The Cruise Ship Terminal is on your right (starboard) side. San Diego is one of the best cruise ship ports in the United States.
On the starboard side, is the Coast Guard Air Station. We have a C.G. presence on the bay at all times. This is a busy harbor and they have a big job assigned by homeland security. They fly the Jay hawk helicopters on SAR missions from the ramp.
Harbor Island is on the starboard side. This man-made island was the result of the Navy dredging the channel to make room for the latest Forrestal class Aircraft carriers in the early 1960’s. The far end is the home of Tom Hamms Lighthouse. This is a restaurant with a charted, registered lighthouse on top.
The waterway to the right, after the end of Harbor Island, was dredged out in the 1930’s. This leads to the Naval Training Center (NTC) and Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD). MCRD originally opened as the Marine Barracks San Diego in1921. Then in 1925, Marine Recruit Training located at Mare Island, near San Francisco, moved to San Diego. MCRD trained Marines for the past 80 years, and is still going strong. They train 20,000 to 22,000 new Marines every year.
San Diego was the site of the California-Pacific Exposition in 1915-1917, at what is now Balboa Park. The buildings are now museums, but when the expo closed the city leased the buildings to Navy for a dollar a year. The buildings became the Naval Training Center. The Navy moved the NTC to this area in 1923 and over the years trained millions of sailors. Unfortunately, NTC was closed in 1997 and the land was gifted to the local community. Renamed “Liberty Station”, there are new condos, duplexes, water park, and Liberty Station High School. Two hotels and public parks are in the plan for the area.
Shelter Island is on the starboard side. This is the result of the Navy wanting to dredge out the channel for larger ships in the 1930’s. The city council suggested the sand bar as a good place for the dredging from the channel. The island provided shelter for the 3,000 slip yacht club, logical name was Shelter Island.
The pier starboard side is part of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and on the far side is the FLIP (FLoating Instrument Platform). The FLIP is towed out to the blue water area and the forward end tank is flooded. This causes the opposite end to lift out of the water until the FLIP is vertical. The end opposite the tank is the instrument platform. It is designed to float like a fishing bobber and move up and down with the ocean swells.
Behind the FLIP is a large concrete building. This is part of the Space and Naval Warfare System Command (SPAWAR). The Marine Mammal Training School, located to the left, is a SPAWAR tenant command. They train sea lions and bottle nose dolphins to find things in the ocean. Dolphins have natural sonar and can find things in murky water a human mammal could never find. On the other side of the pier is a Yellow Submarine. This is a target for dummy torpedoes, it is towed out to sea, the valves are opened, it sinks to a level of positive buoyancy and towed on a long line. Helicopters from North Island use it for target practice. Along side on the opposite pier, is another submarine, the USS Dolphin AGSS 555 the last diesel/electric submarine in the U.S. Navy. She is employed by both Navy and civilian researchers. To the starboard there is another pier with plumbing in the air. This is the refueling pier, and the orange barrier in the water is to surround the ship transferring fuel to ensure no spillage in the bay. The area behind the pier was where the Army deeded 360 acres to the Navy in 1901. Then 1904 the oldest Navy shore establishment in San Diego, the La Playa Coaling Station opened.
Next are the bait tanks that are loaded with anchovies and sardines. They sell 19 tons of bait a day during the fishing season. We are lucky to find California sea lions normally here. They are opportunistic, and feel this is here for them. The sea lions are different from seals. A sea lion has flaps on their ears, and rigidity in there forward flippers, a seal has neither. A large male sea lions get to be 800 pounds, whereas a 300 pound seal is a very large seal.
The Ballast point submarine base is on the right, behind the homeland security barrier. The base was opened in 1959 with land deeded from the Army. Six Los Angeles class, nuclear powered, fast attack boats are assigned to this base. The L.A. class subs are 352 ft long and have a crew of 133 sailors.
The top of Point Loma is the location of the Point Loma Lighthouse and the Cabrillo National Monument. This is part of the National Park Service. The view from the top is spectacular. They have movies depicting the discovery of San Diego and the whaling industry in San Diego Bay. As we come about to return to the pier, look out to sea. This is the only entrance to, and exit from San Diego Bay. The two islands to the west are Coronado Islands and they are part of Mexico.
The land on the starboard side is North Island. This implies there must be a South Island. It was renamed Coronado Island in the 1880’s, by the residents. North Island was separated from South Island by a strip of water called, the Spanish Bight. The bight was filled in 1944 to provide better access to North Island.
North Island’s history as a military base started in 1917 during World War I, when the land was purchased from John D. Speckles the sugar king. The 1232 acres of North Island was split between the army and the navy. It became Rockwell Army Air Field, and North Island Naval Air Station. There was a disagreement of who should run it, and the President of these United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, (former under-secretary of the Navy), solved it. The Navy has been there ever since, and the Army has not returned. The homeland security barrier surrounds the carrier basin with room for four Nimitz class aircraft carriers. The Nimitz class is the same basically. They are 1092 ft long 252 ft beam and 24 stories tall from the keel to top of the mast. They have a crew of approximately 6,000 and carry 80-85 attack and fighter aircraft.
The only carrier you could visit to see how large they really are, is the Midway CV-412 on the right. This is now a floating museum. The ship was stationed here in San Diego for many years until it was decommissioned and sent to the mothball fleet in Bremerton, Washington. It returned to our harbor January 2004 and opened on the anniversary of the Battle of Midway 5 June. Visitors are welcomed aboard at 10 AM until 4 PM and the ship closes at 5 PM. Thank you for coming with us today on the San Diego Harbor excursion. I hope you had fun and gained some knowledge / history of our fair city. When we dock, please deposit all trash in the receptacles provided on all decks. Don’t forget to take all cameras, purses, backpacks, and children with you. Once again, thank you and I will be on the dock as you leave if you have questions.
The starboard side will see Coronado Island. This never was an island. It has always been connected to the mainland by the Silver Strand. Silver Strand is an eight mile, narrow strip of land extending from the south end of Coronado to Imperial Beach that has been there since the beginning of recorded San Diego history.
There was a San Diego to Coronado car ferry that was closed when the bay bridge opened. The bridge construction started in 1967 and completed in 1969 at a cost of 47 million dollars. The first person to cross the bridge was the California Governor, Ronald Reagan. The bridge is 2.12 miles long and has an average traffic of 8 thousand cars a day. In 1970, it was named the most beautiful bridge. We will pass under the bridge down to the south bay.
Glorietta Bay is just to the right after passing under the bridge. The land to the left of the bay is The Navy’s Coronado Amphibious base. This is the location of the Navy Special Warfare Command. They are responsible for SEAL training. SEAL is an acronym for Sea Air Land commandos.
Looking to the right when we are in Glorietta Bay you will be able to see the Hotel Del Coronado. The hotel was completed in 1888 and was the first building west of the Mississippi river with electric lighting. The lighting was in every room along with the normal gas lighting as a backup system.
When we come about and return back towards the bridge, the 32nd St. Naval Station will be on the right. This is the second largest Naval Station in the U.S. Only Norfolk, VA is larger. There are 52 active duty navy ships attached here. Many of them are either assisting with the tsunami relief, or involved in Iraq.
There are two types of ships located here. The mission of delivering Marine troops and all their equipment to the beach as quickly as possible is carried out by the following amphibious warfare ships; Amphibious Assault Ships (LHA) (LHD) The largest of all amphibious warfare ships; resembles a small aircraft carrier; capable of Vertical/Short Take Off and Landing (V/STOL), Short Take Off Vertical Landing (STOVL), Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) tilt rotor and Rotary Wing (RW) aircraft operations; contains a well deck to support use of Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) and other watercraft. Armament: Two RAM launchers; two NATO Sea Sparrow launchers; three 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts (two on LHD 5-7); four .50 cal. machine guns; four 25 mm Mk 38 machine guns (LHD 5-7 have three 25 mm Mk 38 machine guns). Crew: Ships Company: 82 officers, 882 enlisted Marine Detachment 1,900 plus
Aircraft, depending on mission: 12 CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters; 4 CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters; 6 AV-8B Harrier attack aircraft; 3 UH-1N Huey helicopters; 4 AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters. Dock Landing Ship – (LSD) was designed specifically to operate LCAC vessels. It has the largest capacity for these landing craft (four) of any U.S. Navy amphibious platform. It will also provide docking and repair services for LCACs and for conventional landing craft. Crew: Ships Company: 22 officers, 397 enlisted; Marine Detachment: 402 plus 102 surge Armament: Two 25mm MK 38 Machine Guns, Two 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts and Six .50 cal. machine guns
Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD) The amphibious transports are used to transport, and land Marines, their equipment and supplies by embarked air cushion or conventional landing craft or amphibious vehicles, augmented by helicopters or vertical take off and landing aircraft in amphibious assault, special operations, or expeditionary warfare missions. Length: 570 feet (171 meters) Beam: 84 feet (25.2 meters) Displacement: Approximately 17,000 tons (17,272.82 metric tons) full load Speed: 21 knots (24.2 mph, 38.7 kph) Aircraft: Up to six CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters Crew: Ship's Company: 420 (24 officers, 396 enlisted) Marine Detachment: 900 Armament: Two 25mm Mk 38 guns; two Phalanx CIWS; and eight .50-calibre machine guns.
Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) Air cushion craft for transporting, ship-to-shore and across the beach, personnel, weapons, equipment, and cargo of the assault elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Features: The Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) is a high-speed, over-the-beach fully amphibious landing craft, capable of carrying a 60-75 ton payload. It is used to transport the weapons systems, equipment, cargo and personnel of the assault elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force from ship to shore and across the beach. LCAC can carry heavy payloads, such as an M-1 tank, at high speeds. The LCAC payload capability and speed combine to significantly increase the ability of the Marine Ground Element to reach the shore. Air cushion technology allows this vehicle to reach more than 70 percent of the world's coastline, while only about 15 percent of that coastline is accessible by conventional landing craft. The other type of ships located here, are tasked with fleet defense or submarine warfare. The largest is the Guided Missile Cruiser. Description: Large combat vessel with multiple target response capability. Features: Modern U. S. Navy guided missile cruisers perform primarily in a Battle Force role. These ships are multi-mission [Air Warfare (AW), Undersea Warfare (USW), and Surface Warfare (SUW)] surface combatants capable of supporting carrier battle groups, amphibious forces, or of operating independently and as flagships of surface action groups. Cruisers are equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles giving them additional long range strike mission capability. SPY-1 Radar and Combat System Integrator: Lockheed Martin. Length: 567 feet Beam: 55 feet Displacement: 9,600 tons (9,754.06 metric tons) full load Speed: 30 plus knots Aircraft: Two SH-2 Seasprite (LAMPS) in CG 47-48; Two SH-60 Sea Hawk (LAMPS III) Cost: About $1 billion each Crew: 24 Officers, 340 Enlisted
Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG) Description: These fast warships provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities, and can operate independently or as part of carrier battle groups, surface action groups, amphibious ready groups, and underway replenishment groups. Features: Destroyers and guided missile destroyers operate in support of carrier battle groups, surface action groups, amphibious groups and replenishment groups. Destroyers primarily perform anti-submarine warfare duty while guided missile destroyers are multi-mission [Anti-Air Warfare (AAW), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASUW)] surface combatants. The addition of the Mk-41 Vertical Launch System or Tomahawk Armored Box Launchers (ABLs) to many Spruance-class destroyers has greatly expanded the role of the destroyer in strike warfare. Crew: 23 officers, 300 enlisted Armament: Standard missile; Harpoon; Vertical Launch ASROC (VLA) missiles; Tomahawk®; six Mk-46 torpedoes (from two triple tube mounts); one 5"/54 caliber Mk-45 (lightweight gun); two 20mm Phalanx CIWS
Guided Missile Frigates (FFG) fulfills a Protection of Shipping (POS) mission as Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) combatants for amphibious expeditionary forces, underway replenishment groups and merchant convoys. Background: The guided missile frigates (FFG) bring an anti-air warfare (AAW) capability to the frigate mission, but they have some limitations. Designed as cost efficient surface combatants, they lack the multi-mission capability necessary for modern surface combatants faced with multiple, high-technology threats. They also offer limited capacity for growth. Despite this, the FFG 7 class is a robust platform, capable of withstanding considerable damage. This "toughness" was aptly demonstrated when USS Samuel B. Roberts struck a mine and USS Stark was hit by two Exocet cruise missiles. In both cases the ships survived, were repaired and returned to the fleet. Crew: 17 Officers, 198 Enlisted Armament: Standard Missile (MR); Harpoon (from Standard Missile Launcher); Six MK-46 torpedoes(from two triple mounts); One 76 mm (3-inch)/62 caliber MK 75 rapid fire gun; One Phalanx close-in-weapons system
After passing the Navy ships we see NASSCO shipbuilding. The Alaskan explorer is in the completion stages and another is being built nearby. This is the largest ship building facility on the west coast of the U.S. There are also several Navy ships in the Southwest Marine Repair facility that are in various stages of completion.
Back under the bridge and on the right is the 10th Ave. Marine Terminal and the Port of San Diego. Behind the port building you can see the home of the San Diego Padres, Petco Park. The Padres opened their baseball season there in 2004. Next to it is the Omni Hotel with all the green windows.
The San Diego Convention Center is the long grey building with the rolling green windows. This has 2.5 million square feet of convention space. This is one of the 3 largest convention centers on the west coast of the U.S.
The land in front of the convention center is Seaport Village, a place with many restaurants and shops. The two dark towers are the Harbor Club condos, and the two mirrored silver towers are the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina (1355 rooms). The two towers that come to a point are the Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel (1625 rooms). The skyline of the city 20 years ago was not like this at all, most of the tall buildings have been built since 1980.
San Diego was once known as “The Tuna Capitol of the world”. There were ten tuna canneries back then. The economics and environmental law changes caused all the tuna boats and fishermen to relocate to other countries. The fishing boats on the right are just to fill the needs of the local fish markets and restaurants.
Then you see the aircraft carrier CV 41, USS Midway. The ship was commissioned 10 September, 1945. The Midway was involved in the Korean War, Vietnam, and the Gulf War. It is now a museum and open every day at 10 AM for a reasonable fee. The only carrier you could visit to see how large they really are, is the Midway CV-412 on the right. This is now a floating museum. The ship was commissioned 10 September, 1945. The ship was stationed here in San Diego for many years until it was decommissioned and sent to the mothball fleet in Bremerton, Washington. The Midway was involved in the Korean War, Vietnam, and the Gulf War. It returned to our harbor January 2004 and opened on the anniversary of the Battle of Midway 5 June. Visitors are welcomed aboard at 10 AM until 4 PM for a reasonable fee.and the ship closes at 5 PM.