Bored in Manhattan? Check out the Navy and Marines
November 4th, 2009 | Life at Sea Maritime operations Ships The greenside | Posted by Phil Ewing
Marine Capt. Anthony Scarcella showed a visitor the controls of his AH-1 Cobra aboard the New York this week. Many aircraft, vehicles and weapons are on display on board // MC1 Corey Lewis/ Navy
NEW YORK — Here’s an old story you’ve heard before: A hot new performer arrives in in this notoriously hard-to-please city and is rewarded with fame and adulation. Here’s the twist: This time the main character is a 25,000-ton Navy warship.
The amphibious transport dock New York, which docked in Manhattan Monday in advance of its commissioning this Saturday, is spending the interim as one of the hottest shows in town. Navy officials expect 100,000 people will have toured the New York by Saturday, not only seeing the ship and its sailors, but its embarked Marines and their green gear.
They’re being feted on TV shows and at sporting events. The ship’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation organizers planned to sell out all their ball caps, T-shirts and water bottles bearing the ship’s logo; the 8,000 extra cruise books are expected to go quickly. Some sailors and Marines giving tours will work 18-hour days.
“It’s kinda scary, it’s kinda nerve-wracking, but it’s awesome to be here. We’re proud to be here,” said Pfc Patrick Roberts, of the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, whose LAV-25 is on display in one of the New York’s vehicle bays. Sitting in the turret with Sgt. David Salmonsen, Scoop Deck got to look through the commander’s gun sight and traverse the turret, which was highly motivational.
New Yorkers have a lot more to see when they come aboard. The New York is also carrying a CH-53E Super Stallion; an MV-22 Osprey; a UH-1 Huey; an AH-1 Cobra; an M1A2 Abrams main battle tank; an Amphibious Assault Vehicle; an Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle; two Landing Craft Air Cushion hovercraft; and small arms and other green gear. The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit assembled a custom, composite team specifically to extol the virtues of the leatherneck lifestyle during the New York’s visit.
New Yorkers will get to meet Cpl. Elias Norton, of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, and see him demonstrate how to fire his Javelin anti-tank missile. They’ll get to see the 155mm howitzer that belongs to Fox Battery, 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines and Lance Cpl. Daniel Whitson (who was temporarily assigned, with his colleagues, to 2nd Battalion, 10th Marines). In keeping with Scoop Deck’s interest in gun names, Whitson and Lance Cpl. William McMorrow revealed they’re waiting for approval to paint the name “Big Nasty” on the barrel. (They considered, but rejected, “Final Solution.”) Other names in the battery include “Bang Bus” and “Section 8.”
And New Yorkers will also get to meet Sgt. Charles Peters and climb aboard his Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, the first one ever brought onto a San Antonio-class amphib. (Despite its ability to cruise at more than 40 knots over water, it came aboard by LCAC.)
Peters has ridden in the vehicle at that speed over water, however, an experience he described as “scary.”
“Y’know how you when you ride a roller coaster and your stomach keeps dropping?” He said. “Like that.”