Three US carrier strike groups steam in formation in Pacific Ocean (Awesome photo)

AP via Yahoo! ^ | 6/19/06

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The USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Kitty Hawk and USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike
groups steam in formation during a joint photo exercise (PHOTOEX) in preparation
for Valiant Shield 2006 on Sunday, June 18, 2006, in the Pacific Ocean. The
PHOTOEX featured 14 ships as well as 17 aircraft from Air Force, Navy, and
Marine Corp including a B2 bomber. The Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group is
currently participating in Valiant Shield 2006, the largest joint exercise in recent
history. Held in the Guam operating area beginning June 19-23, the exercise
involves 28 Naval vessels including three carrier strike groups, more than 300
aircraft and more than 20,000 service members from the Navy, Air Force, Marine
Corps, and Coast Guard. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy, Jarod Hodge) Email Photo Print Photo

[dead]

Visitors in town, in case anybody's feeling ronry.

[furquhart]

Pinging self for later.

Anyone know if I can get a bigger copy? This would make an awesome desktop.

[AppyPappy]

The carriers are leading so they can protect the smaller craft from torpedos.

[Andy28]

Excellent image!

[glorgau]

Your tax dollars at work.

[oldleft]

I would just lose it (in a good way) if they Navy shot down that missile. That would just make my whole year.

[zarf]

Idiots! Who's commanding these carrier groups?! I thought these carrier groups traveled with subs? Where are the subs?

[Blueflag]

They are on minesweeper patrol lol

[Bean Counter]

Peace through Superior Firepower!

[RandallFlagg]

Idiots! Who's commanding these carrier groups?! I thought these carrier groups traveled with subs? Where are the subs?

Most likely submerged.

[omega4412]

The naval version of the B-52 picture that has been posted many times -- "The terrorists have won the toss and have elected to receive."

[tsmith130]

If you right click on the photo above and select 'set as background', it should appear as your desktop background. Did for me.

[Abathar]

LOL!!!

[aShepard]

....... if they Navy shot down that missile........

Wouldn't it be a shame if a missle took down their missle: And an errant missle just happened to land on top of their launch facilities!

"Oops! Sorry about that!"

[Tokra]

Hopefully they are headed for North Korea.

[July 4th]

Awesome pic, but maybe it isn't the safest thing for the Navy to have this many assets so close together?

[Pukin Dog]

You mean as if something could attack that? LOL.

[pfony1]

When will they arrive off the coast of Iran?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Your tax dollars at work.

Would you prefer they be better spent on social liberal programs?

The military's budget should be $500 billion, IMO.

[Paco]

That's exactly what I was thinking. NK is supposed to test fire a missile...what if they armed it and launched it at the battle group? Not much of a chance they'd do that, but...why give them such a fat, juicy target?

[Yo-Yo]

So which carrier launched the B-2 in the photo?

[SueRae]

Heh-heh.

That's what I call sending a message. Let's pray the deranged Mr.(mentally)Il is coherent enough to take the hint.

[Waverunner]

http://www.pacom.mil/exercises/vs2006/imagery/060618-N-8591H-383-h.jpg
This is the US Mil released image

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

I'd like to see our missile defense from Alaska shoot down the NK missile if they fire it.

[massgopguy]

Oh, they're there.

[Brad’s Gramma]

AWESOME picture of our Navy...and a call for prayer for their safety.

[Grim]

Here's a link to a larger version of the above photo. I agree, awesome desktop.

[Military family member]

I tried that but got a pixelated version. I too need a bigger version if possible

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[Military family member]

Wonderful!!!

[livius]

Great photo! I wonder if this is being released as a Candygram to somebody?

[Brad’s Gramma]

Ya think? :)

[LadyNavyVet]

If NK arms and launches a missile at this battle group...I pity NK. The Navy knows what it's doing here.

[Southack]

"So which carrier launched the B-2 in the photo?"

The unsinkable USS Andersen Field (Guam)

[edcoil]

Where are the subs?

The Silent Service does not photograph well - they are generally hiding in the water our of the surface fleet.

There ware two types of vessels in the military, submarines and targets.

Subs being the shy type, won't be found it these pictires.

[edcoil]

Where are the subs?

The Silent Service does not photograph well - they are generally hiding in the water out of view of the surface fleet.

There ware two types of vessels in the military, submarines and targets.

Subs being the shy type, won't be found it these pictires.

[dennisw]

The terrorists in Iraq have shown how effective the RPG can be against our vehicles and men. There are lots of Chinese and Russian missiles that can waste our aircraft carriers in one or two blows. This photo shows good force projection and shows off our ships airplanes and technology but ....

And as far as anti ship missiles I haven't even included ones with nukes. A small nuke that decimates some of our ships out in a vast ocean, away from populations, will not be viewed with same world wide hysteria-agitation as a nuke deployed on land targets

[dead]

Thanks for the link. That's an awesome photo. Enormous. Here's just a section of it at 100%:

[shield]

North Korea please take note.

[Waverunner]

Tora Tora Tora

[mortal19440]

Where they are supposed to be, deep.

[Kimmers]

Thank you.....it makes a great background....

[AD from SpringBay]

And who knows how many ships below.

[rabidralph]

*sigh* What a beautiful sight. Official Navy photos may be downloaded at Navy.mil. They, and other military photos, make great posters for FReeping.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Bumping for a new desktop when I get home from work!

THANK you!!!

[prophetic]

Awesome pic, but maybe it isn't the safest thing for the Navy to have this many assets so close together?

My thoughts EXACTLY!!

[prophetic]

AMEN bro!!!

[zarf]

You read my mind. As impressive as all this weaponry is, I still have my doubts about these types of naval forces when the battle is between countries with advanced weaponry. In terms of force projection for conflicts in which we are unopposed...cool. BUT

I truly believe that a salvo of cruise missiles or longer range types will decimate a conventional naval force.

I see what the tenacious pilots of Argentina were able to do to the Brits in the Falklands and it should make us think before oohing and ahhing.

[rightinthemiddle]

Or, somebody gets onry.

[SunTzuWu]

Your tax dollars at work.

I don't have a problem with that. In fact I'd rather that most of my taxes go to the military, instead of "social programs".