What is the best US Navy Platform?

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 19:17:12 -0400

What was your best platform? CVN, DDG, CG, AOE, or one I'm sure I didn't list. So far I got to stick with the small boys, I like the DDG.

Response by CWO4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2014 1:12 AM

CWO4 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 01:12:39 -0400

Response by LCDR Mike Jackson made Jul 9 at 2014 6:48 AM

LCDR Mike Jackson — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 06:48:23 -0400

I loved being on the small boys (FFG) but I also love the amphib life of LSD/LPD

Response by SCPO Rpm Doughty made Sep 22 at 2014 3:46 PM

SCPO Rpm Doughty — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 15:46:05 -0400

For me it was the DDG. Commissioned both the JPJ DDG-53 and Lassen DDG-82. Great ships, great crews, good times!

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2015 10:48 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 10:48:04 -0500

DDG all the way!

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Nov 5 at 2015 10:37 PM

PO2 Peter Klein — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 22:37:16 -0500

DLG was pretty good.

Response by PO1 Edward Pate made Nov 1 at 2016 6:52 AM

PO1 Edward Pate — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 06:52:58 -0400

Small combatants all the way for me! DDG and FFG!

Response by PO3 Terry Miller made Nov 1 at 2016 7:42 AM

PO3 Terry Miller — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 07:42:26 -0400

I was an STG3 on a destroyer and as far as I was concerned destroyers were the real Navy. I've visited several of the current fleet and I still prefer destroyers.

Response by CPO Eugene Gillam made Nov 1 at 2016 8:19 AM

CPO Eugene Gillam — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 08:19:37 -0400

Any Shore command!

Response by CPO Charles Helms made Nov 1 at 2016 8:22 AM

CPO Charles Helms — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 08:22:40 -0400

CV's we can be on station in a matter of hours or days, but we can also launch strikes against the enemy allbthevte moving to our designated operating area!! Love my carriers!!

Response by PO2 Isidoro Laude made Nov 1 at 2016 10:00 AM

PO2 Isidoro Laude — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 10:00:54 -0400

AS was good since we never deployed.

Response by PO2 Robert Cuminale made Nov 1 at 2016 11:06 AM

PO2 Robert Cuminale — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 11:06:05 -0400

How about Naval Mobile Construction Battalions?

Response by SCPO Lonny Randolph made Nov 1 at 2016 11:21 AM

SCPO Lonny Randolph — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 11:21:29 -0400

Simple... Haze Grey and Underway!

Response by PO2 Mark Evans made Nov 1 at 2016 12:09 PM

PO2 Mark Evans — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 12:09:15 -0400

The question is a bit of a non-sequitur as the best platform is dependent on the mission. That said, SSN and SSBN is where you will find all the best sailors.

Response by PO1 Cliff Heath made Nov 1 at 2016 2:33 PM

PO1 Cliff Heath — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 14:33:47 -0400

First ship USS ENTERPRISE CVN-65 "WE ARE LEGEND" CVN'S are definitely our most potent offensive surface weapon, 2nd ship Plankowner USS VINCENNES CG-49 after i crossed from ABH TO GMG last ship Was USS ELLIOT DD-967 a Spru-can that was out-fitted with VLS. I never got to a DDG-51 but the CG'S have more firepower. While proud to have served on CVN-65, after serving on small boys I would not want to do any thing else. For me the amount of crew members on CVN'S are definitely the downside of them. But I have to say our most potent platform is SSBN'S TRIDENT CLASS, just hope we never have to use them.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2016 4:01 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 16:01:56 -0400

It all depends on the crew. The crew creates the climate, and that climate leaves the lasting impression about that platform of ship.

For me, I served on an all male crew on a CG.... tight-knit crew... always lacked a proper budget... this ensured that everyone knew their jobs well...

We were supposed to decommission.... didn't... got a 5 month notice to deploy as an air defense commander for a carrier strike group in support of OIR.

It was a challenging tour... but, i'd put that crew/ship against anyone.

Smaller platforms (CG,DDG, MCM, PC, LCS) provide more learning opportunities than big decks (CVN, LHD, LHA) because you learn more about your rate and always have your hand helping out other rates...

Response by LT Leverett Hadlow made Nov 1 at 2016 4:25 PM

LT Leverett Hadlow — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 16:25:29 -0400

I've been on just about everything from a wooden minesweeper to nuclear carriers. Without question, the most battle tested and proven platform of the last 40 years or so was the FFG.

Stark was hit by two Exocet missiles and survived, while HMS Sheffield went to the bottom of the South Atlantic after being hit with only one. The US was not at war when Stark was hit, so the crew was arguably less prepared than the crew of the Sheffield - which *was* at war and should have been more prepared.

The Samuel B. Roberts was hit by a mine that should have sent it to a watery grave. As a matter of fact, if you were to posit that exact scenario to a mine warfare expert, he would say, without hesitation, that ship was going to the bottom 100% of the time.

In response to the mining of the Sammy B, the US Navy launched Operation Preying Mantis four days later against Iranian 'oil platforms' that were believed to be militarily complicit in offensive mine warfare among other things. A cruiser and an FFG (USS Simpson) fired a total of five Standard missiles that kicked the Shiite out of an Iranian fast attack craft that foolishly tried to engage the three ship SAG. The cruiser, the Simpson, and the USS Bagley (FF-1069) then finished off the craft with guns. This marked the largest American surface forces battle since WWII, and the first time a ship was, arguably, sunk with ship to ship missiles.

The cruiser was the USS Wainright (CG-28) whose motto was "Battle Tested, Battle Proven". I think it is better served as a motto for the entire FFG-7 class.

This sailor did some serious time with a needle gun in the AMR of USS Bagley in '78, and also served aboard USS Enterprise (that also participated in Operation Preying Mantis) until late '83.

After having said all of that, though, my fondest memories are of my time aboard Enterprise.

Response by PO1 Scott Cottrell made Nov 1 at 2016 5:18 PM

PO1 Scott Cottrell — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 17:18:22 -0400

All depends on the Operation. Each ship has it's own pros and cons. CVN you have an Airport that can go to most parts of the world, CG anti-air powerhouse, DDG Anti-sub powerhouse (note if a sub does not want to be found, you will not find it), LHD Amphibious assault powerhouse. Now SSN's are very impressive, truthfully if they do not want to be found, you will not find them.

Response by SN Earl Robinson made Nov 1 at 2016 6:22 PM

SN Earl Robinson — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 18:22:41 -0400

Ok I'm real old school but CVA !

Response by MCPO Dennis Didier made Nov 1 at 2016 7:38 PM

MCPO Dennis Didier — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 19:38:45 -0400

My favorite sea duty was an LPD, U.S.S. Duluth (LPD-6), but that was because of the crew and command. I served in every type of surface combatant, never on a tender, and honestly don't have a favorite. All the types need each other to get the job done. But for the sheer feeling of being at sea in the Navy, Adams class DDGs. Guns, torpedoes, missiles, radar, sonar, steam, four screws, antennas all over the place. They simply looked like a warship. 34 knots and no smoke.

Response by CPO Zack Lindsey made Nov 1 at 2016 8:43 PM

CPO Zack Lindsey — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 20:43:19 -0400

BATTLE SHIP by far the USS NEW JERSEY BB62 she was the first one to come back in than I got the honor to become QA team for the rest of them coming in and also became a TURETT captain on the Wisconsin and under the watch eye of GMGC million I was also able to make GMGC so yes BATTLE ships but it started back in 73 when a old GMGC while cleaning his locker thru me some old corses he had in his locker on the 16" gun and said do them way before we where even thinking of bring them back but when we did they went thru records and said hey this guy is all ready qual. Lol

Response by PO2 Mark Evans made Nov 2 at 2016 2:57 AM

PO2 Mark Evans — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 02:57:51 -0400

The question is a bit of a nonsequitor as the best platform is dependent on the mission. That said, SSN and SSBN is where you will find all the best sailors.

Response by PO2 Steven Williams made Nov 2 at 2016 12:15 PM

PO2 Steven Williams — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 12:15:37 -0400

I would assume it depended on what you served on! I served on a CGN and really thought that ship was awesome but sitting next to a carrier made the CGN seem very small. :)

Response by PO2 Dale Brown made Nov 2 at 2016 4:11 PM

PO2 Dale Brown — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 16:11:08 -0400

I was sworn in on USS Brewton (FF) and served on DDG's, USS Goldsborough and Stoddard, and GCN(9) USS Long Beach, as well as a 2week tad aboard USS Enterprise while in the I.O.
I prefered USS LONG BEACH, the navys last real cruiser, she could haul ass when she had to, well over published speeds, and TALOS NEVER MISSED!

Response by CPO Bill Penrod made Nov 3 at 2016 7:40 PM

CPO Bill Penrod — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 19:40:25 -0400

In Vietnam I was stationed on the USS Sanctuary a non rotating hospital ship. We were on the line 120 days before upkeep in Subic Bay . We always had pier side priority. Oh we had three months pay in our pockets to spend on the the fruits of Olongapo City. Other Sailors were going to other exotic places while our next stop was Vietnam.