Das Boat, Bird Farm, Mom, aka 90,000 tons of diplomacy: the Nimitz Class carriers

[HeyJoe]

100709-N-7103C-011 YOKOSUKA, Japan (July 9, 2010) Aviation Structural Mechanic Airman Benjamin Moline, from Phoenix, mans the rails aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) as the ship departs Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka. George Washington, the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, is underway helping to ensure security and stability in the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David Cox/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

100711-N-0901C-050 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (July 11, 2010) Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) stand in formation on the flight deck in the shape of five stars and 2010 for an end of deployment photo. The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is deployed as part of an on going rotation of forward deployed forces to support maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist MC3 Shonna Cunningham/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

100724-N-9500T-336 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 24, 2010) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) leads a formation of ships from Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, France, Canada, Australia and the U.S. during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010. RIMPAC is a biennial, multinational exercise designed to strengthen regional partnerships and improve interoperability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Scott Taylor/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

Don't see this everyday...likely one of the more difficult things they did in RIMPAC

100724-N-9500T-242 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 24, 2010) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan leads a formation of ships from Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, France, Canada, Australia and the U.S. during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010. RIMPAC is a biennial, multinational exercise designed to strengthen regional partnerships and improve interoperability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Scott Taylor/Released)

And for their next magical trick...ready...execute

100724-N-9500T-787 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 24, 2010) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) leads a mass formation of ships from Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, France, Canada, Australia and the U.S. during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010. RIMPAC is a biennial, multinational exercise designed to strengthen regional partnerships and improve interoperability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Scott Taylor/Released)

 

[RotorHead04]

Not the most impressive views of a Nimitz class, but it certainly looked HUGE standing on FREEDOM's flight deck when this was taken ...

100407-N-7058E-509 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 7, 2010) The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) passes its refueling probe to the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) during Freedom's first carrier strike group operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Ed Early/Released)

100407-N-0808V-229 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 7, 2010) The littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) comes alongside the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) for a refueling at sea. Freedom is conducting counter-illicit trafficking operations and Carl Vinson is supporting Southern Seas 2010. Southern Seas is a U.S. Southern Command-directed operation that provides U.S. and international forces the opportunity to operate in a multi-national environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ashley Van Dien/ Released)

100407-N-0808V-167 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 7, 2010) The littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) comes alongside the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) for a refueling at sea. Freedom is conducting counter-illicit trafficking operations and Carl Vinson is supporting Southern Seas 2010. Southern Seas is a U.S. Southern Command-directed operation that provides U.S. and international forces the opportunity to operate in a multi-national environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ashley Van Dien/ Released)

 

[scoolbubba]

I'm guessing the automatons couldn't scrape all that rust off of the Freedom?

 

[RotorHead04]

I'm guessing the automatons couldn't scrape all that rust off of the Freedom?

:icon_tong So, if the rust is on the superstructure, there isn't much they can do because it's aluminum, and that would have to be blasted off with equipment not kept on board. As far as the rest of the ship ... I'll plead the 5th ... mostly.

Truth is, they don't have anywhere to store the paint on the ship, and they don't normally have anyone with "spare time" while underway to use it. During one of our extended in port periods, the SUPPO ordered paint and all hands (including CO / XO) were out chipping rust and painting. The flight deck was neglected because the claim was made that they couldn't paint it without NAVAIR approval.

 

[Recovering LSO]

Don't see this everyday...likely one of the more difficult things they did in RIMPAC

100724-N-9500T-242 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 24, 2010) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan leads a formation of ships from Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, France, Canada, Australia and the U.S. during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010. RIMPAC is a biennial, multinational exercise designed to strengthen regional partnerships and improve interoperability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Scott Taylor/Released)

And for their next magical trick...ready...execute

100724-N-9500T-787 PACIFIC OCEAN (July 24, 2010) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) leads a mass formation of ships from Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, France, Canada, Australia and the U.S. during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010. RIMPAC is a biennial, multinational exercise designed to strengthen regional partnerships and improve interoperability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Scott Taylor/Released)

Can you only imagine the Shoe-tastic powerpoint briefings and O-6 micro-management that was involved with that evolution?

 

[HAL Pilot]

Can you only imagine the Shoe-tastic powerpoint briefings and O-6 micro-management that was involved with that evolution?

Can you spot the SWO CO who is in his cabin putting on his dancing shoes to visit his Commodore?

 

[HeyJoe]

Can you spot the SWO CO who is in his cabin putting on his dancing shoes to visit his Commodore?

Exactly! How hard can it be...wait, they like and make it that way.....

 

[HeyJoe]

[/IMG]

100731-N-7605J-797 PEARL HARBOR (July 31, 2010) Sailors and Marines man the rails aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) as the ship arrives in Pearl Harbor for a scheduled port visit. Ronald Reagan is underway participating in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010, the world's largest multinational maritime exercise. RIMPAC is a biennial event that allows participating nations to work together to build trust and enhance partnerships needed to improve maritime security. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Benjamin C. Jernigan/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

100809-N-6720T-021 PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 9, 2010) An SA-330J Puma helicopter assigned to the Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE 6) approaches the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) during a vertical replenishment at sea. George Washington, the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, is underway helping to ensure security and stability in the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam K. Thomas/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

100811-N-3731H-121 SINGAPORE (Aug. 11, 2010) Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Christian von Maluski, from Toledo, Ohio, mans the rails as the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) arrives at Changi Naval Base. Singapore is the second liberty port call for George Washington since departing Yokosuka, Japan on the 2010 summer patrol. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jared Hill/Released)

 

[Beans]

What's up w/ Freedom's enormo-wake? Does the dish-soap injector system make its waterjet better... or something?

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

Do you think he wants to try and land there?

Found this while scouring the web.