Can anyone name this facility - and what they are doing to the carrier- *Hint* I was stationed there and you can get to it with a short boat ride from Norfolk Naval base.

Resurfacing?

Nice picture. This should go in the Carriers forum though so I will try to move it there (if all is working). You should get an email to this effect John. Let me know if you didn't.

Thanks,
Jim

Nice guess - but no -anyone else?

Okay, John, I'll take a guess, mate...is this at Wallops Island Training Facility?....
And is the crew performing a FOD Walkdown?

Gunny

OOh so close - here's another hint- in the background is the Lambert's Point Coal piers. and they are not doing FOD.

Ok, John, NOW you really have my interest peaked, mate! How about the Norfolk Naval Base at Sewells Point?...I haven't a clue as to what the crew is up to if it's not a FOD shakedown!
Gunny

Degaussing station and they are Degaussing the Carrier?

Skipper

Skipper -
you got it - Actually they are de-permning the carrier! This is the lamberts point De-perming crib- i was stationed there in 92. Ships are wrapped in copper cables and high voltage is sent through to negate any Magnetic signature- It is known as Magnetic Silencing Facility

Hi John

It isn't a "funny" task, but one that all ships need to go through - and the bigger, the better

Where's my prize???? (jocking) :-)

Skipper

How often do ships undergo this treatment? Are bombs and the like downloaded. We used to do something on the tanks called a borescope and pullover which was to check the main gun tube for internal wear and tear. Because of electrical devices and such we had to download all ammo off.

Why do they call it "de-permning" and not de-guasing?

Maybe a new PC term... when I was in it was Degaussing. Steve, if my failing memory serves me, we did it after dry dock, and before on loading stores. Since we always off loaded all ammo before dry dock.... we were stripped..... ammo, fuel, just about everything before dry docking. Again if memory serves me, I believe we were towed to and from the degaussing station. I also recall having to turn our watches in before hand, and getting them back after wards.

One of my old ships had a major fire in dry dock, back in I believe 69 (I was home on leave at the time and got to watch it on TV-home was a long way from the dry dock/shipyards, home was NJ, dry dock was Boston) . It was a good thing we had no ammo and fuel aboard. We wiped out two engineering spaces (#1&2 fire rooms) and an assortment of smaller spaces. Fire was started by a yard bird, doing a little UA welding, with the fuel tanks open for cleaning. Now that was a fun job for us snipes. Another fun one was cleaning the sumps for the main engines..... we use to climb inside...... and wipe them down, removing the sludge with dust pans and buckets and rags.

Most surface vessels will be De- Permed once - after construction -, unless major refit affect the Magnetic signature - If a ship runs the Degaussing Range and it cannot compensate with the degaussing coils on board it will get De-permed again - Subs however get de-permed alot . It was explained to me that they dont have strong de-gaussing coils and because they go close to the poles it causes a shift - also they are trying to hide from MAD (magnetic Anamoly Detectors) like the one on the Orions.
So to sum up the De-perming crib changes the Magnetic signature on a ship and the Degaussing range checks it the whole process is called Magnetic Silencing. My coveralls have Magnetic silencing Facility on the back. The only good thing was that as a rigger on the deperms we supersceded rank structure - It was fun making Ensigns and LTjg's bust thier hump getting the ship wrapped!

As Dave stated in Portuguese navy too, all amo and fuel are removed when a ship goes to Drydock...
And that is always made a couple of miles from the place / base in a special little harbour.
Just in case...

Skipper

I wish I'd been here yesterday, I'd have answered. Although I've been "exiled" here in Michigan for about 29 years, I still call Tidewater "home". I've been by there many times, in fact, how about this:

You may have to "zoom in" some.

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=36.866438,-76.333008&spn=0.033372,0.05785&t=h


To be REALLY precise, it's located right where the Western Branch of the Elizabeth River joins the rest of the Elizabeth River.


Tom

I spent 2 years there 92-93

Thanks for the memories guys....
was nice to see one of the old home ports again from the air.... especiallly the golf course, played a round or two there.....

Where are all the carrier group bases? NOt looking for the Nimitz is based here, the Eisenhower is based here detail more on line of San Diego has 2 carrier groups, Norfolk has 5 carrier Groups, Fire Island has 3 (as in dollar bill :-) ) carrier groups type question

USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), Yokosuka, Japan
USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), Mayport, FL
USS Enterprise (CVN 65), Norfolk, VA
USS Nimitz (CVN 68), San Diego, CA
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), Norfolk, VA
USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Newport News, VA
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Norfolk, VA
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Everett, WA
USS George Washington (CVN 73), Norfolk, VA
USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), Bremerton, WA
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Norfolk, VA
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), San Diego, CA

Carriers are the heart of a battle group - Each carrier has a strike group assigned to it -
The Carrier Strike Group


First, it is important to note that there really is no real definition of a strike group. Strike groups are formed and disestablished on an as needed basis, and one may be different from another. However, they all are comprised of similar types of ships. Typically a carrier strike group might have:
a carrier – The carrier provides a wide range of options to the U.S. government from simply showing the flag to attacks on airborne, afloat and ashore targets. Because carriers operate in international waters, its aircraft do not need to secure landing rights on foreign soil. These ships also engage in sustained operations in support of other forces.
a guided missile cruiser – multi-mission surface combatant. Equipped with Tomahawks for long-range strike capability.
two guided missile destroyers – multi-mission suface combatants, used primarily for anti-air warfare (AAW)
an attack submarine – in a direct support role seeking out and destroying hostile surface ships and submarines
a combined ammunition, oiler, and supply ship – provides logistic support enabling the Navy's forward presence: on station, ready to respond
The Carrier Strike Group (CSG) could be employed in a variety of roles, all of which would involve the gaining and maintenance of sea control:

Protection of economic and/or military shipping.
Protection of a Marine amphibious force while enroute to, and upon arrival in, an amphibious objective area.
Establishing a naval presence in support of national interests.

Nimitz-class carrier

Ticonderoga-class
cruiser

Arleigh Burke-class
destroyer

Los Angeles-class
submarine

Supply-class
replenishment ship

Interesting link-
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/news/.www/status.html