Navy stuff...

[lithera]

Okay. So we have two aircraft carriers being built. I cannot believe who we're naming them after. It makes my head hurt. They roll out in May and then in 2009.

Anyway. Here is a picture of the last boat my dad served on going into drydock. Likely no one cares by me, but whatever. Some interesting statistics on submarines here and here.

And for interest here is a list of all aircraft carriers ever. The two new ones are at the bottom. I never realized we sold so many of them for scrap.

Comments

[gamethyme.livejournal.com]

They're named for former Presidents who increased defense spending.

I suspect it'll be a long time before the "William J. Clinton" becomes an Aircraft Carrier name.

[princessgeek.livejournal.com]

Cool. My Uncle David was on the Enterprise. I think I was like 13 when he came to visit for Seafair and his roommate (who was an ultra cool pilot that I was in awe of) tried to seduce me but I didn't get it until a couple years later what he was up to! Hee hee. Clueless teenagers.

[warpdragon.livejournal.com]

What is wrong with only naming things after dead people? Why do Republicans insist on throwing that out?

[seanb.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess the only way to rectify the situation is to have congress make sure said people are dead before the ships are completed.

[warpdragon.livejournal.com]

Eh. I'm still against giving the power to assasinate citizens. If they can go after Reagan, who's next, eh?

[silentclarity.livejournal.com]

I was at the launch of the Stennis. Was pretty cool seeing them "bring the ship to life." Was a horribly cold, windy, rainy day - speeches were kept fairly short except for the FUCING SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WHO THOUGHT HE MIGHT AS WELL TALK FOR NEARLY AN HOUR SINCE HE WAS UNDER A HEATED CANOPY WHILE THE REST OF US PROLES FROZE TO DEATH!!!111!!1!!

Fucking hate that guy.

Also visited the JFK while in drydock - got to go *under* the ship and touch the underside of it's hull. Being underneath that many tons of steel is pretty intimidating. Also seeing it in drydock is amazing - carriers are just fucking huge.

JD

Re:

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Carriers are amazing things. I've been on several. Been on the Enterprise. I remember waiting on a carrier to greet then President Bush to the military base. I think that one was the Carl Vinson, but I'm not too sure anymore.

Seeing anything in drydock is pretty impressive. I never realized how big a submarine was until I saw one in drydock.