U.S. Navy

Answer: Nautilus

Congress authorized the building of a nuclear powered submarine in 1951. Construction of the Nautilus (SSA-571) began on June 14, 1952 and she was launched on January 21, 1954, with first lady Mamie Eisenhower christening the boat with the traditional bottle of Champagne. On January 17, 1955 Nautilus' skipper, Commander Eugene P. Wilkerson, sent the historic message: "Underway on nuclear power." The Nautilus was a great success. On of her achievements was the first crossing of the North Pole by any ship or submarine. She served for 25 years before being decommissioned in 1980. Because of her historical significance, Nautilus was not scrapped. Instead, she was preserved and is berthed at the U.S. Navy Submarine Force Museum in Groton, Connecticut. Nautilus attracts 250,000 visitors each year.

Answer: USS Tennessee (BB-43)

Another Pearl Harbor veteran. She was with West Virginia at Surigao.

Answer: Annapolis MD

This is one of the nicknames for the US Naval Academy. Others include Canoe U and Boat School. The academy was established in 1845 on the grounds of what used to be Fort Severn, an abandoned Army post. During the Civil war the Academy was moved to Newport, RI from 1861 - 1865.

Answer: Was assigned to a new position.

To fleet up means that you've been assigned a position of greater responsibility without benefit of promotion. For example, if the division leading petty officer transfers and you're picked to replace him, you're "fleet-up" to division leading petty officer.

Answer: All of these

USS UTAH (AG16) rests just off the west side of Ford Island in Pearl Harbor and is not mentioned in the tourist brochures. Most folks, visiting the historical sights at Pearl Harbor, see the more publicized sites, including the USS Arizona Memorial, USS Missouri Museum, and the Submarine Museum. The USS Utah Memorial is one of two National War Memorials at Pearl Harbor, the other being USS Arizona directly across Ford Island. The USS UTAH memorial is a little more difficult to visit because of its location within the confines of a military reservation. Visiting requires prior permission and a military escort. However, it can be done. It is a very simple site with a pier, a plaque, and a flag overlooking the capsized hull.

I hope you enjoyed the USS Utah quiz. Next is the first of our "modern" battleship museums, USS North Carolina.

Answer: Every survivor has died

Survivors have stated and many really believe that the oil will stop on its own when the last one of their number dies. The National Park Service, respecting the wreck as a War Cemetery, has taken no action to stem the leaks and plans none till the last survivor indeed dies. The leak is relatively minor from an environmental point of view at only a few pints per day.

I hope you enjoyed the USS Arizona quiz. Next is the USS Utah, just across Ford Island and yes the Utah is older than the Arizona. I did them out of age order intentionally. Look for the new quiz to see why.

Answer: She is the oldest battleship still afloat.

USS TEXAS was the first memorial battleship in the US, although she is not the oldest memorial ship. She is however the only battleship still in existence to have served in both World Wars, and the only Dreadnought battleship remaining, in the world, in any condition. The oldest ship in the US and the oldest battleships in the world and still afloat will be the subject of a question in Part 2, so "stay tuned"!

Answer: President John F. Kennedy

JFK stated this in a speech to the U.S. Naval Academy on August 1, 1963.

Answer: Striker

A sailor in pay grade E-4 has already chosen a technical specialty. Sailors in pay grades E-1 to E-3 are considered to be "striking" for a particular specialty.

Answer: Esek Hopkins

On December 22, 1775 Continental Congress called upon him to act as Commander In Chief. John Paul Jones was the eighteenth Captain of the Navy appointed on October 22nd, 1775.

Answer: green

When the men get in First Phase they are given helmets and are instructed to paint their helmets green. They are also ordered to paint their white numbers on the side.

Answer: CVN (Nuclear Aircraft Carrier)

Named for Admiral Chester Nimitz, this was one of the first of the so-called "Super Carriers". I hoped you enjoyed the quiz.

Answer: Greenwich, England

Greenwich is the world clock location. All military Zulu time is set off this clock.

Answer: the island

A common thing on all modern aircraft carriers today,although during World War II there were Japanese carriers that did not have one.

Answer: Former Enlisted Officer

An officer who has 'come up through the ranks', i.e. started out as an enlisted man and earned a commission.

Answer: 16

There are 6 FA-18 demonstration pilots, 3 C-130 pilots, the Narrator, the Events Coordinator, the Public Affairs Officer, the Maintenance Officer, the Flight Surgeon, the Admin Officer, and the Supply Officer.

Answer: 30-32

Various sources list the official top speed as 20+, 23+, or 28+ knots.

Answer: George Washington

The ballistic missile submarine was the most effective deterrent weapon during the Cold War. Congress authorized their building in 1957, and work began immediately. George Washington (SSBN-598) was originally planned as an attack submarine. She was literally sawed in half and her missile compartment welded in. She carried sixteen Polaris missiles, each of which was capable of carrying multiple warheads. George Washington was launched on June 9, 1959 and commissioned on December 30, 1959. She made the first successful missile launch on July 20, 1960. George Washington remained in service for 25 years, and made a total of 55 deterrent patrols. She was decommisioned in 1985 and scrapped. I had the privilege of serving on her sister ship, the USS Robert E. Lee (SSBN-601).

Answer: blue

After First Phase, the men are ordered to paint their green helmets blue for Second Phase.

Answer: Radioman

Radiomen are almost always called "Sparky" or "Sparks." Electrician's Mates are sometimes refered to by this same name. It comes, of course, from the early days of the Navy when radio equipment was likely to emit sparks.

Answer: 2-3 years

There are 9 officers with a 2 year term of service on the team and 7 with a 3 year term of service.

Answer: red

After Second Phase, the men are ordered to paint there blue helmets red in preparation for Third Phase.

Answer: Sharing a bunk with another sailor

Conditions on Navy ships are (or at least, used to be) pretty spartan. When there are more sailors than racks (bunks), it is a common practice to have to share a bed. It is arranged so that the two people sharing it have different watch schedules so both can get some sleep (at different times, they don't sleep in the same bed at the same time). Once when I was on a submarine, we brought on a bunch of civilian technicians for some reason or the other. The enlisted personnel were, of course, evicted from their living space, and I spent several weeks sleeping on a 2 inch-thick mattress on the floor of the torpedo room, with a torpedo about an inch from my nose. And I had to share the mattress. This practice is known as "hot-racking" because when you get into bed the mattress is still warm from the previous occupant.

Answer: 110

Although only about 40 enlisted officers are at each airshow, there are 110 on the team that rotate from trip to trip.