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The Norfolk Naval Base---the
world's largest naval base---certainly demonstrates the magnitude of
America's military strength. The long line of destroyers, aircraft
carriers, submarines and support ships tied up at Norfolk is truly an
impressive sight.
Norfolk's naval significance dates from the
Civil War when the famous battle of the ironclads,
The Monitor and
The Merrimack, occurred in
Hampton Roads harbor. Today there are 100 ships, 32 aircraft squadrons and
35 shore based activities in the South Hampton Roads command. The Norfolk
Naval Base extends over 3,400 acres and provides a great deal of interesting
information and sights.
TAKE THE TOUR
Tours leave daily between from the Naval
Base Tour Office. They leave on the half-hour during the summer months and
take about 45 minutes. Note: Security is much tighter now after 9/11. You
will be asked to show a picture ID and any handbags or camera bags are
carefully searched and you must pass through an airport-like metal
detector. The schedule changes in the off-season with fewer tours so be
sure to call (757) 444-7955 in advance for current times. No reservation is
required. Current admission fees: $7.50 for adults, $5 for seniors and
children 3-11 years old.
It seems everything is bigger at the Norfolk
Naval Base! Fleet Industrial Supply Center boasts that it is the "World's
Largest Store." It is open daily year-round and employs 1,605 civilians and
53 military personnel. It's easy to see why this Norfolk facility has a $48
million federal payroll.
Near the top of the military payroll are the
Flag Officers. Along "Admiral's Row" you'll see replicas of famous homes
from various states built in 1907 for the Jamestown Exposition and all now
used as officers' homes. For example, the Georgia House is a copy of the
summer home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's mother, known for a time as the
Little White House. A typical colonial homestead represents Delaware. A
lovely porticoed Virginia plantation house is the quarters of the Supreme
Allied Commander of NATO. Along this fascinating drive there is also a
scaled-down replica of Independence Hall.
A SEA OF SHIPS
Based at Norfolk are Sea King, Sea Knight
and Sea Sprite helicopters. All weather early warnings, surveillance
coordination, search and rescue missions and numerous other functions are
carried out by the Eighth Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadrons home
ported at Norfolk. You are sure to see some of the Hawkeye planes they fly.
What's a military installation without
confusing shorthand? On the tour you pass both the FASOTRAGRULANT and the
NCTAMSLANT. The former is a sophisticated flight simulator facility. The
latter is the largest and most complex communication station in the world.
All of the above is just icing on the cake
as far as most visitors are concerned. They come to see the ships and there
are plenty to see! As you enter the two-mile waterfront area the first you
see, berthed along Pier 12, are the world's largest warships. You'll learn
how to tell the difference between the nuclear-powered and
conventional-powered ships. (Just a hint: it has to do with the color of
the antennas.) You may see a nuclear powered aircraft carrier such as the
America
or the Eisenhower. These
massive ships are 18 stories high and as long as three football fields plus
an extra 100 feet at both ends. The size comes into focus when you learn
that each link in the anchor chain weighs 350 pounds. The warships carry
more than 6,200 men each. Due to recent changes in the laws, women can now
serve in combat onboard aircraft carriers. The
USS George Washington already
has a contingent of women.
Next, at the Cargo Ship Pier, you'll see
many different types of boats and ships: destroyers, cruisers, amphibious
ships, helicopter ships, fleet oilers and tugs. On weekends from 1:00 to
4:30 P.M. there are usually two ships that you can board although these
rarely include aircraft carriers and submarines. The final part of the
harbor portion of the tour takes you past the workhorses of the Atlantic
Fleet---more destroyers and cruisers plus submarines and submarine tenders.
Directions:
Take the I-295 loop around Richmond and pick up I-64 east to Norfolk. After
you cross the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel take Exit 564 for the naval base.
The tours depart from the Naval Tour and Information Center at 9079 Hampton
Blvd. Some visitors mistakenly try to enter the Navy Base looking for the
tour but the touring center is right on Hampton Blvd.
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TRAVELERS TALKBACK
"The tour of the base on a city bus was interesting. The navy guide, a
sailor from the base, really knew his stuff. But we were disappointed in the
the view of the ships - just too far away. We were told it was because of
security reasons. And we made the mistake of sitting on the wrong side of
the bus for the best views of the ships. We sat to our left when we got on
board the bus, and we should have sat on right." T.L.F.,
London, England
If you've visited Norfolk
recently, give us your honest
evaluation of your visit and share
your travel tips..
Click here for details and the
TRAVELERS TALKBACK form.
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TRAVELERS TALKBACK
Win a a free copy of the new
Williamsburg One-Day Trip Book
with your picture and byline on
the cover! (Sixteen chapters in
this book cover one day vacations in
Richmond.)
If you've visited Norfolk
recently, give us your honest
evaluation of your visit.
Click here for details and the
TRAVELERS TALKBACK form.
TRAVEL
WRITERS WANTED
FREE
trial lesson in new
"WRITING TO
PUBLISH WORKSHOP."
Send us
an
email for details. Publication
is guaranteed for those
accepted in program. Instructor is
former president of the Society of
American Travel Writers.
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