Will Mayport's Missing Aircraft Carrier Show Up on Schedule?

[stjr]

whats the name of the carrier coming to Jax?? will it be brand new?

Many say it will be newest carrier, the George H W Bush.  That supposedly is also what the Bush family wants, I guess, given Jeb was governor of Florida and fought hard for this project and his family has gotten strong political support from this area.  Officially, the DoD and Navy say no decision has been made yet.

[Coolyfett]

USS Bush wont be ready til 2018.......is the USS F'ord going to va??? I really hope its the ford going to jax.

[reednavy]

Senator Webb just won't stop. You would think that being the former Navy secretary that he would know having all your eggs in one basket can be bad. I understand he wants to protect his local economy, but this is more than just that, this is national security we're talking about.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/22541586/detail.html

[Dog Walker]

There are darn few U.S. Senators who will put national security ahead of getting pork to their state and Senator Webb is obviously not one of them.  More than one carrier needs to be moved out of Norfolk anyway.

[Ocklawaha]

I don't even like the idea of having 5 in Norfolk and 1 here, I'd much rather see one each in Portsmouth, Newport or Groton, Norfolk, Kings Bay, Mayport, and Key West or Corpus Christi.

Hell, I don't even want Mayport to have more then 2, EVER! Besides Kings Bay is really the Florida / Georgia coasts deepest natural harbor and river entrance. Which would be why the Government decided to build Fort Clinch there rather then Mayport back in the 1840-50's. It would also be why our first railroad of any consequence ran from Fernandina to West Florida.

OCKLAWAHA

[CS Foltz]

A heap of work to do before something like that shows up.........lots if infrastructure to install, makes me wonder just where the money for that willcome from?

[Dog Walker]

CS, It will come from Virginia!  LOL!

[reednavy]

More positive news for the base.

Mayport will be home for new Navy LCS ships
Jacksonville base could have 17 combat ships by 2020

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-03-10/story/mayport_will_be_home_for_new_navy_lcs_ships

[Dog Walker]

USS Bush wont be ready til 2018.......is the USS F'ord going to va??? I really hope its the ford going to jax.

Wasn't the Bush just here a day ago getting ready for a training mission?

[reednavy]

Probabaly so, it is war games time of our coast right now.

The Bush was delivered last May, the Ford won't be ready until 2015.

[Sportmotor]

*best redneck accent*
USS CHEVY
HELLS TA DA YEA

[stjr]

Wasn't the Bush just here a day ago getting ready for a training mission?

Yes, here is the proof:

Full photo at: http://photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=28411266&event=960127&CategoryID=0

[Dog Walker]

Just heard from a active duty Navy officer today that the assumption inside the Navy is that the Bush is going to be the carrier stationed here.

[reednavy]

Seems to be the better option, being the newest baby in the fleet.

[blizz01]

But isn't the Bush the last of the "Nimitz" class?  I was under the assumption that Mayport was to be prepped for the next generation "Ford" class. Pardon my ignorance, but how is it that the USS Bush is able to utilize Mayport in its current state, however, so much money is needed (i.e. dredging, etc.) over the next few years to accommodate?  I understand that the next generation carriers (due in the next 4-5 years) will be similar and maintain a like hull as well.