Norfolk Naval Station

New York, New York

By Bill McMichael on September 13, 2011 2nd Fleet, 9/11, Community relations, Navy, Norfolk Naval Station, Pentagon, Photos, San Antonio class

A Navy amphibious warship returned to its figurative and literal source Sunday, as the crew of the amphibious transport dock ship New York spent Sept. 11 in the Big Apple taking part in events throughout the city honoring victims and responders of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The transport dock ship was named for the city that took the heaviest terrorist blow on that day in 2001, as nearly 3,000 people died when two hijacked jet airliners crashed into two World Trade Center skyscrapers — followed by a jetliner crash into a Pennsylvania field that took the lives of all 40…

Home after the storm

By Bill McMichael on August 31, 2011 2nd Fleet, Carriers, Enterprise, Hurricane, Navy, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Norfolk Naval Station, Photos, Ships

The 27 ships that sortied out of Hampton Roads in advance of Hurricane Irene’s arrival last weekend began returning to Naval Station Norfolk and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek Tuesday and are continuing to come back throughout the week. Also returning to their berths are some of the 28 ships in various stages of maintenance that were sent to safe havens to ride out the Category 1 hurricane, which whipped the region with high winds and generated what the National Weather Service estimates was a 4 1/2-foot storm surge at Naval Station Norfolk. The sortie was ordered by 2nd Fleet…

Is your housing area safe?

By Bill McMichael on August 30, 2011 Family housing, Housing area safety, Life at Home, Navy, Norfolk Naval Station, Public Private Venture

In our Sept. 5 issue, on newstands now, we have a report on residents’ concerns over safety in an off-base Navy housing area near Naval Station Norfolk. Using an online Norfolk Police Department database that tracks incidents reported over the previous 90 days, we learned that police had recorded one rape, one aggravated assault, two residential burglaries, four acts of vandalism and one bike theft in the 388-townhome family housing area. The manager of the Ben Moreell Housing Area says those numbers are lower than in surrounding precincts, and he appears to be right. But residents are concerned, say there is…

An earthquake story

By Bill McMichael on August 24, 2011 Admirals, Board of Inquiry, Earthquake, Navy, Norfolk Naval Station

Millions of Americans who’d never felt an earthquake now have a story to tell — thankfully, according to reports so far, not one involving widespread destruction or death. The 5.8-magnitude temblor rattled buildings and nerves from Maine to South Carolina at 1:51 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, stunning East Coast residents for whom earthquakes are a rarity. The quake’s epicenter was in north-central Virginia, which hadn’t experienced a quake of this magnitude since 1897. At Naval Station Norfolk, yours truly and three other reporters covering the Board of Inquiry for former Enterprise skipper Capt. Owen Honors were ensconced on the 3rd floor…

2,000 Tomahawks and counting

By Bill McMichael on August 5, 2011 Combat, Navy, Norfolk Naval Station, Photos, Royal Navy, Ships, Submarines, Tomahawk, Video

The Navy today commemorated its 2,000th Tomahawk cruise missile combat launch during a ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk aboard the destroyer Barry, which took part in the March air strikes on Libyan military facilities in support of U.N. Resolution 1973 and was credited with the 2,000th launch. Check this great pic of a launch from Barry the night the milestone was reached: We don’t know if that is THE 2,000th or not, but you get the idea. Even better: Check the video. The commemoration honored the Barry crew members for their role in the milestone launch. Tomahawks have been around…

Mason, arriving

By Bill McMichael on July 27, 2011 5th Fleet, 6th Fleet, Deployment, Homecoming, Marine Security Cooperation, Navy, Norfolk Naval Station, Photos, The Med, The Middle East, Theater Security Cooperation

The Norfolk-based destroyer Mason finally made it home today, bringing up the rear of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, most of which arrived at home ports or bases July 15. One of the happy sailors was Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Eugene Andal, who was selected to debark and receive the traditional first kiss from his wife and kids: The Strike Group left Norfolk Jan. 13 to support theater security cooperation and maritime security cooperation efforts during a deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility that covered nearly 60,000 miles.

Shop 'til you drop — in Norfolk

By Bill McMichael on June 28, 2011 Construction, Navy, Navy Exchange, Norfolk Naval Station

A Wednesday ribbon-cutting at Navy Exchange Norfolk will mark the grand opening of its newly expanded Main Store. With more than 180,00o square feet of retail space, it is now the largest Navy Exchange in the world. Fitting, since NOB is the world’s largest naval base. The June 29 grand opening will feature visits from a couple of pro sports celebrities: fearsome Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, and fearsome Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Phil Davis. The addition to the expanded Main Store opened in July 2010 and features a larger selection of toys, sporting goods and grocery items, according to…

Home for Dad's day

By Bill McMichael on June 18, 2011 Ballistic missile defense, Homecoming, Libya, Maritime operations, Navy, Norfolk Naval Station, Personnel, Photos, Ships, SURFLANT, The Med, Tomahawk

The destroyer Stout came home to Norfolk Saturday following a Med cruise in support of theater security operations and ballistic missile deterrence … … and just in time for Father’s Day: Stout took part in the coalition strikes on Libyan forces that began in mid-March. Stout was the first ship on station and fired multiple salvos of Tomahawk cruise missiles at Libyan air defenses, surface-to-air sites and communications nodes, along with the destroyers Stout and Barry, the attack submarines Providence and Scranton and the guided missile submarine Florida, according to the Navy. The crew also had to deal with the…

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