Share Your Favorite Naval Pictures and Videos!

[Fenix]

Eugene Eli flies first airplane off a ship, the USS Birmingham. Naval aviation is born.

[Jimbuna]

Spanish aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias

[Aktungbby]

Great pic Fenix! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Birmingham_(CL-2) The cruiser USS Birmingham left the yard on 2 February 1914, and resumed operations with the Atlantic Fleet as flagship of the Torpedo Flotilla. From 22 April – 25 May, she operated with the fleet in Mexican waters. During this time, one of her two Curtiss Model Fflying boats performed the first military mission by a US heavier-than-air aircraft, while scouting for mines off Veracruz on 25 April. In 1916, she became flagship of Destroyer Force Atlantic Fleet, and Torpedo Flotilla 3. Apparently the wooden deck for the 1910 launch only covered the foredeck...a very short roll for a very brave pilot, Ely, on the cutting edge! Move over Doolittle! In October, Ely and Curtiss met Captain Washington Chambers, USN, who had been appointed by George von Lengerke Meyer, the Secretary of the Navy, to investigate military uses for aviation within the Navy. This led to two experiments. On November 14, 1910, Ely took off in a Curtiss pusher from a temporary platform erected over the bow of the light cruiserUSS Birmingham.The aeroplane plunged downward as soon as it cleared the 83-foot platform runway; and the aircraft wheels dipped into the water before rising. Ely's goggles were covered with spray, and the aviator promptly landed on a beach rather than circling the harbor and landing at the Norfolk Navy Yard as planned. John Barry Ryan offered $500 to build the platform, and a $500 prize, for a ship to shore flight.

First fixed-wing aircraft landing on a warship: Ely landing his plane on board the USS Pennsylvania in San Francisco Bay, 18 January 1911.


Two months later, on January 18, 1911, Ely landed his Curtiss pusher airplane on a platform on the armored cruiserUSS Pennsylvania anchored in San Francisco Bay. Ely flew from the Tanforan airfield in San Bruno, California and landed on the Pennsylvania, which was the first successful shipboard landing of an aircraft.This flight was also the first ever using a tailhook system, designed and built by circus performer and aviator Hugh Robinson. Ely told a reporter: "It was easy enough. I think the trick could be successfully turned nine times out of ten."
Ely communicated with the United States Navy requesting employment, but United States naval aviation was not yet organized. Ely continued flying in exhibitions while Captain Chambers promised to "keep him in mind" if Navy flying stations were created. Captain Chambers advised Ely to cut out the sensational features for his safety and the sake of aviation. When asked about retiring, The Des Moines Register quoted Ely as replying: "I guess I will be like the rest of them, keep at it until I am killed."

Curtiss-Ely Pusher replica in flight in 2011


To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the flight, Naval Commander Bob Coolbaugh flew a personally built replica of the Ely Curtiss from the runway at NAS Norfolk on November 12, 2010. The U.S. Navy plans to feature the flying demonstration at Naval anniversary events across America.<And so he was 9 months later...Oct 19 1911 at Macon Georgia. I'm amazed carrier landings and take offs aren't called 'doing an Ely'; he and USS Birmingham were # 1...

[Sailor Steve]

A brief reminder: This thread is for posting favorite naval pictures, not for posting long-winded stories copied and pasted from other websites.

[BossMark]

Admiral Hipper landing troops in Trondheim

[tmccarthy]

Originally Posted by Mr Quatro

I like this picture Mr McCarthy and thank you for your rare photos too

Thanks for the positive feedback.

USS Idaho (BB-42)

[Jimbuna]

INS Viraat ex-Hermes

[tmccarthy]

Attack on Carrier Shoho Battle of the Coral Sea

[hunter301]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

A favorite:

HEY!!! WERE'D ALL THE PLANES GO??

Tell me that's not your first thought when you look at this photo...lol.

[hunter301]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

INS Viraat ex-Hermes

If they had this in WW2 Doolittle wouldn't have needed to do all those practice take offs.
Amazing how long it takes for something so simple to come into being.

[hunter301]

Originally Posted by L.T

Ok to all you fine sailors out there. Real sailers begin there journey on something like this

(Might be abit of topic since its not navy ship)

1993 6 month trip on the Danish Tallship Georg Stage



Locations

Canary Islands

US virgin Islands

Jacsonville

Greenport

Kingspoint long Island (We one a rowing competition against the academy there)

Halifax

Then across northern atlantic back home

That was how i began my education as a sailor. ended up in the army for ten years 1995-2005 lmao. After completing my education as a seaman i simply lost the love of the sea and had to explore my newly love for armoured vehicles instead.

In mystic harbour the first Georg Stage rests known as Joseph Conrad

http://www.mysticseaport.org/locations/vessels/conrad/

I toured that ship at Jacksonville, Florida for the "Tall Ship Challenge". Was on the 10th floor in the hotel across the river from were everyone was docked and got to watch them all come in. Now I'll have to dig up those photos and post them.

[Jimbuna]

Almirante Grau CLM 81-Peruvian Navy

[Aktungbby]

HMS GOLDEN HIND: first vessel to circumnavigate the globe(1577) with a live Captain, Sir Francis Drake; I was aboard this vessel in 1988 at Redwood City CA on her commemorative circumnavigation voyage. Now moored at London England.

[Platapus]

I was always fascinated by this idea. I still think that with some development, this could have been a workable design for commerce raiding.

[Mr Quatro]

Originally Posted by Platapus

I was always fascinated by this idea. I still think that with some development, this could have been a workable design for commerce raiding.

This gun was only used in an all back full emergency