Visiting the US Naval Base - San Diego Military Port, California Travelogue 77

The San Diego Military Port is on the west coast of the United States, a natural harbour and the only natural harbour in southern California, controlling the eastern waters of the Pacific Ocean, a very important location. The military bases in all countries are covered up and even guarded for fear of leaking military secrets. The Yanks are the only ones who don't hide but instead have created a cruise route around the military port for tourists from all over the world. This kind of fanfare and brazenness is perhaps a reflection of the way the US military deters and shows off to people around the world.

Looking back at the city of Santiago from the cruise ship

Exploring San Diego's military port on a cruise ship

San Diego's deepwater harbour is the largest in the US Navy's Pacific Fleet and is frequented by aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines.

The decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Midway is berthed here and has been opened as an aircraft carrier museum for tours.

The aircraft carrier USS Midway was built in October 1943, launched in March '45 and commissioned in September. She served in the Korean War, Vietnam War and Iran-Iraq War, and was decommissioned in April '92 and decommissioned in '97. After the removal of all electronic equipment and weapons, the ship was donated to the private sector in 2003 and converted to a museum. Her standard displacement was 45,000 tons and her full load displacement was 60,000 tons, far more than the largest Lexington class aircraft carriers of the time.

San Diego's military port is also the base of active aircraft carriers, with three nuclear-powered carriers regularly berthed here: the Nimitz, the Stennis and the Ronald Reagan. This one is the aircraft carrier, USS Stennis

The hospital ship USS Mercy

The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan

Navy supply ships

The US Navy's newest and most advanced guided-missile destroyer USS Jumbo Walter, known as the US military's sci-fi warship, was commissioned in 2016

Amphibious assault ship USS Essex

San Antonio-class amphibious dock transport ship with stealth hull structure

Port view

A Ticonderoga - class guided-missile cruiser

USS John Gray, a giant semi-submersible landing support ship

The main battle fleet of the Arleigh Burke-class ships, about a dozen of which are docked here

US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) observation ships

The amphibious assault ship, known as a small aircraft carrier, displaces more than 40,000 tons. The apron can park AV-8B Harrier attack aircraft with vertical take-off and landing, and the cabin can park the L.C.A.C landing hovercraft. The attack power is not to be underestimated. Four amphibious assault ships are berthed in the San Diego military port

Nuclear-powered submarines

Littoral Combat Support Ships, stealthy hulls, most advanced modern warships

The amphibious assault ship is one of the mainstays of the US military amphibious operations. The keel was laid in 1991, the ship was launched on 7 August 1993 and commissioned on 11 February 1995, more than 20 years ago.

View of Santiago

Seagulls chasing a fishing boat back to port

A sailboat moored in Santiago's civilian harbour

The famous Santiago Bridge over the sea - the Coronado Bridge - has a span of 3,640 metres. The arched bridge spans the sea between the island and the land area and is a spectacular sight. The maximum clearance under the bridge is over 60 metres and aircraft carriers can sail under the bridge without any problem