About 2 weeks ago, I was up in the Sacramento area to view the California Capital Airshow. Now the US Navy and Marines are in town as the City celebrates their service. Though virtual last year, the festivities are back in-person this year. Along with that announcement comes the familiar accutrements like the ship tours and the popular airshow, that performs over 3 days(Fri, Sat, Sun), headlined by the Navy's Blue Angels.
I wish I could find the footage that I took one year of the parade of ships sailing in under the Golden Gate Bridge and filming the Blue Angels show from the vantage point of the bridge and along the Marina Green. That year, a submarine and aircraft carrier were part of the line up. They even launched off of the angled deck while in the bay. Internet research states they had done this a handful of times over the years.
The scheduled time the ships would motor into the bay is 11am. I arrived early at the Golden Gate Bridge area and parked in an area south of the toll plaza. As I trekked to a closer spot to the bridge, a tanker was making its way through the bridge. There was little commercial traffic over the next few hours
Three ships will be in the parade. They were previously docked in the bay around Pier 35 and open for tours. This morning, they were closed for tours while they ship out then ship back in. I had already missed 2 of the guided missile destroyers head out to the Pacific.
I was just in time to see the USS Shoup, DDG 86, steam through the Golden Gate.
The Shoup is an Arleigh Burke class destroyer with its sister ship USS John McCain, DDG-56, also in the line up today
Launched in 2000 and delivered to the Navy in 2002
There was a fourth vessel open for tours that did not participate in today's festivities, USS Rushmore, LSD 47
The Rushmore is a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship. I transports and launches various amphibious craft
The Shoup reconvened with the USS Michael Monsoor, DDG1001, and Shoup. They will linger in the Pacific Ocean until it is time to turn around and make their way back to meet up with the SFFD fire boats as escorts. You can barely make out the shadow of the McCain behind Monsoor.
While we wait for the ships to come back, lets take a look around the bay. Most obvious is the GGB. It spans the opening to the bay and connects San Francisco with the north bay counties and cities including Sausalito, San Rafael, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, etc
Its a brisk blustery day this morning. However, there are pockets of calm and protection from the wind at selected spots. At the base of bridge on the SF side is historic Fort Point. The mostly declawed defensive structure regulated entrance into the bay when it was active military installation.
I am on the south end and theres a visitors area right by the toll plaza. On the opposite northern end, there is a vista point. Its not as built up as the SF side but it does afford great views of the city skyline and other views of the city
The more notable of the islands that inhabit the bay is Alcatraz. The former federal prison once had the reputation of being the hardest prison to escape from. Al Capone is one if its most infamous guests. Daily tours via ferry can be purchased along Fisherman's Wharf to Pier 39.
The lesser known Angel Island was the Ellis Island of the west where immigrants from Asia would have to pass before entering the US. There are historical buildings but nice picnic grounds and hiking trails dotted around the island.
Bridge to bridge, the Oakland Bay Bridge is located on the eastern side of the bay. It is bisected by Yerba Buena/Treasure Island. The section connecting to SF is not visible from this picture. The newer section of the Oakland end had to be torn down and replaced with a side by side structure that utilizes suspension cables after the Loma Prieta quake damaged it.
The ships are aligned and ready to make their grand entrance. Moonsoor, Shoup, McCain
The Monsoor doesnt quite look like the other two behind it. Part of the new Zumwalt class of guided missile destroyer, the design incorporates stealth aspects to minimize its radar cross section. Much like the F117 Nighthawk, it uses angles and sharp corners to bounce the radio waves away from the sender
The 155mm barrels of the turrets are hidden in covered bays and elevated when needed. Much as the F22 and F35 use internal weapons bays to aid in stealth
The exterior of the superstructure is very minimal.
Protecting the rear with these aft facing guns.
And finally, they emerge from the bridge with the SFFD heralding their arrival into San Francisco Bay. Not sure if everyone was here to see the parade, or they just happen to be here. But, they all gathered nonetheless
Heading back to their berths where they will resume the tours starting tomorrow. I may visit and tour the Monsoor this weekend.
The Arleigh Burke class come armed with antisubmarine warfare system, land attack Tomahawk cruise missiles, ship-to-ship Harpoon missiles, and advanced antiaircraft missiles
They also deploy the Aegis Combat system for targetting and tracking
The five inch deck gun is one of many standard armaments loaded on this class of ship
R2D2 this is not. The Phalanx CIWS(Close In Weapons System) is a radar guided 20mm multi barreled Gatling gun.
Playing follow the leader to Pier 35 where tours will resume on Sat, Sun, and Monday
