{"id":14347,"date":"2019-11-19T14:08:19","date_gmt":"2019-11-19T14:08:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/womentales.wpengine.com\/?p=14347"},"modified":"2021-11-29T19:45:56","modified_gmt":"2021-11-29T19:45:56","slug":"taking-a-look-at-some-of-the-us-navys-most-advanced-toys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/taking-a-look-at-some-of-the-us-navys-most-advanced-toys\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking a Look at Some of the US Navy\u2019s Most Advanced Toys"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The US Navy can be found on all places of the world \u2013 land,\nsea, and air. Their warships are built to last whatever nature throws at them.\nModern navy ships consist of supply ships, submarines, and aircraft carriers\nthat look like they belong in a sci-fi movie rather than here on planet Earth. Their\nsheer scale is jaw-droppingly awesome, and to think that these were engineered\nby man is deserving of being one of the Wonders of the World. So what do the\nmost sophisticated Navy ships look like? Keep reading to find out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. USS Nimitz<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: <\/em> Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The USS Nimitz was launched in 1972 and became the symbol of new-age warships. Not only was this beast of a machine large, but its tank only needs to be refueled during its 50-year tenure working for the Navy. An advanced nuclear core was at the heart of this warship, moving not only 101,600 tons of steel and equipment but also 6,000 crew members. The 333-foot long craft will be decommissioned and replaced in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

2. USS Somerset<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The USS Somerset is part of the eleven San Antonio-class transport docks built to move marines, vehicles, and aircraft. This 250,000-ton craft was named in honor of the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 that was hijacked on 9\/11. The brave passengers managed to prevent the hijackers from reaching its target and instead forced the plane to crash-land in Somerset County. More than 20 tons of the steel found at the crash site was used to construct the USS Somerset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

3. Seawolf-Class Attack Submarine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Seawolf-class submarines are fast, nearly undetectable, and deadly. The design of these attack submarines is in a league of its own, but these submarines aren\u2019t easily found. Originally, 29 vessels are commissioned for construction to replace the Los Angeles-class subs, but their sheer size made it almost impossible to build in time. Eventually, the Seawolf-class attack submarines were replaced by the smaller, more agile Virginia-class, and only three Seawolves remain active today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

4. USS Freedom LCS-1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Freedom LCS-1 is the leader of the Freedom series. Launched in 2006, this combat ship remains close to the shore for defensive purposes. Although it looks somewhat conservative compared to other warships, it\u2019s just as technologically advanced. The LCS-1 is mainly used for humanitarian relief, but it also detects underwater mines close to home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

5. USS Harpers Ferry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The USS Harpers Ferry is named after the town in West Virginia for its strategic positioning in the Civil War. To say this warcraft is armed and ready for battle is an understatement. Onboard, you will find two rapid-fire cannons, six machine guns, and two 20-mm Phalanx CIWS mounts. This ship was used to provide humanitarian relief in Burma in 2008 and in the Philippines in 2009.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

6. USS Ticonderoga<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This combatant vessel was the first to come equipped with the AEGIS combat system. Its purpose is to trace and engage multiple air targets simultaneously. The \u2018Tico\u2019 was decommissioned in 2004 and scheduled to be disposed of, but instead, it rests peacefully in at the inactive shipyard facility in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

7. USS Enterprise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This is arguably the most well-known Navy vessel of all time. Not only was it the first craft to draw power from a nuclear reactor core, but it\u2019s the longest ship (1,123 feet long) to serve any naval force in the entire world. It remained active for 56 years until finally being put to rest in 2017 when the USS Gerald Ford came to being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

8. USS Wasp<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The main job of the USS Wasp is to transport and deploy ground forces into hostile territory while also providing tactical support from a distance. It was launched in 1987 but saw active duty nearly two years later. The Wasp shares a lot in common with the USS America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

9. USS America LHA-6<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

At first glance, many would perceive the USS America to be a simple aircraft carrier, but it\u2019s actually an amphibious assault ship. The ship itself is incapable of amphibious maneuvering, but this doesn\u2019t stop it from transporting amphibious forces within its hull. The America has been involved in several successful shore sea-to-shore operations during its lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

10. USS Michael Monsoor DDG-1001<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This blocky but complex vessel is the second of the Zumwalt-class. Its primary function is to provide assistance in high-intensity fights near the shore as well as on land. With more than a couple of Tomahawk missiles and the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile system on board, it\u2019s easy to understand why the ship\u2019s motto is \u201cI Will Defend.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

11. USS George H. W. Bush<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Named after the 41st<\/sup> POTUS, who himself was a seasoned naval aviator who served in WWII, the USS George H. W. Bush is the tenth and final ship belonging to the Nimitz-class supercarrier. Although the vessel resides in Norfolk, Virginia, it has been deployed to all corners of the world. The George H. W. Bush measures in at almost 1,100 feet while weight more than 100,000 tons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

12. USS Emory S. Land<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Submarines don\u2019t have the luxury of returning home any time they want, so this is where the Emory S. Land comes into play. This ship houses enough people to create a small village, and each person works around the clock to produce spare parts and provide touch-ups on damaged equipment. Not only that, but the Emory also provides medical and dental care to other vessels during operations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

13. Virginia-Class Attack Submarine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This nuclear-powered attack submarine replaced the older Los Angeles-class for being more durable while also costing less to produce. The US Navy estimates that the Virginia-class will remain on active duty until at least 2060. There are currently 16 deployed around the world with about 50 more in the works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

14. USS Los Angeles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

For many years, the Los Angeles was the heart and soul of the of the US Navy. It was first deployed in April 1974 and served naval forces extremely well until the younger Virginia-Class came along to replace it in 2011. This ship has since then been recycled, but its legacy lives on to this day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

15. USS Chief<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

A total of 14 Avenger-Class submarines patrolled the patrolled US shores to detect underwater mines and attacks. One of which was the USS Chief, a glass-reinforced wooden ship that first launched on June 12, 1993. The signature magnetic structure of the Chief made it less likely to detonate mines that it would happen to pass by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

16. USS Ohio<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In 1979, the USS Ohio was the first and only Ohio-class submarine powered by a nuclear core. Today, more than a dozen of these ships can be found in various parts of the globe. The Ohio was one of the first submersible crafts to come into being using SSBN ballistic missiles and SSGN guided missiles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

17. USS Peleliu<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Before retiring in 2015, the Peleliu, a Tarawa-class ship, played an important role in numerous rescue and evacuation missions. Initially, the Peleliu was to be named either the USS Khe Sang or Da Nang after the infamous battles in the Vietnam War. It was deployed in 1980 and served more than three decades of loyal service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

18. USS Arleigh Burke<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This vessel is the first of its series of missile destroyers. The most prominent feature is the stealth technology that helps it avoid detection by anti-ship missiles \u2013 a feature that has kept it alive and well from its launch in 1989 until today. The ship\u2019s motto, \u201cFast and Feared,\u201d is befitting of its scary defensive nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

19. USS Turner Joy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Turner Joy first launched in 1958 and was one of the Navy\u2019s 18 Forest Sherman-class destroyers. It was named in honor of Vice Admiral Charles Turner Joy who served during WWII and the Korean War. This ship spent its entire life in the Pacific Ocean where it played a vital role during the Vietnam War. The ship retired from active duty in 1982.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

20. Ohio-Class Ballistic Missile Submarines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Submarines belonging to the Ohio-class are split into two different subgroups. The first is a collection of 14 vessels made to launch ballistic missiles, and the second is comprised of four vessels with state-of-the-art guided missile technology. Not many people have laid eyes on these submarines due to their involvement in top-secret stealth missions across the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

21. USS Pueblo (AGER-2)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Berner-class vessels were launched in the 1960s for spying operations. One of which was the Pueblo which was captured by the North Koreans in 1968 in the Pueblo Crisis. Of the 83 people on board, one was killed, and the whole ordeal only made the ensuing Cold War even more intense for all parties involved. Today, the ship is still in North Korean hands, but it remains listed as an active ship by the US Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

22. USS Independence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Independence-class ships look more like they belonging in space rather than floating in the sea. These ships were intentionally designed to be as maneuverable as possible while retaining their larger-than-life size. The USS Independence mainly serves to patrol shallow waters to detect submarines and mines, as well as carry small aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

23. USS Kidd<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Named after Real Admiral Isaac Kidd who was killed while on the USS Arizona during Pearl Harbor, this infamous warship makes headlines more often than its brethren vessels. It was used to sweep the ocean in search of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, but most people would recognize the Kidd from its appearance in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

24. USS Samuel B. Roberts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

During the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944, the crew on this destroyer escort fought bravely despite having limited firepower. Although it sank to the ocean floor after heavy fire from Japanese warships, it didn\u2019t go out without giving enemy forces a taste of American courage. The ship was launched in 1944 and named after Samuel B. Roberts who voluntarily navigated a landing craft toward enemy lines while friendly vessels were evacuating the scene. Needless to say, this destroyer escort truly lived up to its name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

25. USS Santa Fe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The almost-7,000-ton Los Angeles-class submarine was commissioned in 1994 and carries quite a bit of firepower. Like its sister ships, the Santa Fe was a vital part of the US Navy. Between 2000 and 2006, the Santa Fe received five naval awards, including the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy for the most improved ship in the fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

26. USS Midway<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The USS Midway was commissioned only one week after WWII officially ended. For more than ten years after, the Midway held the record for being the largest ship ever made. In fact, it was so big that the Midway had no hope of passing through the Panama Canal. It was decommissioned in 1992 and serves as a museum in San Diego where visitors can marvel at the engineering skill that went into creating this aircraft carrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

27. USS Hurricane<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Hurricane was the third of the Cyclone-class vessels that marked a new era of coastal patrol ships. Its miniature size makes it move swiftly to avoid enemy fire while also packing some heat. Its home port is located in Bahrain, but it docked at several US cities in celebration 200 years after the War of 1812.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

28. USS Zumwalt<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Though blocky in style, the Zumwalt is the most technologically advanced warship to date. The 600-foot craft is made with an arsenal of anti-air firepower. Previous destroyer classes were made specifically for deep-water missions, but the Zumwalt\u2019s versatility allows it to support land attacks by launching missiles from more than 80 miles away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

29. USS Lewis B. Puller ESB-3<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The US Navy\u2019s first Expeditionary Mobile Base was the Lewis B. Puller \u2013 the ship that replaced the USS Ponce AFSB back in 2017 in the Persian Gulf. This low-intensity vessel serves to bring more expensive surface combatant crafts closer to important mission locations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

30. USS Chinook PC-9<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This is another of the US Navy\u2019s crafts that patrols the coastline closely to capture hostile and\/or illegal ships found in the nation\u2019s territorial waters. Since its embarkment in 1995, the 174-foot long ship won seven maritime awards. The Chinook\u2019s crew is armed with a wide array of different weaponry so you know the Chinook is ready to scuffle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

31. USS Ponce AFSB-15<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Ponce is a part of the Austin-class, otherwise known as a floating station base. Only recently was is decommissioned after more than three decades of loyally serving the Navy. Although it spent much of its time chilling in the eastern coastline of the US, its crew members also saw action when it was deployed during the first Libyan Civil War and in Operation Desert Shield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

32. USS Blue Ridge LCC-19<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The US Navy spared no expense in investing in amphibious command ships. This ship is the leader of its class and provides support and intelligence to those of the US Seventh Fleet. The Blue Ridge was named after the mountain range in the eastern portion of the Appalachian Mountains, and its current home dock is in Yokosuka, Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

33. USS Gerald R. Ford<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Although the USS Gerald R. Ford hasn\u2019t seen any action \u2013 in\nfact, it\u2019s set to deploy in 2022 \u2013 it\u2019s already made history. The sheer size of\nthis mega-craft and the state-of-the-art technology built into and onto the\nship have made it an important vessel. Measuring more than 1,100 feet long and displacing\nover 100,000 tons of water, we\u2019re curious to see what sort of missions the\nGerald Ford will be involved in.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The US Navy can be found on all places of the world \u2013 land, sea, and air. Their warships are built to last whatever nature throws at them. Modern navy ships consist of supply ships, submarines, and aircraft carriers that look like they belong in a sci-fi movie rather than here on planet Earth. Their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":14628,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14347"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14347"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14347\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97338,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14347\/revisions\/97338"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14628"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14347"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14347"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14347"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}