Modern US Navy

ejhammer

Member since
May 2008
From: Wyoming Michigan

Modern US Navy

Posted by ejhammer on Friday, May 1, 2015 1:21 PM

Last night I had the opportunity to attend a presentation at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (President Ford was from Grand Rapids), here in Grand Rapids Michigan, given by Captain John Meier USN, the new Captain of the Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford CVN - 78. She is scheduled to be commissioned February, 2016. The crew is about 1/3 filled and on - board training for them on the new systems is in progress. In August, the crew, that is presently living in shore accommodations, will be moving aboard, with all berthing and messing facilities fully operational. After the presentation, I was able to meet face to face and talk a bit with him. Man - o - man, It is hard for me to wrap my head around the advances made since I was aboard USS ESSEX CVS - 9 in 1960's. The capabilities simply boggle the mind.

EJ

Completed - 1/525 Round Two Lindberg repop of T2A tanker done as USS MATTAPONI, USS ESSEX 1/700 Hasegawa Dec 1942, USS Yorktown 1/700 Trumpeter 1943. In The Yards - USS ESSEX 1/700 Hasegawa 1945, USS ESSEX 1/700 Dragon 1944, USS ESSEX 1/700 Trumpeter 1945, USS ESSEX 1/540 Revell (vintage) 1962, USS ESSEX 1/350 Trumpeter 1942, USS ESSEX LHD-2 as commissioned, converted from USS Wasp kit Gallery Models. Plus 35 other plastic and wood ship kits.

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Devil Dawg

Member since
March 2005
From: Lancaster, South Carolina

Posted by Devil Dawg on Friday, May 1, 2015 11:54 PM

Definitely amazing what modern technology has brought us in the form of defensive & offensive military systems. I remember touring the USS Eisenhower back in 1985, and was amazed then by what it had. I can only imagine what the USA has on her military equipment nowadays. You gonna be there for the commissioning?

Devil Dawg

On The Bench: Tamiya 1/32nd Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52 Zeke For Japanese Group Build

Build one at a time? Hah! That'll be the day!!

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GMorrison

Member since
September 2012

Posted by GMorrison on Saturday, May 2, 2015 12:06 AM

Hope they have a mattress at the bottom of the landing stairs. LOLs.

President Ford served on CVL-26 in action in the Pacific. Like Bush 41 a carrier man.

Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

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stikpusher

Member since
July 2004
From: Sonora Desert

Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, May 2, 2015 12:08 AM

Sometimes today's military is looking more and more like what yesterday's sci fi movies & books said was way off in the future. What Asimov, Bradbury, and Heinlein wrote about over half a century ago is slowly becoming reality.

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

- Plankton

LSM

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ejhammer

Member since
May 2008
From: Wyoming Michigan

Posted by ejhammer on Saturday, May 2, 2015 8:09 AM

I'm sure gonna try to attend the commissioning. It will be at Norfolk VA. Susan Ford Bales will christen her. She is the ship's sponsor. She has helped keep us here in Grand Rapids posted on the progress of the ship. The Ford family has close ties with us Grand Rapidians. President Ford and his wife are buried in front of the Ford Museum here in Grand Rapids, overlooking the bank of the Grand River.

EJ

Completed - 1/525 Round Two Lindberg repop of T2A tanker done as USS MATTAPONI, USS ESSEX 1/700 Hasegawa Dec 1942, USS Yorktown 1/700 Trumpeter 1943. In The Yards - USS ESSEX 1/700 Hasegawa 1945, USS ESSEX 1/700 Dragon 1944, USS ESSEX 1/700 Trumpeter 1945, USS ESSEX 1/540 Revell (vintage) 1962, USS ESSEX 1/350 Trumpeter 1942, USS ESSEX LHD-2 as commissioned, converted from USS Wasp kit Gallery Models. Plus 35 other plastic and wood ship kits.

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Don Stauffer

Member since
November 2009
From: Twin Cities of Minnesota

Posted by Don Stauffer on Saturday, May 2, 2015 9:04 AM

Carriers, in particular, have seen past periods of rapid technology change. Look at the difference between the Langley and the Lexington/Saratoga! The coming of jets and steam catapults was another big change that included the angled deck at end of WW2.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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ejhammer

Member since
May 2008
From: Wyoming Michigan

Posted by ejhammer on Saturday, May 2, 2015 9:53 AM

ESSEX got a FRAM II and new sonar stuff in 1962 while I was aboard. Drydocked for 6 months. The new ASW sonars were really cutting edge then.

EJ

Completed - 1/525 Round Two Lindberg repop of T2A tanker done as USS MATTAPONI, USS ESSEX 1/700 Hasegawa Dec 1942, USS Yorktown 1/700 Trumpeter 1943. In The Yards - USS ESSEX 1/700 Hasegawa 1945, USS ESSEX 1/700 Dragon 1944, USS ESSEX 1/700 Trumpeter 1945, USS ESSEX 1/540 Revell (vintage) 1962, USS ESSEX 1/350 Trumpeter 1942, USS ESSEX LHD-2 as commissioned, converted from USS Wasp kit Gallery Models. Plus 35 other plastic and wood ship kits.

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Saturday, May 9, 2015 9:14 PM

Great stuff. There is no denying that the carrier is still the most important ship in the arsenal. I know that Nuke subs serve their purpose, but the carriers have shown in the past conflicts just how relevant they are.