Quote:
Originally Posted by TopHatter
Lucky #%&@$!
Let's see...updating my list and finally a few active-duty ships!:
USS San Juan (SSN-751)
USS Hue City (CG-66)
In a perfect world I would have been able to tour a Flight IIA Burke, USS Roosevelt at the same time 
USS Constitution ( Technically active!)
USS Massachusetts (BB-59)
USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. (DD-850)
USS Lionfish (SS-298)
PT-617
PT-796
And finally a couple of foreign warships.
ARC Tayrona (Columbian Navy Type 209/1200) On Active Duty
Hiddensee (Soviet-built Tarantul I class corvette)
And (again) in a perfect world, I would have tried to finagle a tour on HMS Ocean back when she was visiting Miami on her shakedown cruise some years back. Too bad I was with people who don't jones on that sort thing.
Got to see her up close though, she was a beaut!
There was also a Fleet Week in Fort Lauderdale last weekend with a wide cross-section of the USN visiting...was I able to go? Of course not! |
I was very honored to go aboard the Winston Churchill DDG-81 This weekend. The security was to say "extreme" and with certain events happening I can't blame the USN for such tight security. Everywhere you looked they were armed to the teeth including three german shepards and three patrol boats standing by along with all the armed sailors on deck and standing by the .50 cals mounted on the decks. Myself and two armed customs officers were taken aboard by a senior chief and coxswain's mate. We were the first aboard very early. We were allowed to see only certain areas of the ship since they were in what the chief called an "unbuttoned state" meaning many spaces not meant for civilian eyes were open and being cleaned and maintained under extremely tight security for the visitors and family members that would be arriving that afternoon.
I was only allowed to take pics of the ship from pier-side as the ship was "unbuttoned" however the chief allowed us access to CEC,(My jaw dropped at the site of such modern technology and user friendly systems in the CEC ).Officers Ward (Which is modeled after an old english pub complete with tounge and grooved wall coverings,bar and furnature.) Adorning the walls of this room were numerous pics of Truman and Churchill together at various times and places. Also pics of some of Englands oldest ship yards in their hayday..places like Portsmouth,Camill Lard, Clydebank etc. Its was like being in an old english pub in the 1940's. Pretty dam cool to see some of the creature comforts aboard some of the navies lates and greatest. We walked along the decks with the chief and viewed the VLS tubes and Flight II Helo ops stations, New versions of CIWS systems on the stern section and the 5"/62 mounted on the bow along with a few engineering spaces.
I would like very much to thank the two gentlemen that showed me around and spent the time answering any questions I had within certain parameters.
and the crew as they rapidly moved about attending their duties and stations. The mixture of male and females and cultures aboard reflect how advanced the USN has become in crew selections for these warships and is certainly a feather in their cap.
The crew onboard were extremely professional and very adimant about their jobs and the way they go about them...QUICKLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. A large combination of youth and experienced officers onboard that ship and you could tell they were just as excited about doing their jobs as I was to have been there.
Needless to say this was the most cleanest of all the USN ships I have ever been on thus far. A happy ship and crew indeed and it shows.
To the officers and crew aboard the Churchill I wish to thank you for allowing me to walk aboard you little "slice of home". Your cleanliness,order and professionalism are certainly to be commended. Your knowledge of the job at hand is inspiring and the commitment you put forth in service to our country deeply appreciated and applauded!
"Fair winds and following seas Churchill" and again THANKY YOU for the visit!
I will post a few pier side pics tommorow.
