Visiting the Essex

One of the cool things that we got to do around Christmas time was welcome a visiting Navy/Marine vessel, the USS Essex. This is an amphibious assault craft, meaning it can take over a country as long as it has a beach. It also carries a bunch of helicopters and jets, just in case some air support is needed. Big ship. Jen and I left the kids at home and spent a night to work the reception on board. Very cool.

A view of the helicopters on deck

The jets (Harriers) from a distance

A sense of the whole beast

A better shot of a Harrier, much closer

Those jets don't need a runway, for the record. That's why they aren't on an aircraft carrier. Some of the 3000 or so Marines on board just jump in, and they take off straight up. Land that way too. Hover if they feel like it.

The inside of the ship also contained a full level 2 trauma center. Very impressive.