Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia

We had time off during the trip, and on 17th May we all decided to do the cruise along Hampton Roads, past the world's largest Navy base. I don't know much about the world of shipping, but it was fascinating stuff - a really good cruise, part of the way accompanied by dolphins.

There are F/A-18s parked on two of the carriers - I couldn't see any identity markings on them, and am not even convinced that they are real.

Name Code Type Thumbs Notes
Victory Rover   Cruise ship Our ride
American Rover   Three-masted schooner Both Rovers are berthed near the Nauticus Museum.
CMA CGM Coral   Container ship  
Elizabeth River Ferry II   Paddle wheel passenger ferry Hampton Roads Transit runs three of these.
Fakarava   Bulk carrier At Lambert's Point Pier 6 - the largest coal loading facility in the northern hemisphere.
MV Cape Race T-AKR-9960 Roll-on/roll-off and container ship These three "Capes" are in the US Ready Reserve fleet. The T in the code indicates that they are part of Military Sealift Command and have a civilian crew.
MV Cape Ray T-AKR-9679 Roll-on/roll-off and container ship The aft of this ship, notorious for the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons in 2014.
MV Cape Rise T-AKR-9678 Roll-on/roll-off and container ship These three were all built by Kawasaki, originally for civilian use.
NOAAS Thomas Jefferson S 222 Hydrographic survey vessel NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
SS Cape May T-AKR-5063 SeaBee heavylift barge carrier Military Sealift Command Ready Reserve Force.
USNS Lewis B Puller T-ESB-3 Expeditionary Mobile Base Was commissioned in Bahrain 3 months later, becoming USS Lewis B Puller ESB-3.
USNS Patuxent T-AO-201 Underway replenishment oiler Henry J Kaiser-class double-hulled tanker. USNS = US Naval Ship: non-commissioned unarmed auxiliary support vessel.
USNS Wally Schirra T-AKE-8 Dry cargo ship Lewis and Clark-class transport of the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force. The E in the code means it can carry explosives.
USNS Zeus T-ARC-7 Cable ship The first and only cable ship built for the US Navy.
USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72 Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Only 5 days earlier, this had been returned to the Navy after a 4-year refuelling and refit.
USS Arlington LPD-24 Amphibious transport dock San Antonio-class
USS Bainbridge & USS James E Williams DDG-96 & DDG-95 Guided missile destroyer Arleigh Burke-class, with the Aegis combat system.
USS Bulkeley DDG-84 Guided missile destroyer Arleigh Burke-class, with the Aegis combat system.
USS George Washington CVN-73 Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Being prepared to enter dry dock for a 4-year refuelling and refit.
USS Gerald R Ford CVN-78 Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier The Navy's newest carrier, delivered exactly 2 weeks after our visit, and commissioned by President Trump 3 weeks after that.
USS Gonzalez DDG-66 Guided missile destroyer Arleigh Burke-class, with the Aegis combat system, wrapped up in dry dock.
USS Gravely DDG-107 Guided missile destroyer Arleigh Burke-class, with the Aegis combat system.
USS McFaul DDG-74 Guided missile destroyer Arleigh Burke-class, with the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.
USS Rafael Peralta DDG-115 Guided missile destroyer Arleigh Burke-class, with the latest version of the Aegis system. Was commissioned in July 2017.
USS San Antonio LPD-17 Amphibious transport dock (landing platform dock) Class-lead ship - has a history of mechanical problems, and in dry dock.
USS Stout DDG-55 Guided missile destroyer Arleigh Burke-class, with the Aegis combat system.
USS Tortuga LSD-46 Dock landing ship Whidbey Island-class.
USS Wasp LHD-1 Amphibious assault ship Class-lead ship. Involved in numerous operations since her launch in 1987.
USS Winston Churchill DDG-81 Guided missile destroyer Arleigh Burke-class, with the Aegis combat system. Apparently a Royal Navy officer is always assigned, and a White Ensign is flown on special occasions.
USS Wisconsin BB-64 Battleship Iowa-class. Launched 1943, arrived at the Nauticus Museum in 2000, but not formally transferred to it until 2010.
Anne Jarrett   Tug  
Aries   Tug  
Brendan J Bouchard   Tug  
Bunny C   Tug  
Jeanie Clay   Tug  
Mary Hope II   Tug  
Robert A Eby   Tug  
Unknown   Tug  

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