National Geographic Television Spotlights USS Tarawa

Navy News ^ | 11/25/2002 | Journalist 2nd Class Crystal King

[SAMWolf]

ABOARD USS TARAWA, At Sea (NNS) -- Heads turned and eyes darted towards a film crew aboard USS Tarawa (LHA 1) recently, as the amphibious assault ship's Sailors and Marines became the major focus for the video cameras of a National Geographic television documentary team.

The four-member film crew came aboard Tarawa from Nov. 14-21 during Fleet Exercise operations, the second-to-last phase of the Tarawa Amphibious Ready Group’s training exercises in conjunction with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, off the Southern California coast.

“We’re making a documentary about the Sailors and Marines preparing for deployment, potentially towards the Arabian Gulf,” said production correspondent Michael Davie. “We want to paint a television portrait of these people, particularly the young adults, about their feelings and the lifestyle aboard ship, and what they think about the possibility of going to war.”

Throughout the week, various crew members allowed the National Geographic team to look at their daily lifestyle, as well as their roles in a variety of training exercises, including a mass casualty drill, well deck and flight deck operations, and a search-and-rescue drill.

“We do this because we want to, not because we have to,” said Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Michael Garcia, one of Tarawa’s search-and-rescue swimmers.

“I think this will make citizens of the United States of America realize how hard the American Sailor and Marine work during a normal work day, and how well trained and prepared they are in case they have to go to war,” said Capt. Jay Bowling, the ship’s commanding officer.

The documentary does not have a scheduled air date yet.

[SAMWolf]

Official U.S. Navy file photo of USS Tarawa (LHA 1). A National Geographic film crew recently spent time aboard Tarawa to get footage for an upcoming documentary featuring the ship.

[SAMWolf]

(((Ping)))

[Tuco-bad]

Edward Albert (Heimberger) and our marines were real heroes at Tarawa.

I'll never forget!

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

USS Tarawa

[Soaring Feather]

Official U.S. Navy file photo of USS Tarawa (LHA 1).

WOW that ship is impressive!

[HiJinx]

Looking at the photo, it's hard to see where the Tarawa's armaments are, other than the pair of CIWS mounts on the superstructure. I went to the website and found this:

Armament:
Two RAM launchers
Two Phalanx 20 mm CIWS mount
Four 25 mm Mk 38 machine guns
Five .50 caliber guns

They must depend a lot on their embarked air assets...

[HiJinx]

Armament:
Two RAM launchers
Two Phalanx 20 mm CIWS mount
Four 25 mm Mk 38 machine guns
Five .50 caliber guns

OK, active links this time!

[SAMWolf]

That's what escorts are for. Besides the ship is full of Marines, what better protection could there be, LOL!

[notdownwidems]

God bless the US Navy; may He protect all our brave sailors and marines, and bring them home safely.
USS William H. Standley, CG-32, 1977-80

[basil]

ping!

[HiJinx]

Besides the ship is full of Marines, what better protection could there be, LOL!

DOH!!! What was I thinking?

[NormsRevenge]

Phalanx Close-In Weapons System



3000 rounds a minute ... Impressive..

[MeekOneGOP]

Just thought I'd drop in for a Bump !!

[SAMWolf]

Nicknamed "R2D2 units".

[tarawa]

We just line up the jarheads on the flight deck with their M-16s, and let 'em rip......

[SAMWolf]

The Comic Strip "Shoe" once did a strip using that as a joke. One Marine asked what would happen if all the ships defenses failed to stop an incoming missle, the answer was "That's where you and your M-16 come in".

[Mariner]

The first ship I served on.

I miss the diesel flavored coffee and the backed-up sewage........first ship of its class ya know:)

[Mariner]

"armaments"

The ship is not designed to protect itself.......nor would any in the ARG (Amphibious Ready Group) be able to do so.

They rely on traditional naval forces for protection.

However, they can put 1,800 Marines, armor, trucks, jeeps, tents and air support on the beach.......with enough supplies to last 30 days.......in 3-4 hours.

The initial assault in 30-40 minutes. Thus the class of ship: Amphibious Assault Ship.

[Victoria Delsoul]

"We're making a documentary about the Sailors and Marines preparing for deployment, potentially towards the Arabian Gulf," said production correspondent Michael Davie. "We want to paint a television portrait of these people, particularly the young adults, about their feelings and the lifestyle aboard ship, and what they think about the possibility of going to war."

Sounds like a great idea. Thanks Sam.

[NormsRevenge]

In the mid-80s, I was in a backlot on the Pomona General Dynamics plant where some of these beasts were just sitting in a test/storage area. Unfortunately, it wasn;t a live fire area.

The later models can do up to 4,500 rounds a minute. Man, that is cramming brass! Gatling was one smart fellow.