These past few weeks SECDEF Gates has turned to the perennial question of “how much is enough?’ and in the process, has on a couple of occasions called out Navy for its overwhelming capacity in certain areas – subs and aircraft carriers immediately come to mind. That carriers get highlighted is not surprising – they…
A Quick History Before there were NFOs there were Naval Aviation Observers. In June 1960, the Basic Naval Aviation Officer School was established to train the future radar intercept officers, bombardier/navigators and air intercept control officers that were joining the fleet in ever increasing numbers. This was spurred in no small degree by the revolution…
(Breaking) Getting early reports that an E-2C Hawkeye assigned to the VAW-121 (“Bluetails”) is down in the North Arabian Sea. The crew evidently conducted a controlled bailout and three of the four have been recovered by SAR efforts.  Fourth remains missing after four hours. I can only speculate on what the cause of the mishap…
It is a meeting place where renowned scholars and self-taught history buffs linger and share ideas and perspective on naval events that shape nations. The Naval Institute and Naval History and Heritage Command have combined efforts to bring forth a new blog serving those with an interest in naval history. The christening page is up…
The best part of deployments are the homecomings — and the worst part of deployments are the homecomings. As each day counts down and your homeport draws near, time slows to a crawl, the clock seems to freeze and restlessness grows. Nervous energy abounds as do anyone of a number of “oh yeah, we also…
Sometimes you come across a photo that is just so perfect, that nothing else need be said. Ecce:
SJS, Since the last post card not much else has changed out here. We are just approaching the International date line again. So soon we are going to repeat a day to catch up for the day we jumped over about eight months ago. So in preparation (or as a cruel joke) one of the…
Well, it’s been a short piece since we last heard from our deployed correspondent, Charles, and that from Hong Kong. He checks in today (well, actually a couple days ago but we’ve been a mite bit overtasked at the day job of late.. Yeah, yeah, yeah — whine, whine….) with another underway note: SJS, So…
Third ship of the Forrestal-class CVA’s – the first supercarriers . . . Veteran of Vietnam and Desert Storm, Southern Watch and Restore Hope . . . Last ship to bear the storied name, Ranger, that began with John Paul Jones . . . Decommissioned in 1993 as part of the post-Cold War rush to…
If it’s Saturday, this must be Hong Kong…and time for another postcard from our deployed correspondent: SJS, So I am in one of my father’s favorite ports and a few of the old WestPac sailors favorite ports as well. Hong Kong. Home of fast action films, mainland Asian banking, and an every changing landscape. To…
