Portsmouth Shipyard to Have Three Carriers at Once

AP ^ | 22 Jan 2006

[DYngbld]

The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, which typically handles just one aircraft carrier at a time, will be home to three carriers at once this fall, said Navy Capt. Joseph Campbell, the yard's commanding officer.

The three carriers make up one-quarter of the nation's flattop fleet and are scheduled to be in the yard simultaneously for several weeks.

The USS Harry S. Truman arrived at the yard Jan. 9. It will be joined by the USS Theodore Roosevelt in September and the USS George Washington in October. The Truman is scheduled to depart in November.

[DYngbld]

I agree I only posted this after seeing it on the local news. It is an AP story. I know why we have all the eggs in one basket so to speak, but I still don't like it.

I am not concerned about an attack on one of the bases around here, I am more concerned about the infrastructure. I really wouldn't take much to snarl traffic to the point nobody could get to work.

[SlowBoat407]

Wow I have not seen five carriers (with battle groups)in port. I can't imagine the traffic around here. It is bad on a good day.

The strip clubs, used car lots and rent-to-own stores were in hog heaven.

[SlowBoat407]

I[t] really wouldn't take much to snarl traffic to the point nobody could get to work.

It's called "Summer".

[DYngbld]

Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, and Little Creek, are only about 20miles of shore line from each other.

Not to mention 3 air strips, Oceania, Norfolk, and Langley are less then 30 miles apart.

[SlowBoat407]

I honestly get nervous when I'm visiting somewhere and can't see some kind of military aircraft in the sky at all times, because I've gotten used to it living here (Norfolk). When the carriers come in, there's usually a pair of helos scanning every small boat within a mile, and you'd better believe they're ready to act if anything looks suspicious.

[DYngbld]

I live next to Langley's flight path. So I know what you mean. We are so used to hearing the planes that when they don't fly you notice.

[DYngbld]

The CV will be here for three years, Also the shipyard is building the George H W Bush. It looks funny without a super structure.

[xrp]

You mean the USS Cole? What's that got to do with my post?

[TalonDJ]

Looks like two Marine assault ships/carriers there as well.

Which are them selves more carrier than most other countries in the world have.

[Cicero]

July 4th, 1997

Bill Clinton, President.

Yes, I was in New York that weekend, and drove down the West Side Highway past all those navy ships. Bill Clinton was showing off his patriotism and his love of the military for the media. What did he care if it was risking most of our navy?

[Cicero]

Some raghead in an ultra light gonna kamakazi onto the carrier deck?

Or a Chinese ICBM. Or a mystery explosion from nobody knows whom. I agree that maybe it's only one chance in a million that anything will happen. But you don't take even that kind of a chance with what amounts to half your navy.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Thanks!

[dgallo51]

Whatever…who would have thought a little rubber dingy could have hit the Cole? That's all.

[xrp]

You still haven't told me what your original comment had to do with my post.

Are you capable of doing this or should I just not count on your being able to do this?

[cva66snipe]

In 79 & 80 I lived on the other end of Oceanview up close to the curve. Actually I lived across from what was a Best Western Motel around 17th View? I went back a couple of years ago and that end of Oceanview was gone but the apartment building I lived in was oddly enough still there. It looked like every apartment complex including the ones up on the point at the curve were bull dozed down. It looked like a ghost town from what it once was. I even remember the old amusement park across from what was the Oceanview Greyhound bus depot and Western Union Office :>}

[cva66snipe]

Yes, I was in New York that weekend, and drove down the West Side Highway past all those navy ships. Bill Clinton was showing off his patriotism and his love of the military for the media. What did he care if it was risking most of our navy?

Or Poppy Bush who in 1992 I think I read last night did the same stupid thing. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/norfolk.htm The risk was nearly half of our entire carrier fleet world wide. It's a foolish deed no matter who does it. Under Cold War posture only 3 carriers would fit into NOB Norfolk's piers no matter what. The 5 in port in 1992 were not all nuke powered but still it was dumb.

[SlowBoat407]

You wouldn't recognize Ocean View now. East Ocean View is now "East Beach" and full of McMansions. Alot of the apartments and motels are gone and have been replaced with more upscale housing.

Amusement park is long gone, and Harrison's Pier blew down in Hurricane Isabelle. It's since been replaced by a much sturdier pier with a restaurant.

[PureSolace]

Islamic Murderers normally don't target the military, they attack civilians. They can't beat the military. They can beat public opinion.

9-11 - The Pentagon, USS Cole, Middle East Barracks, The troops in Afghanistan and Iraq... hmmmmmm.

[cva66snipe]

You wouldn't recognize Ocean View now. East Ocean View is now "East Beach" and full of McMansions. Alot of the apartments and motels are gone and have been replaced with more upscale housing. Amusement park is long gone, and Harrison's Pier blew down in Hurricane Isabelle. It's since been replaced by a much sturdier pier with a restaurant.

Yea the amusement park was tore down while I was on my first MED in 77 I think. When I went back in 2002 I think it was I got off the first exit on your end and drove down to Virginia Beach that way. From the picture I took the apartments I lived in 1979-80 are now called Sunrise on the Bay. They were nice apartments then going for $220 a month me and a Bosun friend split the rent :>}

I managed a drive from NOB main gate all the way around the block so to speak. Up Princess Anne the to the left {can't remember the name of that road}, over to Military Hi-way, and then back down Little Creek BLVD to Oceanview. Not bad navigating for not being there for over 20 years and going by memory.

But the look on my wifes face going into and out of the Hampton Tunnel was priceless LOL. Especially when I told her what we were actually doing.

[SlowBoat407]

I think the road you're trying to remember is Virginia Beach Blvd. - or Laskin Road.

People still freak out going through the tunnel, but now they cause much more of a backup when they do.