remember coming over the overpass from I-64 to the road that led to NavSta NORVA in 1984 the first time and seeing all of the warships just appearing. A great sense of pride overwhelmed me as a young sailor reporting to my ship for the first time, the USS Moinester FF-1097.
If you think they are impressive in pictures or even in real life, you aint seen nothing until you have see it come along side your ship at 40 knots.
We used to rearm and resupply carriers (USS Great Sitkin AE17). We would get the word Prepare to recive JKF to Port and there would be nothing in sight. 5 minutes later it had come roaring over the horizon and come to a screeching halt (wel, 15 knots) 150 feet away.
One grenade will get them all. So to speak.
ReplyDeletePossibly still useful for sea control, but the land attack role is no longer feasible for any defended coastline. The amphibious role, too, is gone, except for a very few areas with Third World governments.
ReplyDeleteYour deeply flawed and highly judgmental position sounds like the "game playing" ex-Commandant of the Marine Corps who had his head deeply imbedded in his butt.
DeleteI am sure John's not talking about General Ripper because he wargamed all the carriers and amphibs to death and they forced him to stop playing anymore games.
DeleteWith the proliferation of precision guided munitions, and the satellites to guide them, it’s now a lot more difficult to protect those big ships against most opponents.
DeleteOne evening, buddy and myself ( from Langley AFB) went to see a aircraft carrier shipping out, like one here. Being military easily got in but was told not past rope for families. Might been that dock in the picture
ReplyDeleteWent to the National Jamboree back in 1989 at Fort A.P. Hill and we took a side trip to Norfolk. I read in the base paper the USS Wasp, LHD-1 was just commissioned and the Captain was from our town.
ReplyDeleteYou should have seen the sailors on board trying to get the last of the plankowner hats after a bunch of kids bought most of the rest. Still got mine somewhere, my dad got his Chief's cap without plankowner for his next naval reserve weekend....
They're all missile sponges now.
Unseen to the lower left of the picture is a McDonald's, or there was when I was stationed there 1989-90 (CV 67).
ReplyDeleteYou can't appreciate how large carriers are until you stand on the pier beside one and look up. I was stationed there winter of '65/66. That was before they started building the really BIG ones that we have today.
ReplyDeleteNemo
Seeing a carrier or a cruise ship is on my bucket list.
DeleteThey're skyscrapers laying down, and floating, and moving!
Nemo, you're right! The carriers are huge. A college/ROTC classmate was on the Nimitz for freshman summer cruise, I went to visit him. On the main deck (below the flight deck), the 60' lifeboats were stacked three high. At that time, there were 6000 souls on board!!
DeleteI remember coming over the overpass from I-64 to the road that led to NavSta NORVA in 1984 the first time and seeing all of the warships just appearing. A great sense of pride overwhelmed me as a young sailor reporting to my ship for the first time, the USS Moinester FF-1097.
ReplyDeleteBrings to mind the saying/admonition about putting all your eggs in one basket.
ReplyDeleteIf you think they are impressive in pictures or even in real life, you aint seen nothing until you have see it come along side your ship at 40 knots.
ReplyDeleteWe used to rearm and resupply carriers (USS Great Sitkin AE17). We would get the word Prepare to recive JKF to Port and there would be nothing in sight. 5 minutes later it had come roaring over the horizon and come to a screeching halt (wel, 15 knots) 150 feet away.
As I say, impressive as hell.