USS Mount Whitney Visit Off Théoule
USS Mount Whitney visit off Théoule sur Mer
On the occasion of the Landing in Provence 68th birthday celebrations in Théoule sur Mer, an american warship was present, as every year. On August 17, Mayor of Théoule Daniel Mansanti and his guests as well as members of the Navy League of the United States, French Riviera Monaco Council, were welcomed on board USS Mount Whitney by Captain Ted Williams for a guided tour of this impressive and particular warship. Home ported in Gaeta, Italy, USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) is named for the 14,505-foot peak in the Sierra-Nevada range in California. Though impressive by her huge proportions, USS Mount Whitney does not exactly look like a warship, and only her antennas, hidden everywhere in protective domes, show her true purpose: intercepting communications, gathering intelligence, coordinating activities with other U.S. units. 194 meters long with a width of 33 meters, the vessel has a displacement of 19,290 tons in charge. Armed with a crew of 300 sailors, USS Mount Whitney can accommodate the Sixth Fleet Commander’s staff of 250 people, and a contingent of 210 Marines. The Mount Whitney was the first U.S. Navy ship to permanently accommodate women on board. She has a helicopter platform on the back but her (small) weaponry is solely dedicated to self-defense. Considered by some to be the most sophisticated Command, Control, Communications, Computer, and Intelligence ship ever commissioned, USS Mount Whitney incorporates various elements of the most advanced equipment and gives the embarked Joint Task Force Commander the capability to effectively command all units under his or her command. USS Mount Whitney can receive, process and transmit large amounts of secure data from any point on earth through HF, UHF, VHF, SHF (satellite communications) and EHF communications paths. This electronic technology enables the Joint Intelligence Center and Joint Operations Center to provide the most timely intelligence and operational support available in the Navy. Since her commissioning in 1971, the ship has participated in fleet operations in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Caribbean and the Indian Ocean and Horn of Africa regions. Recently, the vessel was serving as a command-and-control vessel for the United States' involvement in the coalition campaign aimed to enforce a Libya No-Fly zone.
USS Mount Whitney carries enough food to feed the crew for 90 days and can transport supplies to support an emergency evacuation of 3,000 people. The ship makes 100,000 gallons of fresh water daily and carries over one million gallons of fuel, enough for a round trip, 16 knot, 35 day voyage from Norfolk, Virginia to Mozambique in the Indian Ocean. The ship's two anchors weigh 11 tons each and are attached to 180 fathoms (or 1,080 feet) of anchor chain. Each chain weighs almost 25 tons. Total electrical capacity is 7,500 kilowatts, a sufficient amount to power a small city. The ship has a steam propulsion, the steam is provided by two boilers. The U.S. Navy has two vessels of this type: besides the Mount Whitney, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), in operation since 1970, is the flagship of the 7th Fleet (Western Pacific).
The above mentioned U.S. Navy League, based in Cannes has very close ties to the U.S. Navy and has been instrumental with the organizing of Navy ships visit along the French Riviera for over 25 years. The Navy League has about 50.00 Members world wide with several overseas Councils. The Cannes Council is renowned for their support to the U.S.Navy sailors throughout the Sixth Fleet and elsewhere. The council hosted a special lunch for the Officers and sailors of the Mount Whitney at “Le Parana” restaurant in Théoule sur Mer on 16 August as well as several private dinners at the homes of their members.
For more information about the Navy League contact NavyLeague.Cannes@gmail.com
