Posted on 06/05/2005 5:26:37 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
The USS Nimitz started its routine port visit in Hong Kong on Friday and will stay for a few days.
Commander of Carrier Strike Group 11 Rear Admiral Peter H. Daly said at a press briefing on Nimitz that it was a real great pleasure to dock in Hong Kong. Members of the ship consider Hong Kong a favorite port due to its special status as an international city and its unique culture.
He said that young people formed a majority of the crew and most of them were having a trip outside America for the first time. They spent a lot of time learning the culture of other places on board and they were ready to be good ambassadors of America in Hong Kong.
The commander did not tell exactly how many days the ship will stay, but normally the military ships dock in for a few days.
The Nimitz is the lead ship of the world's most powerful and capable class of warships. It's first deployment began in July 1976. The ship is nearly 1,100 feet long and with a tonnage of over 15,000 tons. On the flight deck and in the hangar bay, the air wing operates approximately 70 aircraft.
Source: Xinhua
Ping!
They always have so far as I am aware.
But it is interesting that they continue even after the turnover to the ChiComs....
They spend a lot of time learning culture? Ambassadors? I hope they are spending their spare time learning to load weapons faster, better maintain aircraft, more quickly and efficiently man their battle stations, do their part in repairing battle damage, keep the reactor and engines running efficiently, study fire control, etc.
I fear we are complacant. It's not a pleasure, sightseeing, diplomatic, or college culture course cruise. It's a cruise aimed at defenind the liberty and Constitution of the United States and project her foriegn policy interests. It's a show of power and force to a potentially beligerent nation.
Sure, shore leave is a good time to see new things and enjoy the local cuisine and marketplace. But enough with the PC speak, let's not send a nation like Communist China the wrong message.
HK is a great liberty port.
US Ships on a WestPac deployment most always port in Hong Kong, Singapore, Tailand and a hand full of others. My ship spent a few days in HK and except for the $25 pitchers of beer we were charged, it is an amazing and beautiful city for a bunch of young sailors to visit; think Times Square x 50.
Maybe it's called winning the hearts and minds? Or maybe they just don't want a bunch of drunk sailors tearing up the place? Or maybe it is a bunch of PC garbage. Could be a little of all three. I don't know
The US Navy owns the sailors' time 24x7, so I'm sure there's plenty of time to handle both battle training and training on how to avoid getting arrested for disorderly conduct in Hong Kong.
Ever been on a long cruise? They spend all the time at sea on weapons and procedures and so forth - with few breaks. Every few weeks they need a little time off.
Big deck carriers,like the Nimitz, of today are capable of carrying over 100 aircraft, which they did routinely during the Cold War. The squadrons were reduced from 24 to 18 and from 18 to 12 aircraft per squadron.
Early 80's ditto here as well. I was part of the regular crew..
Ok, I guess I was mixing them up with AF squadrons. :)
Believe me, those kids on that ship are living and breathing training and their jobs ALL the time on cruises like this.
They say some join the Navy to see the world. Docking in Hong Kong is part of that. Besides it certainly doesn't hurt to have one of your biggest and best at the port of a potential enemy. Especially when THEY have nothing that is even in the same ballpark....
What? What kind of liberal leftist idiot wrote this. The Nimitz is not a yacht.
I would guess the tonnage is closer to 100,000 tons. For Christ's sake, the Voyager of the Seas cruise liner is 142,000 tons.
These writers amaze me. They never have the facts, whether it is a political columns or just stuff like this.
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