USS John F Kennedy
No, I didn't take this photo: I wish! It's a postcard I received on visiting the ship though, so I thought it passed the mark.
The USS JFK was one of the biggest (if not the biggest) all purpose carriers in the world and I got the chance to see her and set foot on her, while she was still in commission (she has been out since 2007).
While me and three friends were on holiday in Malta in 1999, one of my friends hit it off with an American sailor who at the end of the evening gave us VIP tickets to go and visit this ship. Now, this was a sun-holiday for all of us, but then again, when do you ever get the chance to see the biggest navy ship in the world? So, we caught a bus and went to the capital of Malta where she was berthed. Long lines of schoolchildren were already waiting to get to see her, but we just walked past everyone and got on for a great tour.
The ship was absolutely huge! Over five thousand people working on her and some of those people wouldn't once get upstairs during the whole trip! Of course we didn't get to see everything. I never saw the sailors' quarters, the kitchens, the hospital, the shop, but we did get to the bridge and several other areas. It was a great day out and thanks to my flirty friend, a free one as well!
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A magnificent ship! What a delight to get to get at least a partial tour of it! Great post for the U day!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!
Sylvia
How wonderfully presented! Thanx so much for contributing!
ReplyDeleteThat's exciting! I took a short trip on the USS Ranger a long time ago - something I'll remember forever. What a great time you must have had!
ReplyDeleteWow. That ship certainly does look huge. Holy cannoli! I always wondered if you were on a big boat like that would you feel it move when it is in choppy water?
ReplyDeleteWhat a great ship, I've never been on a ship like that, been on a the USNS General Morrie Rose for 8 days when I was younger. That is probably as close as I ever got. Fantastic.
ReplyDeleteIt is an magnificent ship.
ReplyDeleteMy ABC Wed
That's exciting, how lucky you were to go aboard.
ReplyDeleteWhat a splendid ship, and an exciting adventure tour.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, that is something I wouild love to see! I always love it when they show the jets landing on an aircraft carrier, that is so cool.
ReplyDeleteImpressive ship, named for a man who might have been even more impressive, had he lived.
ReplyDeleteThis must have been a fascinating experience! I've only seen these ships in movies or on television; it boggles my mind to think how big they must be to accommodate those planes!
ReplyDeleteWell worth your friend being flirty. That is a huge ship. How exciting to be able to see it first hand.
ReplyDeleteGood heavens .. five thousand people!!!
ReplyDeleteThe first thought I had when I saw that ship was 'modern ships don't even look like ships anymore!'