Reasons Why US Navy Sailors Never Get On The Bridge Of An Aircraft Carrier
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- Опубликовано: 21 авг 2022
- The bridge is one of the most important places on an aircraft carrier; but, some sailors may spend their entire tour of duty on an aircraft carrier without ever setting foot in this particular area. It is strictly forbidden to enter this area. Why do most Navy Crew members Never get on the bridge?
The Bridge is a carrier's primary command and control center; from here, the captain and other officers can manage all of the ship's activities. The bridge is where the Captain sits along with the navigator and all of the officers on the deck and the rest of the watch team charged with steering the ship and staying away from hazards. In most cases, it is situated in a location that provides an unobstructed view as well as direct access to the most important parts of a ship. The bridge is a few levels below Pri-fly in the carrier's superstructure.
It is strictly prohibited for anybody other than authorized staff to enter the Bridge, and all operating protocols must be followed precisely at all times. This is one of the reasons why some sailors in the US Navy might never enter the Bridge on a carrier.
Because the Bridge of an aircraft carrier is the ship's heart, there are strict procedures regarding who is allowed entry into the compartment. The Bridge also houses the primary steering equipment, navigation charts, communication systems, engine control, and other functions. There are also neighboring bridge wings on certain bridges, which are used to store the machinery for the stern and bow thrusters. These wings extend beyond the main bridge room and provide a view of the surrounding areas that are clear and unimpeded in every direction.
#aircraftcarrier #sailors #usnavy
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Those of us Marines who were fortunate enough to have been assigned Sea Duty aboard a carrier and were assigned to the Captain or Executive Officer, spent hundreds of days and nights standing duty on the bridge. It was great experience---watching flight ops, gunnery practice, and watching a foreign shore appear on the horizon or a full moon rise out of the sea.
Thats sweet bro. I served a 6 month det. aboard CVN-70 CARL VINNY. I was AIMD Hyd shop. It was quite a time, only undesireable was my shop was literatlly on the fantail, and my rack was under Cat 1. Everytime GQ went off , a full underwear sprint to make station befiree they locked down hatches.
Not a carrier, but as a RM and TC, we used to visit the bridge all the time. Some messages had to be routed to the bridge 24/7. No one every told a communicator to clear the bridge. But I will add, not everyone had that privilege, just like not everyone could enter radio. Even the cooks would show up from time to time dropping off coffee and "snacks". But it comes down to what evolution was going on. You didn't show up while at special sea detail for chat with the helmsman.
I liked being an air wing Marine
Sea going bell hop on the Indy. Did that once and it was enough and yes I spent lots of time on the bridge and few other secure locations.
It is for security reasons that the bridge is limited to Authorized Personnel Only. Keep it that way.😊😊
THIS IS BRAVO SIERRA! Plain and simple ! ! !
It's not "strictly forbidden" for sailors to go on the bridge and it is not restricted to only some with access. Just about anyone can go to. There are simply rules one must adhere to in order to enter the bridge, including requesting permission and being covered (wearing a cover) when entering. I was stationed on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) from 2009-2014 and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) from 2017 to 2021.
I am retired off the big E and I transferred branches to USMC as an A&P. Most times when I had requests from the guys under me and order sheets i just strolled on into the Bridge area. Mostly I was officially assigned to the XO for that task. It was sort of an unspoken rule and I could also bring with me anyone with a verbal grievance which was rare most were a written affair but now and then guys got hurt and needed to be taken ashore and things like that. So the Bridge was far from off limits. There is a protocol for enlisted to request permission in writing or get an appointment. Our XO handled request visits from 10am till 1pm Mondays & Fridays. Sometimes the evening shift officers did so between 6 & 9pm. Then there were always them more sympathetic officers aboard. i sometimes worked things out ahead of times for guys so they would relax especially if they got themselves in MILD trouble. I did not sympathize with dope or assaults. Every now & then we had someone accused of stealing someones candy bar stash and stuff like that. We often had verbal arguments where someone would carry their butt hurt around like a sword. A carrier at times can be just like being surrounded by 3rd graders.....
Yeah, the guy writing this cr@p is stoopid.
I was also on the Carl Vinson. BM1(SW/AW)... My crew maned the Bridge. Anybody could come up to the bridge. The only one rule is shut the f*** up. Maintain silence on the bridge. CVN-70 1993-98
@@thekingsilverado3266 sounds like any work place. Theres always someone who hates someone or feels aggrieved.
@@thekingsilverado3266 When I was on the JFK, I went to the bridge several times - unchallenged. I was there on business, no one tried to stop me. Better was to go onto the Flag Bridge when there was no admiral embarked. There was no one there at all.
I was a Boatswainsmate on the USS Ranger CV-61 from 89-93, and I was up on the Bridge everyday steering the ship, standing watches and other duties.
Awesome! Thank you for your comment
I stood watches in after steering. This is where the machinery was to turn the each rudder. It was manned by an electricians mate (me), a machinist mate and a quartermaster. Watches were four hours long so we played a lot of three hand spades. In case the bridge got knocked out and secondary con (located at the bow right below the flight deck - 7 portholes), our quartermaster could steer the ship from after steering; getting orders via communications (as we couldn't see where we were going).
i was deck seaman on USS Harry S. Truman CVN-75 so on bridge every day as helmsman and lee helm
Aloha Shipmate. I was aboard USS Ranger after she came out of drydock service in 1986. You came aboard 3 years after I rotated to shore duty at NAS Lemoore, CA. Small world, small navy indeed. Nice to meet you Boatswain Renaud.
@@roberthodgins5740 exciting career. Mine was FOD walk downs and tidedown chains ⛓.
You can add a lot of other sections of all Navy ships. If you don't work there, you don't need to be there and be in the way. Not only the bridge, but engineering, CIC and weapons areas.
As a young Aviator, I spent time on two Carriers, the USS Randolph (CVS-15) and USS Yorktown (CVS-10). I and the other officers in the Squadron, generally spent our time in the ready room, out berthing areas, the hanger bay, the flight deck immediately before our scheduled flights and immediately after our scheduled flights. We did not lollygag on the flight deck, were there only when needed. Lollygagging was done on Buzzard's Roost (the O-7 level aft of the island on Essex class carriers).
Today's sailors have to worry about jet blast and intakes, our sailors had to worry about props, and at night they were invisible. When the Randolph returned to Norfolk in Dec, 1967, it had done something unusual. We returned will all hands, we lost no one during the 3 month cruise. Not totally unheard of, but to have the number of people aboard and not have anyone leave the ship during the cruise to sickness or injury, much less missing at sea was not common. It was unusual enough that it was widely commented on.
From what little this Army type saw of naval operations on ship, there just ain't a lot of places one can lollygag around without both being seven kinds of in the way and at a very real high risk of being badly injured.
Pretty much the worst I had to worry about was getting in the way of a limited vision vehicle or wandering into a minefield. With few opportunities for me to dent a bulkhead with my head in an unguarded moment.
@@spvillano or bang your shin when you didn't lift your knee up high enough to get through a hatch! I done that plenty of times.
@@ratbazturd1843 yet another reason to be thankful that I was Army. Minimal head banging, well, save inside of the Stryker, not much shin banging and people didn't shoot at me with shit that could chase me around like a torpedo can. ;)
Every visit and activity military sailing ship? A tall ship?
Sailors on some have a pom-pom on top of cover, wearing below decks?
Legend has it is to help with low bulk head passing through, low deck bracing above, pom-pom giving wearer a reminder, feed back of a head strike, as pom-pom hits.
As a carrier sailor, I never visited my ship's bridge simply because I didn't work there. I was out on the flight deck, most of the time and that was my flight quarters duty station.
I was a Quartermaster & I stayed the heck away from the flight deck, always used interior passage ways to get to the bridge! Most of my time was either on the bridge or in the Nav Chart room making corrections & updates on paper charts. 72-73'.
And they have a whole other video about why most crew don't ever go on the flight deck. It's almost like the answer to these video's questions are: "They don't work there."
I too was never on the flight deck but did spend time on the bridge. I was an Electronics Technician so I had equipment everywhere. From the antennas on the “stick” to the Fathometer transducer at the bottom of the hull.
@@johnhubbell1083 Yeah, and after flight ops concluded, the flight deck was available to any shipmates who wanted to come up and get some air or look around. They were expected to be mindful of the environment and not get in the way of crew repositioning or performing A/C maintenance activities. You know, common sense rules.
W😎 W what a squidly Diddley Chanel , Thank U everyone 4 serving in the United States Navy 🦅🇺🇸🦅 Haze Gray and Under Way is the Navy Way ♦️♦️♦️‼️
I was an electrician’s mate so I was permitted on the bridge from time to time. However any crewmen could go to the bridge when we were in port as the bridge was unoccupied.
I was going to say the exact same thing. I was on the USS Theador Roosevelt.
YES! Good comment. I was going to suggest that if you want to visit the bridge just grab a safety net MRC and an over the side chit. The OOD has to sign it.
@@JayMakepeaceAllan Unfortunately the carrier I was on, "USS America CVA-66" is now at the bottom of the ocean about 400 miles from Cape Hatteras, NC. They simulated torpedo attack. After 24 explosions around the ship, the carrier was still afloat, but at a severe list. One more explosion made the ship sink. Now its only a memory and the name, America was given to a new ship.
@@JayMakepeaceAllan I was on the Roosevelt also,but,was with an air-wing squadron-VF-84 ( Jolly-Rogers ) out of Nas Oceana Va Bch,Va.
I was on the Enterprise cvn65 from 1977/1978, Radioman 3rd and I wished I would of known that about the bridge I would of went on it just to look around.
My son, who just turned 20 last month, has been serving a stint in the Canadian Naval Reserve. He's been posted to HMCS Nanaimo, which came to Vancouver this summer. It's a relatively small vessel. But I couldn't be more proud as he gave me a tour of the ship, including the bridge. He told me he even got to pilot it for a portion of the trip over from Victoria. I only wish my father had lived long enough to see his grandson work on the same base he worked on in the 70's.
I'm forever grateful to our armed forces for instilling good work ethic, discipline, and responsibility in our youth.
Canada is a reasonably good ally of the US. I don't expect Canada to support every combat encounter the US has because Canada operates within it's own strategic interests more so than the US does.
But Canada is a NATO member and is expected to commit to Article that an attack on one NATO member is an attack on all of the members.
That looks good on paper, but the reality is that Canada hasn't developed the military to respond to an attack on NATO in a timely measure. Canada doesn't have the air transport to move the needed forces to Europe, Canada doesn't have the shipping capability to move needed forces to Europe, Canada doesn't have prepositioned ammunition and supplies to support any forces they can send to Europe, and with the exception of selected Canadian units they are not properly trained to fight a major campaign in Europe.
In other words, Canada is not much more prepared to add any significant capability to Europe than Iceland.
In my opinion, Canada's armed forces are more focused on WOKE than on winning a war which is the same direction the US is headed.
The fact is that Canada will mostly be dependent on using US commercial and military transport to get Canadian forces to Europe. The only problem is that the US commercial and military transports will be prioritized to US forces getting to Europe especially since NATO demanded that we take our prepositioned supplies and ammunitions and vehicles back to the US. To my knowledge only Norway has invited the US to reestablish those prepositioned supplies, ammunition, and vehicles in previously abandoned Norwegian caves and bunkers.
But even then there is a problem. Even if NATO wanted the US to reestablish the prepositioned locations, Russia and China already know where they all are. NATO / US would have to establish new secret locations that couldn't be verified by Russian or commercial satellites, which is extremely difficult to do.
The US Marine Corps had prepositioned ships with all the necessary supplies and ammunition for 30 days that could be moved around on a regular basis so our adversaries would have a more difficult time targeting them.
It was a good idea, but the Navy left them in ports for extended times and so they were still easy to target in a surprise attack. In my opinion they needed to move ever few days to a new port. If the prepositioning ships were not always on the move, then they were no better that land based locations.
And given the history of the US being totally unprepared for a surprise attacks, keeping the prepositioned supply ships in ports for extended periods is idiotic..
Yes, I know hat ships are supposed to turn on their transponders to tell the world where they are but adversary countries turn them off when they don't want to be tracked. Our ships carrying military supplies can do the same when necessary just like our stealth aircraft have their transponders turned on during our military exercises so our adversaries can't get their radar cross sectional profile. In combat it's all turned off and and our adversaries might be able to detect our stealth on low frequency radar but they don't have the capability to obtain a targeting track to shoot it down on the high frequency radars.
It's not stealth that is invisible to enemy low frequency radar it can be; it's stealth because it is so hard for the enemy to get a sufficient radar track on high frequency radar to shoot it down. The enemy may find out that a B-2 or F-22 is in the area but not exactly where nor does it have the capability to track to shoot it down. Remember that the radar cross section of an F-22 is about as big as a bumble bee and the radar cross section of the B-2 is a bit less.
It is not so much that an enemy can detect a stealth aircraft but whether they can track to shoot it down.
As part of the MarDet, USS Coral Sea, 77-80 I had the opportunity to drive the ship. Our Captain’s orderly made it possible. Not an easy job and only did it for about 10 minutes but will never forget. Remember having the hookup to call home while at sea also. It was a great time for me and enjoyed everyday onboard her.
Could you tell me what the look outs are looking for? Doesn't an aircraft carrier have the most sophisticated detection equipment to locate anything on the water?
@@JB-yb4wn They're there for small boats, bouys, and the like. Things that may or may not show up on radar or show up well. They're also used for navigating in tight channels or restricted waters because a radar can only tell you so much and sometimes it's better to be able to see where you're going with the naked eye.
@@Riceball01
Thanks a lot, I was just curious given all that sophisticated equipment you still need a pair of eyes.
@@JB-yb4wn Sometimes the old Mk1 eyeball beats the radar.
@@gaoxiaen1
I see 🤣
As a gunner's mate on the Forrestal (68-72), I'd go to the bridge daily (if on duty) to have the captain, XO or OOD sign the magazine temperature report. The report contained the magazine temperatures taken hourly (1600-0800) by a roving watch ( usually an AO). A fascinating place for sure.
The only place I didn't get to go in as an electricians mate was inside the captain's cabin. I tried, but the marine bodyguard pulled me back out after I waved at him and walked right past him. They had to get an electrical officer to fix the issue.
I was an AO2 on the USS Theodore Roosevelt from 86 to 90. I was in the G-3 Division which were the "Mag Rats". We did mag temp daily. Not hourly. There was a card in a holder next to the thermometer in every single magazine. Whoever was the duty section in port sent a guy to each magazine and they looked at the temp, wrote the number on the card and signed it. The cards were collected once a month and sent to the armory to be filed. The normal magazines could be checked by anyone, E-1 on up. In the magazines that were alarmed and monitored by the Marine Det had to be done by an E-4 or higher. I would go to the armory, sign out the keys needed, take those keys to the MarDet to have the door alarm turned off. Make my route, then reverse the process. Of course, I had some times where they didn't deactivate the door alarm and it set off a full blown security alert. Fucking Marines running to you with rifles and shotguns. Once they saw me standing there they would calm down and give the Mag Watch hell on the radio they carried. But most of the time it was dull routine. If a mag temp was above a certain temp, there were special procedures that had to be followed. And THEN it was checked every hour, we left the hatches open, opened up HVAC ductwork if it had it, most of the time it was just cooled with chilled water in radiators. If the temp still did not come down, they began to investigate why. The Engineering Dept. got involved and started checking compartments connected to the magazine. Big deal the mag temps were.
@@valuedhumanoid6574 Understandably the mag temps are important. I'm guessing that if they are too hot for too long you might have a boom, boom?
Forrestal never heard of it...oh you mean fire starter😂😂😂 never gets old hearing that from my dad lol
@Lizard People yeah my dad was hints the comment 🙄 🤔 tell me more about what I shouldn't laugh at
I had a "license" to "drive" an aircraft carrier before I had a drivers license. We would play hangman on the gyrocompass glass. My training was, "When the Officer of the Deck says, ' come left, 15 degrees', you repeat that order and turn the wheel to 15 degrees. Got it? Good, you're trained."
That command properly stated should have been " left Rudder 15 degrees Left Rudder ! Former QM .
I was one of the guys in the Engine room on a DDG when they changed the speed messenger on the bridge responded by setting ours in the engine room the same and setting the engine the proper RPMs......only had the most experienced helmsmen and throttle men at watch for UNREPs to help keep the ship in proper position and respond properly to OOD's orders
@@michaelschneider2874 I've heard both. The captain will tell you what to say if he wants it done a particular way. As a BM3, I was conning officer on an LST several times.
While in the Marines I was never on an aircraft carrier, but I was aboard the USS El Paso (LKA-117) for 6 months. During normal underway operations we were allowed to visit the bridge. I liked watching the chart maps and keeping up with where we were. There were three specific days when the bridge was closed to only duty personnel and we weren't allowed on the bridge. We were in the Gulf of Oman during the Iranian hostage crisis (1980-81) and under a heightened readiness alert and all information was on a "need to know" basis. Other than that we were allowed almost everywhere. My favorite times were laying on steel beach and making sun tea.
Who ever posted this is full of sh!t....
I'm Navy Vet.
USS Cleveland LPD-7
USS Harry W. Hill DD-986
I was on the bridge all the time, but as an Operations Specialist that's where I worked. Yes, only authorized people were allowed on but that's true with just about every area on a Navy Ship. I was never allowed in the engine room, in the armory, or in the kitchen, because that wasn't where I worked
Bridge watch was quite interesting off the coast of Vietnam it was a fireworks show. We were 3-4 miles away closest was just 1 mile.
I was a RM in the Enterprise, and I was told that I could seen the reactor plant if i would of known somebody who worked there. I had a top secret clearance on there.
@@mikejohnson4723 only operators are supposed to be allowed in the engine operations rooms for a nuclear-powered ship........now that is limited to EMs, ETs, and MMs along with their assigned officers that have had the prerequisite training
When training for deployment on an LST they always had deck department in engineering spaces. Everyone has to know DC because anyone might be needed for the job.
WRONG ... It's not possible to get your SW qualification without going on the bridge
I actually was allowed on the bridge of the USS Ronald Reagan and I wasn't even on active duty at the time. I was a photographer accompanying a reporter and we were allowed on the bridge to interview the Commanding Officer. The only photos I took were of the CO and one of the watchstanders, but revealing nothing on the layout of the bridge or where the ship was.
However, as a rated Quartermaster in the US Navy, had I ever been assigned to an aircraft carrier, my watch station would have been on the bridge.
Unless things have changed over the years, I would say bridge access was limited or restricted. I wouldn't say it was forbidden unless you were maneuvering in tight quarters like entering San Diego Harbo. Yes, depending on what was going on at the time, the bridge can be hectic and shouldn't have visitors. But out in the middle of the ocean, calm seas and just steaming, it wasn't that big of a deal to stop by the bridge as long as you weren't hanging out for a long period of time and distracting the BMs or QMs from paying attention and doing their jobs. We stood watch in Aft Steering, so it was nice to see how things operated on the bridge and know what went on when they would shift control over to us.
I was an Electrician's Mate aboard the USS Raleigh 71-74. I can honestly say I did jobs from fixing aircraft warning lights to the pit sword, after steering to anchor windlass. Good times
retired BMC here, i have served on various ships in my 24 years in the Navy including USS Kitty Hawk, i have never heard of sailor that’s part of the crew not allowed on the Bridge.
…ships crew are allowed on the bridge, visitors/guess still request permission depending on the situations, The Boatswains’s Mate of the Watch maintains order and discipline on the bridge, usually has no problem granting permission. of course if you’re not part of the bridge team, you cannot loiter around, again, depends on the operations.
USS Kitty Hawk 73-76, VA-52
@@jimmckinnon7148 part of the 1987 World cruise as a SN in Deck Department (1987-1990), departed early 1990 as a BM2.
Old Navy here 67 to 71 Quartermaster on USS BOXER LPH4 and USS DeSoto County LST-1171 .
The only time we had restricted access to the bridge was while underway , Sea and Anchor detail, and Special Ops .
@@michaelschneider2874 right on,! NAV
I served Forrestal in the 60's. I was sent on errand to the bridge area to deliver a message to the Commander of the Carrier Division.
I don't remember all the details but I was intercepted by either the MAA or the Admiral's yeoman, and the message was taken from me. Never got that close.
I was guest on the Abraham Lincoln. Made a trap and spent two days off of San Diego watching flight ops and touring the ship. Was on the bridge conversing with the CO for at least an hour during day and night ops. Then got a CAT shot to exit.
An experience I’ll cherish the rest of my life.
Maybe things have changed but in 1970 I was a Torpedoman on a large submarine tender (AS-36). I would steer the ship during Sea and Anchor detail going into and out of ports as well as at general quarters. I didn't think it was that big of a deal. I figured that you were picked because you could steer in a straight line (judged by the wake behind the ship). Big ships don't turn on a dime so it's easy to overcompensate. We also were trained to steer from the After Steering Gear Room in case something had failed. I guess I was very impressed because I remember it like it was yesterday.
I was onboard USS Carl Vinson and video recorded F-14 Tomcats land and take off from the bridge because it gave me the best angle for still photos and videos. A great place to hang out while sailing.
I am currently a Boatswains mate aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln CVM-72. And I’m up on the bridge every day while we’re out to sea
WOW! Thank you. Good info; well put. About to look at your library.
Thanks for this educational video. Excellent narration.
Same for the US Merchant Marines. I was a radio officer back in the 1980s, and from time to time had to report to the bridge with weather reports (copied in Morse Code). Sometimes I had to go to the bridge to work on electronics, but usually that was done while in port. I stayed in my own domain of the radio shack. However, people did not come into my shack unless it was needed, even though most of the time it did not bother me. The radio room was always a mystery to most people, but to me it was the most important place to be. I had the whole world at my finger tips, and could listen in to all types of broadcast. A very interesting time.
I was a 1st Div underway watchstander, helmsman, lee helmsman, port and starboard lookout and after lookout. Struck for Signalman and then went to the signal bridge......best view in the house !
Excellent introduction to this topic. All new information for me and I am most appreciative for all the work to produce this video including the editing.
I am very fortunate to have been let on to the USS George Washington on a tour and on the bridge as well! I was a kid back then and as I'm from Hong Kong we don't have a navy. It was quite a memorable experience, especially the elevators that carried jets...
Lucky
When I served on the USS George Washington she was not an aircraft carrier, she was a submarine SSBN 598 (Blue)
As an operations specialist I've enjoyed the privilege of spending time on the bridge while underway to man the captain's tactical board (the clear plexiglass board where sea traffic is plotted by hand with a marker, this was 30 years ago, I'm sure it's computerized now). I became rather proficient at writing and drawing backwards. 😅
I used to work with a fella that did that on a frigate. He was always writing things backwards to impress the younger employees.
It has been a long time, but in 98 we had 6 duplicated war stations all computerized however the back up in continual use was the whiteboard markers and plexiglass, because it is immune to electromagnetic pulse and power outages. So you fight ship on whiteboards.
I served on an antisubmarine frigate, Knox Class. The only times I got on the bridge was when serving as phone talker during helicopter flight ops, passing messages between the Captain/OOD and the helo tower. Also when signing the security log book while at sea during roving security watch.
I served on a Brooke class frigate and I was always on the bridge because I was a Helmsman.
I served on the Valdez FF 1096 as Quartermaster, so I was on the bridge most of the time.
I was in PriFly and the Air Boss needed a runner to take some paperwork to the CO on the bridge. I offered to take it. That's how I got onto the bridge. Wow. So difficult.
Any crew member can go up there it isn't restricted, you can also go on the flight deck during non flight opp hours.
Not true. Only those with a need to be on the bridge can be there. Basically, QMs, OSes, and BMs are the primary ratings allowed on the bridge, WITH THE EXCEPTION of engineers making scheduled reports to the captain or OOD.
When I re-enlisted in 1986 on board the USS Enterprise the Skipper read me the oath on the bridge. It is a spectacular view. Not sure if it is a restricted space or not but the Skipper works there and you may not be welcome.
I was a rm3 on the Big E during 1977/78, during WestPac 78 got off at Subic Bay then flew back, that was before they took the bee hive off at Brimington Wa. I took a lot of pictures from the o11 level during my time. And it is funny we have the same name., but not related, lol.
@@mikejohnson4723 agree, our first and last names are quite common. I remember seeing pictures of the beehive island but when I deployed on it in 85 to 89 it had the square island. She was quite a historic ship and glad I went around the world on her.
That was a damned nice thing to do!
I suspect that it's a smart move to spread out privileges of all kinds as widely as practical to reward good performance.
@@SeattlePioneer on what date did you re enlist? Mine was on July 1986 during the deployment. Skipper Spane was a good guy.
@@michaeljohnson4258 Captain (then CDR) Spane was a student at NPTU Idaho when I was an instructor there. When he came to Enterprise as XO, he actually remembered me.
Nice to see German Marine Officers on the Bridge!
Yeah, how did they get up there? 😀
It is not forbidden, you got to ask or have been told to report there. It is a warship not a cruise ship. You are not there to see the sights. There are places on a U.S. warship you will never get in. Void spaces; certain ordnance rooms; and the communications room(s) they do encryption in there and if you see what is going on in there, you got trouble. For the most part, you got where you are told to go by your Chief(s) and Petty Officers.
That Hornet on the left at 0:03 is my old squadron, VMFA-323 (note the diamonds in a 3-2-3 patter on the vertical stabs...over the years, I've gotten REALLY good at spotting my old jets in TV shows and movies...lol.
Edited: We were on flight deck watch one night and decided to head up the superstructure. One of the QM's let us look in on the bridge. It was a lot smaller than I thought it would be, but really cool to see.
L was a Air Men on USS Franklin D Roosevelt. 1976. Best time of my life. ⚓️⚓️
Fascinating stuff! Thanks for sharing. My 3 brothers in law were all Navy.
Thank you! 🙏
I went to the bridge a few times, some for NGFS direct spotting and to ask bridge to slow down a few knots to load forward CIWS.
As a sailor on an aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge (assigned to gunnery division) any sailor CAN be assigned for duty on the bridge. Duty there was on a rotation schedule for all divisions. From E2 through E4, I steered the ship at numerous 4 hour duty assignments while crossing the pacific - even during a typhoon! Simulator? hahaha...it was hands on from the beginning with one and ONLY one objective in mind. Keep the compass on the heading no matter what. If crewmen sailors (of any onboard division) never got on the bridge there would be no one to pilot the vessel.
LOL...NOT MMs....on ships with steam propulsion they were only assigned to mainspace or auxiliary equipment spaces.....same for the BTs or boiler techs..........no Sonar Tech or Airdale ratings would be assigned bridge duty either....were you REALLY even in the USN?
When carriers like Enterprise were in port at North Island, San Diego, I used to go aboard them to ride the liberty launch. While waiting for launch I used to go up to the bridge/wheel house. This in the early 1970s. Never had any trouble. Used to walk around flight deck taking pictures with a Polaroid camera. Have times changed?
If you ever get invited to tiger cruise, go.. even if you are an adult, if you are just interested in ships in general its great.. i went as a kid, not knowing how a lot of that stuff worked.. i was blown away at the level of technology (went in the early 90s lol).
Was staying in Virginia Beach for vacation and one of my mom's friend's husband was/is an ordinance officer on the USS Harry S Truman, which was in Norfolk for maintenance at the time if I remember right. Got to tour the magazines, walk the flight deck, and go up to the bridge. Had to leave our phones in his office when we went down to the magazines but was able to take many pictures of the hangers and the bridge. It was awesome. He did get a bit salty when I mentioned the Gerald Ford class though lol
As a Radarman and Lookout Supervisor on a Super Carrier in the mid 60's I had to go to the bridge almost every day. I saw the Captain or the Fleet Admiral (two different Bridges in the Island) all the time and they are PEOPLE just like the rest of us and often talked to the sailors on the bridge. After all you can't just sit there in that big leather chair and just look out at the flight deck and the never ending ocean. . . I stood on the starboard bridge catwalk with the Captain looking down in the ocean at the red light flashing on top of its mast a few hundred feet below us when we drove directly over a Russian Submarine that thought they were being funny. . . . The bridge is not a place to just cruise around in but there is one time you might be commanded to go there - - It is called CAPTAIN'S MAST . . . . Sailors will know what that means. . . . . 😉
My Captain's Mast was held in the crew's Lounge forward, as it had the room for the proceedings. I was found innocent. 😎
Been there done that. Ended up with administrative punishment.
I was on a flag ship never saw our admiral on the bridge. Captain kept to himself although one Captain did come eat with us enlisted men. I guess it was to sample the food. Captain Howell was quite friendly.
Which carrier?
You're right golfbuddy45! The only time I ever saw the bridge was at Captain's Mast. Thankfully I was a witness, and not a defendant! The captain asked me a couple questions, and I was done, never to see the bridge again. Decades later, I'm a lawyer instead of an Engineman, and I'm still surprised at how laid back and informal the legal procedure was at Captain's Mast.
As a radioman on the Essex, I delivered messages to all bridges and decks on the island.
I even took photos of a great storm from the Captains bridge...KOOL...!!! :-)
I spent 4 years on various ships and never saw a safe on the bridge. All important papers were kept in a secured safe in the ship's office. In most large ships the captains sea cabin or inport cabin has a safe for restricted "eyes only" documents. The sea cabin is usually within a few feet of the navigation bridge itself.
Ditto. Disbursing (money handling) was always done from the ship's office, by the Disbursing Officer and clerk.
There is one in the captain's cabin, another in CIC. One in EW/CT spaces. One in sonar. Another in the XOs cabin. Another in the infirmary. There is classified material all over the ship. If it is not in the hands of the person that signed it out, it is in a locked safe.
Radio compartment is a safe. Even the arms locker is a safe.
Thank you for this informative response!
@@warrenpuckett4203 I think every officer has a small locked safe in their quarters. Also, a lot of the classified material is not kept locked up if the space they are in is restricted to people with clearances. For example, the engine rooms. Manuals are secret but are needed to be available at all times. So, the engine room is a restricted area, and the manuals are available without being locked up.
I never saw a passport onboard either
Nice video, entertaining and knowledgeable thanks.
How nice to hear. Thank you so much. Are there any topics you find interesting and would like to see more of?
@@navyproductions No thanks, I enjoy browsing videos than researching topics.
I spent a lot of time on the bridge standing watch on an AE. We used to be able to smoke there if standing the JL Board watch position and we had a brass spittoon for anyone who dipped.
BM from CVN-73 (out Dec 2000). We had no simulators for learning to steer. We would shadow a fellow sailor to see how it was done, and then take over. Beautiful view, but it's a better view from outside the signal shack at the top, and you don't have to stow the scuttlebutt to be up there on a weather deck.
Lovely video. Thanks military staff.
I really love this video channel
I did at first, but they are getting stupid like the rest.
@@kylrean3891 why
That C.I.C. as well as pri-fly or the flight deck unless assigned to work there an aircraft carrier is a very busy place at all times
I spent time on the ranger out of Subic Bay, 1964. I was in the air Force tdy for 3 months. What a ride for an air Force person.
All people aboard that vessel are US Navy sailors. I have been on the bridge aboard Enterprise at sea as a lowly E3, you could accurately say no unauthorized personel are allowed on the bridge.
The bridge is where I stood my watch everyday underway
Well, I was only on the destroyer in 1982 when we were primarily deployed, but I got in the bridge all the time I worked in the combat information center as an operation specialist better known as the radar guy I got on the bridge whole time there’s nothing all that secure on the bridge.
The bridge is not several levels below pri-fly, it is directly below pri-fly. The main navigation bridge is at the 0-9 level and pri-fly is 0-10 on Nimitz class carriers
I was a surface officer, but a friend of mine was stationed on a carrier and gave me a tour including the bridge. I asked him, "How do you drive something this big??!" He said, "It's like driving around a Walmart and its parking lot!" LOL!!
I was an Operations Specialist on board the USS Enterprise during the late 80s and early 90s, I've never moved past E4. I was on the bridge pretty much every other day maintaining a status board literally right behind the captain.
I was never barred access to the bridge on all three of my ships. (1 large deck amphib and two destroyers).
Spent 4 years on the USS JFK, 1977-1981. I visited the bridge on numerous occasions during my 4 years. It is not s restricted area. At least it wasn’t when I was aboard.
From a former military member.
No matter the branch of service, if you aren't assigned or your work doesn't require you to go to certain places, you aren't authorized to go there in the first place.
I would imagine that the bridge is a place access is restricted on the basis of the number of people who won't interfere with the operations. I'd say that being able to access the bridge and witness the work going on, might just give the crew a glimpse of the bigger picture and how they fit into it. This would result in a crew that works together to make that big picture a reality.
Pilots can always enter the bridge from the rear if they get a too low wave off and fly right into it. I was able to get on the bridge of the USS Enterprise CVN 65 as a special VIP guest, my quest was to see the Captains bedroom which I was shown briefly.
I visited both the in port and at sea captains cabins on CVN 65, to be certified by the Captain as a reactor operator/power plant watch supervisor. Never made it to the bridge.
@@johnjones5354 at least you know where the reactor is on the carrier, most of the sailors I ask had no idea.
Long, long time ago, in this galaxy and planet, I was in the US Army. My infantry battalion made a trip from the Puget Sound to San Diego, CA to take part in USMC familiarization training, and to learn how to do amphibious landings. We sailed on a US Navy Reserve ship, the USS Paul Revere on the way down. While we were transiting the Strait of Juan de Fuca at night, I wandered up to the starboard side wing lookout's post, and chatted with him a bit. I asked if I could enter the bridge, and he said that technically I wasn't supposed to, but if I were very quiet and kept my hands off things, probably nobody'd say anything. So I went in, and stood very quietly, well behind the Captain's chair (he wasn't there initially). I stood there for about an hour watching and listening. It was fascinating! No talking among the bridge personnel, just occasional to-the-point business interchanges. There was a radar display (scope?) in front of the captain's chair, and I risked having a look at it, seeing that it showed contacts out on the water. After a while, the captain came into the bridge, and there was a quick exchange of something like "Captain on deck!" and "As you were!" He sat in his chair, and then things proceeded as before. Finally, I decided I'd been there long enough, ducked out through the starboard wing lookout door, and returned to our berthing area.
It was wonderful, and made me think that maybe I should have joined the Navy! I had enough relatives who had served in the USN, including one who retired as a master chief petty officer. But I imagine it would have had its drawbacks.
made an amphibious landing off the coast of Vietnam off the USS Paul Revere......15Mar66.........
I never saw the bridge while serving on cvn-73 but I had a stain during flight ops in primary flight control
Most crew members don't go a lot of places on the ship simply because if it's not your job you don't belong there. I was lucky enough to have been able to go into most spaces.....it pays to have friends in every department😁
Well, I got to hangout in the bridge on the USS Saratoga. Of course, that was during the decommissioning of the ship after our last cruise. Cool place and view.
If USN sailors never go on the bridge who the fck is conning the aircraft carrier?????
I served a number of years in the RN as an engineroom artificer. I spent my working hours in enginerooms and boilerooms etc.... The last place I would want to go would be the bridge!
bridge was part of the tour for new crew members when i was a nimitz dental tech 81-82
As the Senior Medical Department Representative (SMDR), I was fortunate to be able to go anywhere I wanted to go. I spent plenty of time on the bridge, CIC, Fire Control Center, and engineering spaces. Radio was the only place I avoided.
When I joined way back in 1970, I wanted to be a Quartermaster and work on the bridge but they made me a Radioman. One of my jobs was to run top secret messages to the bridge that were for Captains eyes only. But after several months they changed the procedure and they were picked up at the radio shack. So for a while I got the experience of being on the bridge.
Respect! What is your most remembered memory?
I got in trouble with a hobby of mine. I discovered the combination of radio central (where they decoded top secret messages) to the lock on the door. My vision was far better than 20/20 and I could see the officer's hand reaching into the code box by the door from 35 feet away. To verify what I saw, I asked the officer how many buttons he pressed (they were down inside a metal box). He figured it didn't matter telling me and said, "five." I walked over to him, looked into the box and told him that I knew what the combination was. He said something like, "Yeah, right", went inside and closed the door. I reached into the code box, pressed the buttons in the order required, the door lock buzzed and I opened the door. One of the officers said that the other one didn't close the door all the way, pushed me out, closed the door and jiggled it a little. I pressed the code again, opened the door and yelled out the combination. I was immediately brought to the XO's cabin who was already familiar with my other exploits (like figuring out the combination to all five payroll safes and all 27 of the ship stores holds (memorized all of the combinations) and opened all of them in 25 minutes and gave the locks to the XO. I had no intension of stealing anything. It was just something I was really good at and liked to do. I was finally court marshalled when I suspected of falsifying information when I was reading gages in the boiler room. Later I proved that I did read the gage (from 22 feet away) and proved it. Then I proceeded to read other gages from much further away in from of the captain and other ship's officers. The falsify charge was dropped, but was given a six month suspended bust and a hundred dollar fine for not reading the gage as directed (like everyone else).
DDG I was on the radio shack was harder to get into during underway times than the bridge
Was a airdale/VS28 on the Indy in the early 80's. Only time even close to the bridge was hanging out on the island watching fight ops
Not so on an LST. deck department stood watches as lookouts and and did the actual steering, etc... As an E-4 and BMOW, I was conning officer several times, while junior officers were OOD, but just for training, and a more senior officer was present. Sometimes we even had Marines standing watches in the pilothouse. The more jobs that everyone could do, the better.
I was a jet engine mechanic working on F 4 Phantoms, our work area was the flight deck and hangar deck. Personally I never had and desire to go up there. The ship was the Coral Sea and we made our WestPac cruise on it and one of the ports was Perth Australia. I had duty one day which means you can’t leave the ship. They brought aboard some Boy Scouts and the officer on duty ask me to give them a tour of the engine room. I politely told the officer I didn’t know where that was. So he took us down there. Funny thing about the ship, you stay in your assigned work area and sleeping area and didn’t wonder around to much.
Not only are most crew members not allowed on the bridge, much less the Island of a carrier during operations, they are also not allowed on the flight deck during Air Ops. I hear a few docents aboard a carrier museum where I am restoring Vulture's Row tell guests that crew could come up and watch. No they can't unless their posting is in the Island. My nephew, spent one cruise on the Vinson as a nuclear engineer and he never saw Air Ops. Non-flight deck crew was only allowed on after Air Ops and only if they were off duty and not training.
This is silly, I was in the airwing and spent quite a bit of time on the bridges of various carriers out of boredom when I couldn't sleep. Even became a qualified helmsman and lee helmsman.
When on a war games on the USS Forrestal going from Norfolk, Va. to Jacksonville, Fl. and back I was invited to the bridge by the Admiral and Capt. to come to the bridge and watch the launching of Aircraft and it was amazing! Additionally the Capt. later called down to our ops space and invited us to watch the trapping of aircraft but I had the watch so could not attend this invitation. We were on there temporary-duty with the Communications Crypto detachment and did not play well with the regular Navy guys. VBG LOL
I should have said this was in 1970/71
It's not just aircraft carriers that restrict people from entering the bridge it's all Navy ships. As a Quartermaster (for any lubbers out there in the Navy a QM is an enlisted person who specializes in navigation) I was authorized to be on the bridge. Part of my duties was to wind the clocks in every compartment every day. The one place where I had restricted movements was the radio compartment. I was buzzed in and had to head straight for the clock, wind it, enter how fast or slow it was compared to the chronometers and leave. I was not allowed to look around or linger.
ive heard of QM being responsible supplies in some cases responsible for ship duties in others responsible for crew punishment in other but never nagivation?
@@matt92099 a Quartermaster in the Army is responsible for such things as far as I understand. But a Quartermaster in the Navy is never responsible for supplies. That would fall under Ship Services. And there are Service Officers and Service Petty Officers for that purpose.
The Navy tradition of Quartermaster comes from the days of sail. Petty Officers would be assigned to the Quarterdeck to limit access to it by crew and passengers, the Master of the Quarterdeck so to speak. That evolved into Quartermaster, when the quarter deck was replaced by the bridge of paddle boats I imagine, and being responsible for the safe navigation of the ship. That makes the Navy Quartermaster a Line Petty Officer.
You would never be chosen for command of a ship as a Service Officer or Service Petty Officer. You would be chosen for command as a Line Officer or if needed Line Petty Officer.
@@indetigersscifireview4360 thank you
On an LST it wasn't restricted at all, as long as you didn't get in the way.
@@gaoxiaen1that's the first I've ever heard of any Navy ship where you didn't need permission from the Boatswain Mate to enter the bridge.
I love this Navy I could go crew one day it's my dream and I really love this review trip
An area that is even more restricted are the reactor spaces; That is not just the reactor itself (that even nuke folks don't go in to unless it is a dire emergency) but the control center.
back in the 1960s I was on one of those bridges, just in transit. I was over off Nam.
I'm ex Royal Navy and was chief boatswains mate on hms intrepid. I was on the bridge all the time, keeping watches 4 hrs on and 8 hrs off, but still had to work my part of ship, Cleaning, painting ect. That pissed me off no end. Standing middle watches ( midnight until 4am) then back up 2 hours later for breakfast, back at part of ship work at 8am, lunch at 11.30 am then back on watch at midday until 4 pm then a few hours off until the middle watch again from midnight until 4 am. And so it goes on. The best time I had on board intrepid was when I got moved to clean up in the valley watching lots and pans. Horrible job but we all had to take our turn and we didn't have to stand any watches. All night inbed, with a few beers before EVERY NIGHT.😁😁
Closest I ever got to the bridge was Vulture's Row and O4 level when I was on Mode IV duty.
After being on many cruise ship bridges, where you can play tennis across, this bridge is tiny, but I guess it is a warship! 👍🤠
As a LCPL i got to steer the USS PEARL HARBOR, for a bit.
I always wanted look around in there until they made me steer, tgen all i wanted was out of there.
It was exciting and I'll never forget it. Rahh.
Two years on IKE...only spaces I hadn't been was the Nuke Reactor area...and Nuke armory...obvious reasons....
Was on bridge of several aircraft carriers as a sailor. No issues, remember where you are which is a working area, so shut up unless asked or given order. Stay out of way. But watching how the run cyclic ops is VERY cool.
I was in the navy for 22 years as and enlisted sailor an three different carriers. I was a parachute rigger .and have been on the bridge on several occasions.
Well while on board the USS Savannah replenishment ship I flew over by helicopter while an underway replenishment was taking place between the Savannah and the aircraft carrier the USS Nimitz and I flew over to retrieve the slings that we used to clip onto the bottom of the helicopters who were dropping off supplies on the Nimitz and I made my way up to the bridge also to the aircraft control tower bridge and almost even made it into the Admiral's Bridge so when there's a will there's a way.
As a Radioman onboard USS America (CV-66) I went onto the bridge on dozens of occasions (delivering message traffic etc.) On the other hand typical bridge workers were NOT permitted access to the Communications Spaces. Funny how that works huh?
We on the Enterprise use to sent our messages to the bridge by a bunny tube(pneumatic ) . The two reasons why bridge people can't come into the radio shack is , needing a top secret clearance, and a need to be there. You had one for the bridge, and they probably didn't. I was a rm3 in main comm.
@@mikejohnson4723 I was an RMC on the America, in charge of main com 90-92, it was a lucky day that the tubes worked.
@@Opa_Plays Lol. We served on her at the same time. Hell, I probably met you on the bridge. I was usually driving on my watch bill or on the lee helm!
I had no need to go to the bridge, with the exception of taking a message to the bridge or taking a message away from the bridge. I mainly worked on the flight deck and in the hanger bay. There was no need to be on the bridge, if you didn't work there.
Any messages that we took to the bridge was sent to them by the pneumatic tube in main comm( known as the bunny tubes) 1977/78.
As Operations Specialist 1st Class, I was on the bridge pretty regular. Keeping an eye on my fellow CIC personnel.
I was an OS on a cruiser built in 1944 we didn't have all that equipment.
Did they call CIC combat on the bitchbox(intercom)? Like (combat,main com) when calling that department ?
@@mikejohnson4723 Yes its also called Christ I'm confused. It got pretty crazy at times.
Well you had a reason to be there.
Most areas of a ship are never visited by people who don't work there. The bridge, CIC, PriFli, the engine room, reactor compartment, In the civilian world, I worked for a while in a steel mill, I never saw much beyond my little part of the mill. I later worked in 25 story tower that housed my company, in three years, only visited four floors because I had no reason to go to the other floors.
On the U.S.S Independence CV62 on a 3 day family crew. My Army PFC father was on the bridge(non secured area of the ship) at least once before I was going out for my second Med Crew. I was a Lead Helmsman twice on the bridge while in the Deck Division on my first Med Crew. I advise my shipmates to don't write Top Secret and Classified information to our media, We at this time have military personnel that are on trial for leaking out information, be careful. Before I leafed my active service, I was a security petty officer for the DP rating
AO3 (WEPS-G-3), ABRAHAM LINCOLN, CVN-72 (1997-2001)....Ummmm, unless you had to be up there you didn't want to go on the "bridge"..I went up there twice my whole time on the boat. Once when we were in Bremerton working on the..Before that, it were several months prior going to Captain's Mask while we were on WESTPAC (1998). I had absolutely the best time while I was in the NAVY. Regardless, the ups & downs. I had an absolute blast...
I went up there, as a tourist. There were a few retired gave a guided tour that day. The stairs were so narrow, one had to walk up side way.
I was a Greenie in the RAN and I was often on the bridge fixing something, or asking the Officer; "Is it turned on Sir?" .
@@janallexander5173 ETS. Electrical Technical Systems.
Electronics Technician..
No no no, there is no separate Captain's bridge the navigational bridge is the captain's bridge and then you have an admiral's bridge for him and his staff which is hardly ever used if ever. On Karl denson I used to go to the admiral's bridge all the time and just hang out as a Boatswains Mate BM1 because it was never used at sea or in port.