Joint U.S. Pacific Command operations in the Pacific (Way Cool Pic!!)

Gizmag.com ^ | 6/21/06 | Gizmag

[Reaganesque]

June 21, 2006
This remarkable image must constitute one of the greatest collections of leading edge technology ever assembled in one place and part of an amazing photographic gallery for this story. And the sizeable chunk of war machine is just a fraction of what’s being put through its paces on and around Guam this week in Operation Valiant Shield, a U.S. Pacific Command exercise which focuses on integrated joint training and interoperability among U.S. military forces while responding to a range of mission scenarios. The exercise is designed to make sure U.S. forces have a seamlessly integrated environment where they can conduct deterrence-type missions and, if deterrence fails, high-intensity combat operations. The image shows the awesome B-2 Spirit and 16 other aircraft from the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps flying over the USS Kitty Hawk, USS Ronald Reagan and USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike groups. The joint exercise consists of 28 naval vessels, more than 300 aircraft and approximately 20,000 service members.

[Reaganesque]

I found this picture and thought everyone here would get a big kick out of it. There are several other good pics associated with this story. Go to Gizmag.com to view them.

[Atlantic Bridge]

Great! Thanks for posting it.

[The Lion Roars]

awesomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

[samadams2000]

Build more. My boys must fight the muslim hordes with the best.

[garyhope]

Hate to be a cynic, but is this a real picture? Would the following ships be too close to the wake of the other ships? The wakes dont seem very large and the bow waves are almost non existant.

And how much did it cost to get all of these ships lined up like this?

Would we have 3 carriers so close to one another?

[Reaganesque]

Think of it as a class picture. Would they normally line up like that? Not in combat, no. This is a photo-op for the military so, the photo is staged but not fake.

[colorado tanker]

And how much did it cost to get all of these ships lined up like this?

The point is to throw a brushback pitch at North Korea and China by showing them that we still dominate the blue water. As they say, "priceless."

[Sundog]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1652079/posts

Check out this link for some more really HUGE pics of it.

[BooBoo1000]

Just a bit of jingoistic sword rattling for the Clown in North Korea. That guy is nuts, and why are we wasting our time and money trying to appease him. If we have all of that armament over there we should load up the planes and go knock the snot out of that guy, and get it over with.

[glorgau]

The carriers are out front so that mines don't hurt the smaller ships.

[Freeport]

They're just putsing along... Maybe 10 knots or so.

[Sundog]

I'm totally and completely appalled that we would invite a Chinese delegation aboard the flagship to show off this power to someone we might use it against. It is the height of vanity and stupidity to brag to your enemy's face you can wage war against him.

see "SUN TZU ON THE ART OF WAR"

http://www.chinapage.com/sunzi-e.html

[El Gran Salseron]

"It is the height of vanity and stupidity to brag to your enemy's face you can wage war against him."

Are you sure it is "bragging" and not "warning?"

[El Gran Salseron]

Yes, it is a real pic.....a photo op.

They were on maneuvers in the Pacific.

[Wolfstar]

President Reagan would be SO proud of his namesake. Pol, I thought you'd enjoy seeing this thread.

[Sundog]

We lost against the Red Chinese when they fought the Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek. We backed the losing side.

We lost against the Red Chinese when they came to the help of North Korea.

We lost against the Red Chinese when they came to the help of North Vietnam.

You lose three boxing matches in a row and what do you want to call the run-up to the next one?

I like freeper Jeff Head's comments.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/user-posts?id=7474

[SoCalPol]

Thanks wolf, a wonderful photo.
To see the RR in person is imposing so say the least.
Am looking forward to see the Reagan return to San Diego
and its strike group.

This Sat. here will be the launching of a new U.S. Naval Ship. Second in a series of new modern cargo - ammunition ships. The first one built here was the "Lewis & Clark"
This one is the "Sacagawea" Two of her descendents will christen the 41,000 ton ship

[Wolfstar]

This one is the "Sacagawea" Two of her descendents will christen the 41,000 ton ship.

Very cool, Pol. Thanks for telling me. In the photo at the top of the thread, which of the carriers is the Reagan? Do you recognize her?

I think it's the one on the right, but am not certain. I'm going by the island, which is smaller and placed further back from the bow than on the older carriers.