My visit to the US Navy Reserve Fleet in Bremerton, WA

JEFFHEAD.COM ^ | 16 Sep 2005 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

Note: Click on any of the pictures in this report for a larger image.

Over the 2005 Labor Day weekend we drove from Idaho to Bremerton, WA to visit my daughter and son-in-law (active duty US Navy) and our two grandsons. A secondary reason was to take a look at the US Navy reserve fleet there in Bremerton and to see any current US Navy vessels in the yards.

The trip over was very beautiful and pleasant. There is a lot of very beuatiful scenary between Idaho and Washington. Here are some pictures of some of that scenary.

Once we arrived in Bremerton, we greated and spent time with our daughter and her family, including the birthday celebration of our four year-old grandson.

We were able to spend a good deal of time down by the water, which is somethiong I always enjoy. Here are some good views across the Sound to Seattle...which is just about close enough for yours truly.

Now, for the principle reason and point of this post. There in Bremerton, to the west of the Naval Shipyards, is the anchorage for the component of the reserve fleet harbored there. The ships are older, but still very modern and capable by the rest of the world standards. Here are some pictures I got of those naval ships...awaiting faithful service if ever required.

A picture of the entire reserve fleet, and a close-up of the USS David R. Paul, DD-971


The guided missile frigates, USS George Phillips and Sides, FFG 12 and FFG 14, and the guided missile AEGIS cruiser USS Vincennes, CG 49


The aircraft carrier USS Ranger, CV-61.


The aircraft carrier USS Independence, CV-62.


The aircraft carrier USS Constellation, CV-64. Notice the F-14 on deck.

The US Naval reserve fleet there in Bremerton represents several frigates and destroyers, an AEGIS cruiser, three full deck aircraft carriers, and several amphibious and support ships. Those ships alone, if in service, would be more powerful by themselves than the naval capabilities of over 90% of the other nations in the world. The United States maintains a significant number of such anchorages for reserve fleets around the United States. Many of those ships are in mobilizaton category B status, meaning they are mothballed for reactivation in times of crisis. Others are awaiting disposal and categorization, either for sale to foreign allies, foru use in naval exercises, or awaiting scrapping. .

On this trip, as an added bonus, we were able to observe two US Navy front line vessels, the USS John Stennis and USS Ohio, in port undergoing maintenance and significant upgrades and refit at the Bremerton Naval shiptards. I got several pictures of them and here are a couple.

The nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS John Stennis, CVN 74.


The guided missile submarine, the USS Ohio, SSGN 726, just completing the significant refit from a SSBN, and preparing to put to sea.

Thanks for taking the time to share this family trip with us, and the pride we have in the UNited States military and the loyal men and woman who works so hard to defend our liberty and the fundamental moral values that define our way of life, and all of those who give so much of themselves to maintain and serve that cause.

Jeff Head
Idaho, USA
Author of the THE RISING SEA DRAGON IN ASIA

[fanfan]

Thanks for the post Jeff.

Almost like being there!

Beautiful family too. Lucky man!

[Sunshine Sister]

Thanks for the post. Beautiful scenery! Great pictures.

[Experiment 6-2-6]

My last ship USS FLETCHER DD-992 was decommissioned just a year ago next month..

Looking at these ships make me realize I saw them only 18 years ago at 32nd Street Naval Station???

[tanknetter]

Hard to believe that an AEGIS cruiser like the Vincennes is mothballed.

Vincennes was one of the Flight I Ticonderogas. Twin-arm launchers, no VLS ... therefore no Tomahawk, no VLASROC. The future is going to be multimission and while the Flight Is were really good counter air ships (their hardware/software was still behind the Flight IIs forward) and decent anti-sub (no VLASROC hurt a bit), they had zero land-attack capability and the launchers/magazines couldn't handle the ABM Standards. The Navy, rightly, decided to retire them and try to put the $$$ into additional Burkes.

As it is, it sounds like the Flight Is may be going to Taiwan. Because they are purely defensive (no VLA/Tomahawk), it's not like the ChiCom's can claim they are anything other than defensive platforms. And they are a quantum leap ahead of the Kidds.

Couple other things I saw in those pictures ... it looks like the Danger and Connie have the modular sheds used to cover the catapults during yard periods on their decks. Seems to indicate that the catapults are being cannibalized to support the active carrier fleet. Ranger and Connie served well, were ridden hard and put away wet ... the idea that they are anywhere NEAR CAT-B status is pure fiction. Ranger, iirc, had her screws and rudders cut off a while back to support Kitty Hawk (although I've also heard that the screws were dropped in a SEAL exercise that went bad). Although some of the more extreme rumors about Connie's last cruise seem false (like her dragging a dead shaft through most of the deployment), there's little doubt that her bow-out deployment was a constant struggle.

Independence is considered to be in the best material condition of the three and is probably the only one in something close to Cat-B condition ... thanks to the TLC given her by the Yokosuka shipyard workers during her stint as the forward-deployed deck in Japan.

The Perry's look like they are in the very early stages of mothballing (no protective covers on their bridge windows), or are in a state of heightened reserve ... possibly being readied for foreign sale.

[Jeff Head]

Here's a pic of the two German ships (former DDG 29 and DDG 30) tied up in German harbor in 2003.

The Aussies had four too, but I believe all of them are gone now.

[Jeff Head]

She's waiting there if we need her.

[Jeff Head]

Thanks.

[Jeff Head]

They all looked to be in good shape...waiting there...being cared for should we ever need to call on them for service.

[Jeff Head]

The weather was surprisingly clear for all four days. Could clearly see the top of Olympus on many occassions.

[Jeff Head]

Two of the Iowa class BBs are still mothballed for reserve over in the east.

[editor-surveyor]

Great pics Jeff; who is the lovely loung lady being molested by the old fart in pic #10 ??? :o)

[Jeff Head]

We did get up to Bangor/Kitsap. I bought some shirts and other things at the Navy Exchange there. Really, really, nice base...I mean really nice.

[Jeff Head]

Than you both. It was a great time.

[Jeff Head]

I believe the Perry's are up for foreign sale. Thanks for the additional info about the carriers. Good report.

I knew the KIdd class were going to Taiwan, but not about the Flight I Ticos. I believe that would be a great idea...they would coordinate well with the four Kidds.

[Jeff Head]

MOst of the Spruance ships are being scrapped or used for naval exercises is my understanding.

[Jeff Head]

hehehe...she's been putting up with me for 28 years now.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Nice pix. Wife and I were in Seattle last Christmas to visit our son who lives out there. He bought an older house (built in 1910) in West Seattle. We didn't get to Bremerton but did spend a day at the air museum, which is worth two or three days of looking.

[tanknetter]

Two of the Iowa class BBs are still mothballed for reserve over in the east.

Well, Wisky down in Norfolk is. Although Norfolk is doing its damndist to build an entire marina around her so that if the Navy wants to take her back it's going to cost a lot of $$$ to move her.

New Jersey is up in Camden ... but of all the Iowa's she's in the worst shape and was seriously de-mil'd when she was struck off the NVR. Since she had only been out of commission for 12 years when she was brought back into active service in the early 1980s, her refit wasn't as comprehensive as with the other three Iowas. Lehman was also trying like crazy to save money by bringing her back on the cheap to justify bringing back the other three as well. NJ was scheduled to get a very comprehensive overhaul in the early 1990s ... but this was cancelled with the end of the Cold War and the decision to send her back to the reserve fleet.

Missouri is stricken and is a museum at Pearl Harbor, apparently with a good deal of de-mil'ing as well (although not as extensive as with NJ.) Iowa is up in Suisin Bay. While the parts are there to rebuild Turret 2 the work was never done and apparently she's not in the greatest of material shape.

[kas2591]

My son is stationed on the USS Georgia; it started it's SSGN conversion in January 2005 in Norfolk. Looks like a good capability to have.

As a Marine, I've always been partial to the New Jersey or Iowa (nothing beats 16inch when you need Naval Gunfire Support).

IMHO, it was a mistake to get rid of them.

[Frank_Discussion]

If you remember the Texas as a water-logged rustbin, you would be very surprised at it's current condition. The volunteers and the Texas Parks and Wildlife folks have brought a lot of good stuff back for people to see. It still astounds me when I step aboard.