The SWO Picture Gallery for those so inclined

[HeyJoe]

USS McCampbell crew attends 70th Annual Black Ship Festival in Japan

090516-N-8418M-365 SHIMODA, Japan (May 16, 2009) Musician 1st Class Jason Gromacki leads the marching band of the U.S. 7th Fleet Band during a parade at the 70th Shimoda Black Ship Festival. The band and USS McCampbell (DDG 85) visited Shimoda to support the festival, which commemorated the 1854 landing of Commodore Matthew Perry and his crew at Shimoda, and the subsequent opening of trade between Japan and the West. (U.S. Navy photo by Musician 2nd Class Kenneth McLaughlin/Released)

Anyone spot the Elvis impersonator?

090516-N-8145S-002 SHIMODA, Japan (May 16, 2009) Sailors from the guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG 85) march in the Black Ship Festival Parade in Shimoda, Japan. McCampbell represented the U.S. Navy in the festival, which commemorates the 1854 landing of Commodore Matthew Perry at Shimoda and the subsequent opening of trade between Japan and the West. (U.S. Navy photo by Operations Specialist 2nd Class Nicholas Schaaf/Released)

SWOs send aviator to represent ship at International Arm-wrestling Championship at Black Ship event or write your own caption....

090515-N-1334U-001 SHIMODA, Japan (May 15, 2009) Lt. j.g. Mary Robinson, assigned to Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 51, Detachment 5 embarked aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG 85), arm wrestles with a 6th grader from Shimoda Elementary School in Shimoda, Japan. McCampbell was in Shimoda for the 70th Black Ship Festival, held every year to commemorate the 1854 landing of Commodore Matthew Perry at Shimoda and the subsequent opening of trade between Japan and the West. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Information Systems Technician Kufere Usanga/Released)

 

[eddie]

090516-N-8418M-365 SHIMODA, Japan (May 16, 2009) Musician 1st Class Jason Gromacki leads the marching band of the U.S. 7th Fleet Band during a parade at the 70th Shimoda Black Ship Festival. The band and USS McCampbell (DDG 85) visited Shimoda to support the festival, which commemorated the 1854 landing of Commodore Matthew Perry and his crew at Shimoda, and the subsequent opening of trade between Japan and the West. (U.S. Navy photo by Musician 2nd Class Kenneth McLaughlin/Released)

Interesting thing to celebrate.

 

[Jynx]

Interesting thing to celebrate.

Do they REALLY celebrate that day or are we pushing that festival and trying to boost community ties or something?

 

[HeyJoe]

Do they REALLY celebrate that day or are we pushing that festival and trying to boost community ties or something?

Sounds like a great homework assignment for Eddie since he claims to actually be in the land of the rising sun. Looks to me that a small town promotes the event to bring in tourism dollars as well as US Navy money as well (ships do replenish from local vendors and sailors like to open their wallets as well).

What say you, Eddie, our on the scene AW rep?

 

[eddie]

Sounds like a great homework assignment for Eddie since he claims to actually be in the land of the rising sun. Looks to me that a small town promotes the event to bring in tourism dollars as well as US Navy money as well (ships do replenish from local vendors and sailors like to open their wallets as well).

What say you, Eddie, our on the scene AW rep?

a) Well, at least it wasn't shut down by iggy_125:sick_125:. Down here in the Kansai, school is closed and I'm under a negotiable form of homestay house-arrest "So... are we having finals?" / "You can't go out because you'll die!"

b) I will have to investigate. Perry was not exactly well recieved at the time.

 

[HeyJoe]

Parade of Ships

090520-N-4936C-078 NEW YORK (May 20, 2009) The guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) sails under the Verranzo Bridge during the Parade of Ships, kicking off New York Fleet Week 2009. Approximately 3,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard will participate in the 22nd commemoration of Fleet Week New York, which will take place May 20 to May 27. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David P. Coleman/Released) (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David P. Coleman/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

International Parade of Ships

090520-N-2735T-014 NEW YORK CITY (May 20, 2009) The guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) renders honors to the Canadian Navy destroyer HMCS Athabaskan (DDH 282) during preparations to pull into Manhattan during Fleet Week New York City 2009. Approximately 3,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen will participate in the 22nd commemoration of Fleet Week New York. This event will provide the citizens of New York City and the surrounding tri-state area an opportunity to meet service members and also see the latest capabilities of today's maritime services. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Third Class Coleman Thompson/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

Joint Warrior Exercise underway

090518-N-4275C-010 SCOTLAND (May 18, 2009) The guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) fires a five-inch gun during a naval surface fire support certification. Phillipine Sea is taking part in Joint Warrior, a two-week NATO exercise off the coast of Scotland. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Joel Carlson/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

090520-N-8907D-258 NEW YORK CITY (May 20, 2009) The guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) transits the Hudson River during the Parade of Ships as part of Fleet Week New York City 2009. Approximately 3,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsman will participate in the 22nd commemoration of Fleet Week New York. This event will provide the citizens of New York City and surrounding tri-state area an opportunity to meet service members and also see the latest capabilities of today's maritime services. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David Danals/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

Special Visitor

090519-N-9013W-002 NEW YORK (May 19, 2009) Joan Jett, lead singer of Joan Jett and the Black Hearts, prepares to board a Navy helicopter en route to the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) for a tour of the ship during Fleet Week New York City 2009. Approximately 3,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen will participate in the 22nd commemoration of Fleet Week New York. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Laurie Wood/Released)

090519-N-9013W-004 NEW YORK (May 19, 2009) Joan Jett, lead singer of Joan Jett and the Black Hearts, poses with Sailors during Fleet Week New York City 2009 before boarding a Navy helicopter en route to the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) for a tour of the ship during Fleet Week New York City 2009. Approximately 3,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen will participate in the 22nd commemoration of Fleet Week New York. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Laurie Wood/Released)

 

[swerdna]

Do they REALLY celebrate that day or are we pushing that festival and trying to boost community ties or something?

I was there for the Black Ship Festival in 2005, and the locals really seemed to enjoy our presence, although it probably had more to do with our Yen that we spent. Shimoda is a fairly small town, so I think that the festival also gives them something to look forward to.

I think that Japan views the Perry encounter as something like their coming-out party. And I mean on the world stage, not from the closet.

 

[HeyJoe]

VBSS, Marine style

090526-N-5345W-060 ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 26, 2009) Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22 MEU) fast-rope from a CH-53 Super Stallion to the flight deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) during a visit, board, search and seizure non-compliant merchant vessel drill.

090526-N-5345W-158 ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 26, 2009) A member of the visit, board, search and seizure team assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22 MEU) embarked aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) stands as lookout while other team members search detainees during a non-compliant merchant vessel drill aboard Fort McHenry.

090526-N-5345W-131 ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 26, 2009) A member of the visit, board, search and seizure team assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22 MEU) embarked aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), exits Fort McHenry's bridge to check on his team's progress with ship's crew members during a non-compliant merchant vessel drill aboard Fort McHenry.

090526-N-5345W-125 ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 26, 2009) Marines assigned to the visit, board, search and seizure team review the ship's manifest and charts in the bridge with simulated crew members during a non-compliant merchant vessel drill aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kristopher Wilson/Released)

090526-N-5345W-152 ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 26, 2009) A member of the visit, board, search and seizure team assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22 MEU) embarked aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) team stands as starboard side bridge entrance lookout during a non-compliant merchant vessel drill aboard Fort McHenry. (U.S. Navy photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kristopher Wilson/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

VBSS Overwatch

090526-N-5345W-027 ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 26, 2009) An AH-1W Super Cobra from the "Thunder Chickens" of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced) performs a low altitude surveillance pass during a visit, board, search and seizure drill aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43). Fort McHenry is on a scheduled deployment with the Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) supporting maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kristopher Wilson/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

Suitable for framing

090527-N-1159B-067 PHILLIPINE SEA (May 27, 2009) The guided-missile destroyers USS Chafee (DDG 90) and USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Navy ships BRP Rajah Humabon (PF 11) and BRP Bienvenido Salting (PG 112) are underway in formation during exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2009. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Brian Brannon/Released)

 

[HeyJoe]

The need for speed

Speed is relative, but for surface vessels, this baby can rock

090603-N-2821G-017 MAYPORT, Fla. (June 3, 2009) The Department of Defense high-speed experimental boat Stiletto is shown pierside in Mayport before deploying to the Caribbean basin through the summer. The 88-foot long, 60-ton vessel will deploy under the operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet under the tactical control of Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S) to conduct counter illicit trafficking operations. Stiletto is manned by a joint Army and Navy crew and includes an embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Det. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alan Gragg/Released)