the horse's mouth

I'm Dumbfounded, How Did The USS Fitzgerald Manage To Get T-Boned By A Slower Moving Ship?

Why am I dumbfounded?

Bridge watch.

Yes, I know, it was at night and the dreaded midwatch. 

The CIC.

Operators scanning for surface contacts (can you say ships?).

Starboard watch.

Aft watch.

1. How did all those folks on watch fail to see an approaching ship?
2. Was the crew tired?
3. Did the OOD see the ship and think he could cut in front of it because the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are fast and can turn on a dime?

The above video shows the capabilities of the Arleigh Burke class destroyer. So how did the USS Fitzgerald not see a slow moving ship? Like I said, I'm dumbfounded.

God rest the souls of the sailors who lost their lives.

Click here to read gCaptain's take on the incident.

Happy Veterans Day!

To my fellow veterans.
Fly Navy!

Ah Yes, Life At Sea Is Romantic.

Yes, I too think about heading out to sea. Then I remember what it was really like: Salty food, 10 second showers (wet down, soap up, rinse off. Use no more than 1-2 minutes of water!), being surrounded for weeks by the vast endless landless horizon, and hanging out with crazy shipmates who talked to imaginary cats. Of course, I'm sure it's more romantic to be on a small sailboat bouncing around the heavy seas rather than on an aircraft carrier.

note: The reason we could stay at sea for weeks is that we would be resupplied while underway. 

Giant Squirt Gun Fight.

Firefighting exercise at sea?
Look at the guy dangling off the crane.

Are you thiking about crossing the Pacific? Have you trained to fight fires or in damage control? How about safety and survival? You don't want to die, right? When going out into the ocean, I suggest that you prepare for anything and everthing that can go wrong. You can't always count on someone coming to your rescue.

note: Every sailor in the U.S. Navy is trained in firefighting, damage control and water survival. (Exp: No PFD, no big deal. Sailors learn how to turn their shirts or pants into flotation devices.)

Happy Veteran's Day!

To all my old shipmates, and those who have served and are serving, thanks guys.

The USS Independence. A Navy Trimaran.

The USS Independence (LCS 2) can reach speeds of more than 40 knots (46mph). The 419-foot vessel  has a range of 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km) and can also operate in water less than 20 feet deep.



Pirates beware!

Friday Flyover. [Golden Gate Flyover]

Two P-3As from VP-31 fly over the Golden Gate Bridge.
VP-31 was the west coast training squadron for P-3s based out of Moffett Field. Their hanger was a former blimp hanger, Hanger 1.

What Happens When Fish On Fridays Does A Friday Flyover?

You get a video, of course.

Who is the Fish?

From Heavymetal:
“Fish made several successful flights, with picture-perfect landings, when the Admiral found out about the "fishcapades", at which time, just like Maverick in his Tomcat, The Fish was grounded. Never to be one to obey little things like the skipper's orders, however, our Brave Betta continued flying. And just flying F-14 Tomcats wasn't enough for him: he went on to fly every aircraft aboard the Kennedy, from A-18's to choppers, accumulating airtime in more aircraft types than any other aviator aboard the carrier.”

The Fish's flights were well documented, with just a little of the video footage being represented in the video. After a huge number of missions over Afghanistan and many other wartime theaters, this video was presented and shown to the Admiral, who was so impressed with the video, that he pardoned Fish for his disobedience.

After The Fish's tour of duty was over, Fish was honorably discharged, and is today in retirement in California. And no doubt he is telling all the female Bettas of his exploits, impressing the hell out them.”

Via Tailhook.

Join The Navy And See The World.

A Song That Says It All. "We Saw The Sea."

If you were in the Navy, you'll no what I mean by the headline.

Happy Veterans Day!

The Great Part Of Being A Naval Aviator.

Flying.
Lucky dog!

Technorati Tags: aviation, military aviation, aviation video

The Bad Part Of Being A Naval Aviator.

Getting shot down.

Technorati Tags: aviation, military aviation, aviation video

They're Back!

The Navy is back in town for Fleet Week. Every year people from around the Bay Area flock to the bay to watch the parade of ships and to see the air show which stars the Blue Angels.
Sorry, Thunderbirds are no go.




While many of my fellow sailors bobbed up and down on their boats in the bay, I pulled out the deck chair, drank an adult beverage and watched the shindig from the comfort of my roof deck.




The Blue Angels flew somersaults over my building, which caused some of my lefty tenants to go into convulsions and fall face down on to the ground wreathing in pain.
Do I smell sulphur in the room? Those jets represent the forces of global imperialism lead by the evil dictator Bush, and to top it off they are not carbon free.



Pardon the noise, that's the sound of freedom.
Thanks, I was trying to take a nap.

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United States Navy Seal In Action.

The US Navy uses seals as swimming guard dogs to protect the fleet while in harbor.
No worries mate, I work for fish.

Tags: usn, us navy, marine mammal force protection, seals

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Aircraft Carrier

Boats On My Brain. Stealth!

These are pictures of the Navy's new stealth boats. Strange, they look a lot like the Monitor and Merrimac. Civil war tech?