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Narrator
This is an iHeart podcast.
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Steve Bannon
For 250 years, America's Navy has guarded freedom, projected strength and carried the fight across the sea. Now, from Norfolk, Virginia, history meets destiny.
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Steve Gruber
They fight, fight, fight, and they win, win, win.
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Steve Bannon
President Donald J. Trump joins America's warriors aboard a mighty aircraft carrier as we.
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Narrator
Celebrate two and a half centuries of sea power.
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Steve Bannon
Explosive demonstrations, military might, unstoppable strength, Navy.
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Steve Gruber
250, sea power and freedom with your.
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Narrator
Host, Steve Bannon with live reporting from.
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Steve Bannon
Jack Posobec and Steve Gruber starts right now.
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Steve Gruber
This is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies because we're going medieval on these people. Christians not got a free shot on all these networks lying about the people. The people have had a belly full of it. I know you don't like hearing that. I know you try to do everything in the world to stop that, but you're not going to stop it. It's going to happen. And where do people like that go to share the big L? I wish in my soul, I wish that any of these people had a conscience. Ask yourself, what is my task and what is my purpose?
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Narrator
If that answer is to save my country, this country will be saved.
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Steve Gruber
War ROOM here's your host, Stephen K. Banner. It's Sunday the 5th of October in the year of our Lord 2025. We're here for Navy 250. We are commemorating the birth of the greatest navy in the history of mankind, the United States Navy. Today we're juggling between we got on the USS Truman, there's going to be a presentation by the President, United States Commander in Chief, later in the day after a naval gunfire exercise and other weapons. The president's going to join, going to review this joint exercise on the USS Bush. And he's going to do it, I think from the, from the bridge. He's heading out there momentarily. We'll go to him. And we got our own Jack Posobec with the commander in chief. Steve Gruber's on the, on the riser on the USS Truman. And supposedly if we stick to plan, Ambassador Monica Crowley is going to come out in a little while. We're going to cut to life to that and to Steve Gruber. I've got now some experts. Captain Fennell, Admiral Masso, Cleo Pascal, we're going to be, Captain Morgan's going to join us in a moment. Talk about drones and drone warfare. I want to go to Captain Funnell first. And like I said, as soon as something happens, we're going to cut away from this Captain Fennell, I got a question. Sonny Massar just laid out the 290 capital ships built around 11, I think aircraft carriers for carrier strike groups or carrier battle groups. It's the traditional way the United States Navy has fought basically since World War II when we won the war in the Pacific against the Imperial Japanese Navy based around, not the battleship, but based around the aircraft carrier and naval air, is that we're going to have Morgan on here for a second. He's talking about drones, but then you got the Chinese Communist Party and all the weapons they have close in off of the coast of China, which Taiwan's only 90 miles away. We talk about fighting our way across the Pacific and trying to have to. Cleo keeps telling us, hey, we're letting the Chinese Communist Party take those islands that the Marines, the Marine Corps fought for and the Navy fought for in World War II. But isn't the concept of the carrier battle group the reason that the cost of the Navy is so expensive, of capital ships and what we're trying to do and is it a relic from time gone by? Is it time to rethink fundamentally the basic war fighting capability of the United States and what makes the most sense, particularly since we're pivoting now to hemispheric defense where we need expeditionary strike capability throughout the world? Sir.
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Captain Fennell
Well, Steve, there's an old saying, it's called a bird in the hand, as we're two in the bush. So before we start cutting away the carriers, we need to make sure that we have something reliable to restore to or to turn to. In World War II, we relied. Before the Japanese struck us on 7 December 1941, the principal platform of the US Navy was the battleship. And after our battleships were sunk, we switched and started focusing on carriers. And that's where we've been, as you said, for the last 80 years, the Pacific, as we talked earlier, 17 times the size of continental United States. It takes over almost 12 days steaming at 20 knots for one carrier to just high speed transit across the center of the Pacific without stopping 24, 7, which never happens. So it's a big, big ocean and we need to be able to bring forces to bear, to effect, to get the kinds of power projection effects that we want, whether it's to stop an invasion or to stop something else that the Chinese are doing or drug cartels or anything else. And we can't do that if we don't have platforms that can sustain combat power over long duration. The carrier is still the principal platform Now I'm biased because I spent 20 years of my 29 years when I was at sea those sea duties on carriers. And I know and understand the capabilities of those carriers and the difficulty of an enemy to try to sink a carrier. So as I said in the earlier segments, the Navy has had a defensive mindset. Our good friend Erik Prince just even highlighted the fact that we have missiles coming at our platforms. And so we're constantly wondering about if we're going to take a hit. But what I again heard President Trump say last week is we have to be able to take a hit and keep fighting. And so right now, the carrier is the principal platform that can lash up.
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Steve Gruber
Hang on, hang on, hang on, hang on, hang on. And strike before I go back. Yeah, but, but, but hang on. I'm going to go back to everyone here in a moment. But I got to ask you, you essentially gave up on the most promising careers around as a naval intelligence officer because you had the courage to warn the American elite that they weren't building a navy that was that the Chinese Communist Party was stealing a march on us to build a navy that could actually take on and destroy the United States Navy. Hasn't their focus been how to take down in close combat off the coast of China and around Taiwan, which we must defend and the three island chains to destroy carrier? I mean, haven't they totally focused on how you destroy carrier battle groups and that makes us even more vulnerable, sir?
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Captain Fennell
Yes, they call it their counter intervention strategy. In Chinese, we call it Anti access area denial or A2AD. But make no mistake, what we're seeing this last year with the carriers operating east of Guam towards Hawaii, the new unveiling of this Fujian aircraft carrier that is launching 5th generation J35 stealth fighters with electromagnetic aircraft launch systems. That's not just designed to win the fight inside the first and second island chain. That is a navy that is going to have global power projection capabilities. They're building new ballistic missile submarines and fast attack submarines that aren't going to just stay in their local waters. They are building a global navy. And if we get in a dogfight with them and in the middle of the Pacific from east of Guam to Hawaii or hopefully not towards our west coast, we're going to need platforms like carriers to be able to fight and win that war. We're going to need other new technologies and other new capabilities. But the centerpiece for now is still the carrier battle group and other systems that contribute to that. Oh, by the way, we also have expeditionary strike groups like the one down you were mentioning down in the off of Venezuela, the Iwo Jima expeditionary strike group ARC. They are down there, they have platforms, they have F35s, they are a power projection capability that we have as well. So it's not just our carriers, it's also our ars, our expeditionary strike groups. Those are the centerpieces of how we operate, supported by our nuclear submarine force, the fast attack and SSGNs that can launch, you know, hundreds of TLAMs and other kinds of missile systems. So it's not just one thing. The carriers cost more. We need to look at the cost, we need to look at how we're acquiring things. We've had several program failures in the last decade and a half with the combat ship, the cruiser and now the world class with severe problems. And so it's not just the cost, it's how we acquire things and, and our success doing it. We need a Rickover.
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Steve Gruber
Yeah. Admiral Masso, this is the thing we talked about Rickover earlier in the film that I made with Michael Pack. You can't do with 290 capital ships. Right? You've already made that case. You got, you've got a structure and a force structure and a fighting philosophy built around the Kerry Bella group. But given the fact we've had, we have had so many failures with the littoral ship, with the Zoom hall class. I mean, how do you convince, how does the Trump administration convince Congress that we have to go through a massive shipbuilding upgrade? Because you were there, you and I were shipmates, you were there and you went back to the Pentagon during the, when I think we had under 200 ships, we came out of the fleet and built up to a 600 ship Navy. How do you convince Congress and the American people to underwrite that bill, sir?
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Admiral Masso
Well, I think we have to. It begins with really articulating the threat, the threat of hypersonic missiles, the, the, the threat of the changing nature of even what we've created in our missile defense agency where we focused intensely on mid course and terminal phase intercept. And I think that the lessons that we're learning today in terms of technological advancements, specifically in China, centers around, we're going to have to be better at intelligence and reconnaissance, early warning detections, things of this nature. And that maybe it's not a missile intercept, it's a strike, you know, that comes from our aircraft carrier. So I'm not one that believes unilaterally that our aircraft carriers are obsolete by a long shot, but I do know that we need to refine our tactics, techniques and procedures. We need to have a robust communication strategy with Congress that includes events such as what we're experiencing today, where they can see our frontline ships and how they take action in their mission sets. But I do believe that, you know, the service, it probably does legislative affairs, best of all are the Marine Corps. And one of the things they do is they make it personal and they take they take that story and they just drill home on it over and over again. I'm very fond of our legislative leadership that we have in place right now, but with that said, we need to have a more complete relationship with those who are in, you know, in the House National Security Committees. Yeah. Or Senate Armed Services and really tell those stories.
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Steve Gruber
No, we've waited for this day, Admiral Massar, for a long time for the president actually be out there. It's going to be amazing. And I know he's so enthusiastic. Like I said, I think he's watched victory at sea 100 times. We're going to take a short commercial break. Captain Paul Morgan is going to join U.S. naval Aviator, but we're going to talk about the changing nature of naval warfare, particularly the drones and what the drones mean in far as our thinking about the coming fight in 2027 or beyond with the China, with the People's Liberation Navy. Short commercial break we're both in Norfolk and we're going to be off the Virginia capes. When we return in the war room, real America's voice. Continual coverage of Navy 250 will continue in a mom.
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Steve Bannon
We'll be right back with more Navy 250 sea power and freedom. We want to thank our sponsor, Birch Gold Group for standing with Rav.
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Steve Gruber
Welcome back to Navy 250 Sea Power and Freedom.
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Steve Bannon
We want to thank our sponsor, Patriot Mobile for standing with Rev.
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Steve Gruber
Okay, welcome back. Honored to be back. Navy 250. We got a lot going on. A full naval exercise will take place here shortly with the commander in chief out on, I think the bridge of the USS Bush. And of course, you got the Truman, another one of our carriers. Pierside Ed Norfolk. Steve Gruber's on the riser. We're going to cut to all of it as soon as we get some action at either Jack Posovic is out with the President of the United States and Gruber's anchoring at the Truman. And Monica, our own colleague, Ambassador Monica Crowley should be addressing us shortly. Kind of lay out the day. Want to go to Captain Paul Morgan. Paul, you're a naval aviator, right? Helicopter pilot, but you now are a specialist in high performance lethal drones. We talk about the surface Navy, we talk about this huge investment that we potentially need to defend the Pacific, particularly against the Chinese Communist Party, Taiwan. All of talk about hemispheric defense and how much that means and how critical the Navy is to that. But are we missing something? Is drone warfare and the advances in drone warfare, which has made such a massive difference on the land battle as we see in Ukraine, is that going to radically change naval warfare?
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Captain Fennell
Sir?
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Steve Bannon
I believe so, Steve. I spent a lot of time as a program manager for all Navy and Marine Corps UAVs. We did a lot of work with the shipboard integration of Skane Eagle, which was a new capability that frankly got us back into the fight from a naval perspective. Started very simply and then we grew into a fully integrated ScanEagle system in the small surface warfare combatants, which I always cruised on. I was a frigate and a, and a cruiser sailor. So there are ways that we are making the tyranny of distance, which is what we call it in the, in the, in the Asian theater. How do I communicate? How do I jam? How do I do things at distance? What's the power of endurance? How do I use these semi lethal and also long flying UAVs, how do I merge them with the manned fleet? So mand unmanned teaming is going to become a big thing, trying to shorten the, the energy loop of decisions between finding something that is actionable and making a decision on that Data. That's where UAVs are unique. So for instance, the jamming world is where we got started. We were very concerned about F18Gs, the inability for them to get close enough to jam without putting just a boatload of energy in the air. So we came up with an expendable UAV when I was the program manager and we called it whisper rather than shout. You can get in close, you can do everything you need to do with an expendable UAV from the F18 and you can whisper, jam, not shout from 50 miles or 150 miles. So that's the power of UAVs, it's a time sync, it's the power of endurance and, and it's the power of communications at long distances.
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Steve Gruber
By the way. Like I said, we're going to cut to the naval exercise as soon as it happens. It should be shortly. Also back on the main stage, Captain Morgan, I think people have been surprised, at least, you know, civilians have been surprised about the lethality and reach of drones. When you talk about the war in Ukraine. Now you got the Russians and the Ukrainians pounding each other every night, principally with drones. You've had this incredible strike by the Ukrainians. Now was it coordinated with American intelligence? Probably at a V spot, but they went in, I think, 2,000 miles into Russia. They took out part, at least half of the third leg of the nuclear triad, the strategic bomber. Something Curtis LeMay couldn't even think about is the, is the army or what's happening on ground, particularly in Ukraine? Is the Navy, the Navy SEALs in the Marine Corps? Are we a little behind the power curve or are we thinking about this in an advanced state for naval warfare and prepared to do the acquisitions you need to actually make this happen?
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Steve Bannon
The Navy was behind when I was a program manager. There's no way around it. The army got me back into the fight. By the way, we deployed Raven A's, Raven B's with socom. We did a lot of chumming off of what the army had done. I, I actually deployed shadows with the Marine Corps in advance. We got rid of pioneers. The army actually gave me a shadow battalion to deploy and I paid them back two years later. And that's the spirit of, of the cooperation that we had with the Army. The key for us in the, the ability and what they've shown in the Ukrainian theater over land is, is swarming, and we call it the tyranny, not only of distance, but the tyranny of nearness. So, you know, swarming at distance is very difficult, right? The endurance of the smalls and endurance of swarms. You're swarming your next door neighbors pool. That's what's going on in Ukraine. They're able to take these cheap, very effective UAVs, tremendously effective. Take advantage of all the power of computing, all the power of camera size. Batteries are so much better, Propuls, so much better. So what we're seeing and what the Navy is doing is looking at that as an example. The, what are called requests for information and new proposals come out from the Marine Corps all the time. We want ship based, we want tank base, we want reconnaissance based UAVs. Same with the Navy Seals. I've worked very closely with them. They're interested because we call it digital crack. Once you get it, once you see it, and once you're able to inculcate that in your everyday life, it's a pattern of life that you can rely on and that you can go back and look at. That's the key and that's the power that the Marine Corps the Navy's looking at. So for instance, real quickly, when I did the escorts of the reflight Kuwaiti tankers, if I'd have had a UAV attached to the back of the ship at 400ft, my visual horizon went from 11 miles to, to 40. That's a significant delta in response time for small boats, for decoys, for any number of different things. That's the power of the uav, is the persistence, the endurance and the ability to coordinate with manned airplanes.
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Steve Gruber
Captain Fennell, your naval intelligence is Captain Morgan. Right. Is this changing the nature of a particularly surface warfare as we think about the Chinese Communist Party, who actually also are some of the world's experts in drone and drone warfare?
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Admiral Masso
Sir.
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Captain Fennell
Well, there's no question about it that we have to look at this technology and see how to marinize it to get it at sea. I was in the Pentagon in 2010, my one year in the Pentagon, and I worked in the program office that dealt with UAVS, ScanEagle and, and other platforms like that, the new UCAV that we have. So we, we've been. I think he's right. We've been behind. We need to go faster. There's going to be some kind of issue with the distances, the distances across the Pacific. You're not going to be able to fly some of these small wire guided drones, you know, from a destroyer or a small ship to 2,000 miles away from China and be able to be effective. So we got to find ways to get these platforms in close and get them integrated into what we call distributed maritime operations network so that we can network all of our platforms manned and unmanned. So it is here to stay. The question is, how is it going to be applicable to naval warfare? And I'll just say, in my experience watching the Pentagon and the intelligence community transition from fighting war at land in Afghanistan and Iraq and applying that to the naval maritime domain, it's not just a simple cut and paste. It has to be completely rethought. There's different atmospherics, there's different sensitivities to salt and seawater and duration at sea and repair and all of that kind of stuff that has to be looked at. And I know folks like Captain Morgan are all about that. So we've got people looking at it. We just need to accelerate it needs to be part of this restoration of this make America's Navy great again. We need to restore and do what we did in 1940 to focus on building our Navy. And it's not gonna be the Navy of 1940 where we just pumped out destroyers and jeep carriers and carriers. It's going to be the new navy of the 21st century, but we have to make it a national priority. I think that's the message that I want to get across.
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Steve Gruber
I'm going to get back Emerald Mass in a second, but I want to continue that. There were visionaries before Pearl Harbor. They knew it was a gunfight coming, right? I mean, the leaders of our country, they started preparing an army, they started getting ready an army for fight a war in Europe. But particularly there was a big fight inside the Navy because it was still, you still had an aspect that was battle battleship centric. But you had some visionaries that said, hey, when we fight the Japanese across the vast Pacific, we're going to need aircraft carriers. Tell our audience about that. What happened this kind of late night, late 1930s, 1940, before Pearl Harbor.
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Captain Fennell
Yeah. There was a great understanding amongst many in Washington and folks in the fleet that the Imperial Japanese Navy and the striking fleet, the Kido Butai, were a serious, very serious threat and that they were growing dangerous and that there was going to be a conflict. And so one of the senators in the Congress, Senator Carl Vinson, put together a bill called the Two Ocean Navy act in 38, 39. It got passed in 40. And it was that work that was done in 1940 that allowed us to start winning and seeing the production of that industrial might roll off the lines in 43, in the summer of 43, that allowed us to win the war in the Pacific. If that bill had not been passed in 1940, we just scraped by in the Battle of Midway. It was a miracle that we won there. It was a turning point, but it was only a turning point in respect that we had something coming off the line in a new fleet. We need that same kind of a focus today because the Chinese, not just their Navy, but the Chinese Communist Party's agenda is to destroy the United States of America. They prefer to do it non kinetically, but they have built a kinetic capability and they will use it if given the opportunity.
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Steve Gruber
Okay, right there you see the President, the Commander in Chief is now landing on the USS Bush. Right, here we go. We're going to cut to. We're going to cut to the voice of God here to explain what's going on. Let's go ahead.
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Chaplain
Do it.
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Narrator
John Phelan. And finally, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Darrell. I will be your narrator. Lieutenant Daniel Burns, call sign Heihei from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We thank you today for joining us aboard the H George H.W. bush, freedom at Work, the flagship of carrier strike group 12. We also thank our sailors on Pier 14 next to the Harry S. Truman and the USS Piers arch. We are grateful to have you here today to witness not only the size and scope of the Nimitz class aircraft carriers, but to showcase how the men and women of the Team Avenger bring 100,000 tons of American steel to life. Our sailors are trained and ready to fight with the right skills, equipment and warrior ethos to protect the American interest around the globe. The platform scene and the events experienced today will encompass the full power and might of the United States Navy. You will see fast attack submarines, live fires from eight Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers, Navy SEALs fast roping from a helicopter to a destroyer. And finally, an air power demonstration featuring a full complement of the carrier air wing showing the unmatched power of US Naval aviation. Now be prepared to be amazed as our Navy demonstrates the impressive capabilities of the most powerful naval force the world has ever seen.
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Steve Gruber
The helicopter bringing President Trump out. Captain Morgan, you are, you're very familiar with helicopters in the Navy, sir.
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Steve Bannon
Yes.
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Steve Gruber
Right there. That's a. Commander Chief's going to join. Gonna hit the deck here in a moment. You saw the. We have a narrator for the entire exercise. I, I believe that actually the President's gonna go up to the bridge and, and view it with the first lady from the bridge. Admiral Masso, what do you anticipate we're going to see here when things get up and running?
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Admiral Masso
Well, I think we're going to see a lot of activity, as I had said. You know, they talked about fast roping SEALs off helicopters, Navy gunfire support missions, things of that nature. It's going to be loud and proud and very impressive.
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Steve Gruber
Admiral. Here we go. The Commander Chief's coming out. Admiral, real quickly, drones and changing the nature of surface warfare, Your thoughts?
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Admiral Masso
Absolutely. Essential, crucial. It's non negotiable. It's got to be an important cornerstone of our investment strategies for not the future in 20 years, but for the future in 18 months. I couldn't agree more with both the captains who spoke earlier. It's got to be done quickly, methodically. We've got to integrate the tactical picture in a kind of a common tactical operation picture where we're getting the best intelligence that we can get so we can make decisions. And then also we need to focus on what an offensive capability of a drone needs to look like given the threats that we're addressing.
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Steve Gruber
You're going to see today the President's Been looking forward to this. Like I said, I think this is his Teddy Roosevelt moment. He gets to see the fleet in action. And Admiral Massa is absolutely correct. I think you're going to see a lot of explosions and a lot of gunfire because at the end of the day power projection is about exactly that. It's about the Navy's ability to put aircraft across the deck coming from carrier strike groups and also having the surface warfare that can then pound the enemy people. Ought to keep in mind we have an amphibious Ready Group, 4000 Fleet Marines and sailors off of the coast of Venezuela even as we speak. There we go right there. That's Admiral Massar. That's the real, that's the real Navy right there. The cruisers, destroyers and frigates are they not sir?
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Admiral Masso
They absolutely are. That is the Navy, the real Navy. Yes.
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Steve Gruber
Oh God, I love, but they look magnificent. Just love. There's a submarine right there. I think we're at some activity from fast attacks, maybe even shoot a couple of Tomahawks today. Here we go. We're going to turn back the commentary.
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Narrator
This submarine is built for longevity, stealth and high performance. Iowa's advanced technology allows for near silent movement through the world's oceans. Its sensitive sonar can detect and track enemy submarines and warships from extended distances. With a length of 377ft and 6,800 tons and a speed of 25 knots, the Iowa represents the greatest America's silent fleet. The Iowa's crew is comprised of 15 officers and 117 enlisted sailors, all highly trained and selected from the nation's most competitive candidates. The Iowa's armament consists of four torpedo tubes and two Virginia payload tubes, each capable of holding six vertical launch Tomahawk missiles that can strike over 1200 miles away. Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you the USS Iowa and the United States Navy's silent.
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Steve Gruber
Okay, right there Sunny, give us a perspective of our fast attack and ballistic missile submarines.
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Admiral Masso
Well, we're of course investing heavily in the Columbia class. We have kind of completed construction on a vast array of ships. We had the Seawolf class which had three ships in that class, CT Seawolf and Jimmy Carter. They, they have a very robust shipboard combat system including a wide aperture array. And there is no more powerful anti submarine capability than what comes from a submarine. The activities that we have in Guam, which is another area that you and I operated in together. Other is, is powerful, powerful in the Taiwan Straits and, and they're finding, you know, the capabilities that they miss.
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Narrator
The USS Faragoot, the USS Donald Cook The USS Mason, the USS Delbert D. Black, the USS Ross, USS Cole, USS Needs, USS Gonzalez and USS Carney. Each of these powerful warships is manned by three hundred and twenty of America's finest sailors. Highly trained, battle ready war fighters who embody the skill, spirit and dedication to make the United States Navy the greatest naval force in history. Their seamless teamwork and unwavering commitment delivering precision firepower upon our nation's enemies from the surface of the sea. Aboard the aircraft carrier, the commander of Destroyer Squadron 22 operates as the sea combatant carrier commander for the George H. W. Bush carrier strike group. The deseron commander is responsible for directing each of the destroyers under his command to successfully engage in anti surface and anti submarine warfare.
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Steve Gruber
Admiral Masso, you and I were shipmates in the, in the, I think DEJ round 23, the little beavers, the very famous, the very famous destroyer squadron from World War II. Destroyer Squadron works underneath the carrier battle group to make sure they get protection for the carrier, sir.
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Admiral Masso
They do. The Desron 23 staff of which we're both familiar with from those days long ago will reside on the aircraft carrier and they will, you know, fight the desrons that support the strike group from the carrier. And again as the narrator said, it's not just anti submarine warfare but it's anti surface warfare and it's tracking intel and reconnaissance and everything that goes with the war fighting calculus.
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Steve Gruber
Also Captain Funnell, the, the, the fast attack submarines, they are absolutely essential to what we talk, the protection of the shore. It's not just the surface navy and our ASW capability Anti submarine warfare capability. Fast attack submarines in direct support of the carrier battle group are also essential. Particularly given developments in the Chinese Navy. Sir.
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Captain Fennell
In our fast attack friends have been focused on kind of more independent operations. But when we get back to the kind of confrontation that we had with the Soviet Navy now that we will face from a Chinese navy that's building submarines at a rapid pace and has been building them, we need to make sure that we have our hunter killer submarines protecting our high value assets. So that gets into the, you know, we talk about the missiles coming in from up above. We also have to protect from the undersea and the Chinese have firepower.
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Narrator
Phalanx Close in weapon System Also known as ciwiz the Phalanx weapon system provides US Navy ships with an inner layer point defense capability against anti missiles, low flying aircraft, UAVs and high speed surface craft. The Phalanx weapon system is the only deployed close in weapon system capable of autonomously performing its own Search, detect, evaluation, track, engage and kill assessment functions. This is the ship's last line of defense, providing a fast reaction radar guided 20 millimeter gun weapon system that is capable of firing at a rate of 4,500 rounds per minute.
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Steve Gruber
Yeah, right there. The President's being shown the Admiral Masson. Like I say, we're cutting out. The Navy's controlling the, the narrator. So we're just going to go. Every time the narrator speaks, the President's on the deck right there of the Bush. When you talk about that gun system, Admiral Massar, what are we talking about?
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Admiral Masso
Well, the close in weapons support is a very vital component. And I think if you recall back in the day where the USS Stark did not have their CWIs set to an automatic capability and an Exocet came in and severely damaged, took lives of that ship. And it was the great damage control efforts of the ships in partnership with them out there that save the ship from sinking. But this is a very reliable system. It's one of the best we've got. I know I was part of some of the studies between a shoot off between Sea Vulcan 25 and actually a 30 millimeter derivation of it. But the 4500 rounds is extremely powerful and really does work. And our former ship, the Paula Foster is a test ship for you know, such activities where they actually shoot missiles at it and they're intercepted by capabilities embedded on the ship. And that's done from the Naval Surface.
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Steve Gruber
Warfare center at 45. You're hitting these bolts at 4500aminute. By the way. You just saw the water going up off of the, off of our combatant right there. I think you're going to get a 5 inch 54 going off in a minute. Wish we could get the, if the sound hit it, your, your, the, the, your teeth would rattle. Admiral Masso, that's kind of a last line of defense. You're basically putting up a sheet of steel to shred whatever missiles coming every, any airframe that's coming to hit a surface vessel kind of at the last second. Right. I mean that's your last hope is to hit that as you hit your, your close in and to basically shred the airframe before you hit.
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Admiral Masso
Yeah, that, that's part of it. And we also have, you know, a rapid bloom off board chaff which sends out aluminum and things that will maybe change the direction of an incoming missile of some sort. So we've got a number of different capabilities, but the last line of defense would be the ciws. But there's there's great comfort and confidence in that capability.
- [37:47]
Narrator
5 inch gun is a fully automatic naval gun mount. Mark 45 is designed to engage surface and air targets and provide naval surface fire support for expeditionary operations. The gun mount includes a 20 round automatic loader drum. Its maximum fire rate of 16 to 20 rounds per minute with an effective range of 13 nautical miles.
- [38:14]
Steve Gruber
Mass. So Captain Fennell, you know that if you're standing on the bridge of that ship and that 5 inch 54 is going off, it rattles your teeth. I mean the, the, the, the repercussions are so hard. Sonny. You've fired that many, many, many times, right? Talk, tell the audience what it's like.
- [38:31]
Admiral Masso
Well, it's, it's pretty substantial and again, it's got a pretty long range. But yes, it's a major explosion and in fact the shell casings are launched from it and they substantially mark up the decks because of the violence of the, of the thrust of that firing. And again, those are unmanned mounts and you can see them right there, you can see that smoke coming out. And if you look carefully you can see some of the shell casings. And the President has got to be absolutely beside himself with pride right now seeing what his great Navy can bring to bear. That smell of cordite, there's nothing like it.
- [39:34]
Steve Gruber
Admiral. People, people maybe not familiar with the Navy are sitting there going, they remember victory at sea with, with battleships with 16 inch guns.
- [39:44]
Narrator
Why?
- [39:44]
Steve Gruber
Because of the new armor. Why? Because of missile technology, drone technology and the automated nature of the 5 inch 54 that these ships can actually deliver much more lethality. Although nothing can replace a naval gunfire from a battleship, at least psychologically on a, on an enemy that's embedded. Why is, why the surface warfare capability so much more lethal today?
- [40:10]
Admiral Masso
Well, I think it all goes to the sensors that they have that kind of position us for the right ranging and locations of those, those items that we might be trying to shoot at. So we've got more sophisticated fire control radars. I think you recall when, when the Spruance class came into, into bearing in the, in the Arleigh Burke classes, these ships, because of the sophistication of the fire control radars, almost never miss. They just don't. And so they're more lethal because they're more accurate.
- [40:53]
Narrator
Is the U.S. navy's premier air defense weapon. With a range of up to 90 nautical miles. The SM2 is launched from Mark 41 vertical launch system. This weapon system is an integral part of the Aegis weapon system aboard the Ticonderoga Class cruisers and Arleigh Burke class destroyers. Its primary mission includes fleet area defense and ship self defense and has used seem active radar guidance to decisively engage and destroy even the most advanced adversary fighter aircraft. One of our ships and company, the USS Carney, recently fired the SM2 missile in support of combat operations in the red Sea. On October 19, 2023, the USS Carney was involved in one of the most intense combat engagements by a US Navy warship since World War II. By the end of what became a 10 hour standoff, Carney had shot down 15 drones and four land attack cruise missiles fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen. This marked the most intense combat engagement of the US Navy in years. Ladies and gentlemen, your United States Navy surface fleet.
- [42:17]
Steve Gruber
Right there we have. That's, that's a gun line. Explain to the audience what's going on.
- [42:25]
Admiral Masso
Well, for safety, you know, they're, they're in a formation one it looks like, and that's just to create a spread so that if they're launching a different SM2 standard missile 2 extended range, they're firing guns, things of that nature, that form one is an old, It's a way to just be out of each other's way and to manage the show a little bit better. They can operate in an number of different configurations.
- [42:57]
Narrator
The U.S. navy SEALs were established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 as a small elite maritime force. They carry out types of clandestine, small unit, high impact missions that large forces with high profile platforms such as ships, tanks, jets and submarines cannot. Seals conduct essential on the ground, special electronics and critical targets to enable strikes by larger conventional forces. Ladies and gentlemen, what you're witnessing is effective integration and interoperability with varying air and maritime and land components which is critical to the SEAL operations. Today's helicopter assault force is relying on a skilled pilot and a crew of helicopter C Combat Squadron 11 to insert them into a target area via fast rope. From an MH60C era helicopter. Fast roping is designed to enable seals a rapid insertion into areas of rough terrain or obstacles that would prevent a suitable landing zone. The height of the fast rope is dependent on the target area, but can be held up to 90ft, the equivalent of a nine story building with close to 100 pounds of combat equipment aboard each. Navy SEAL Operator.
- [44:28]
Steve Gruber
Underwater demolition Now Navy seals udt. By the way, I want to tell the. As soon as the narrator comes back up, we automatically override Admiral Masso and Captain Fennell's analysis of all this. I think you're seeing the combined arms you're going to see some submarines.
- [44:51]
Narrator
You're seeing some lay down covering fire, enabling operators to begin the assault.
- [45:05]
Steve Gruber
There's some of the covering fire of the helicopters. Captain Morgan knows about that. Admiral Master, you're getting kind of an overview of the combined arms capabilities of the Navy right here, are we not?
- [45:20]
Admiral Masso
We absolutely are. This is extraordinary. It's a great demonstration. And, you know, you ask how we can enhance the, you know, the desires of what we believe we need to develop. Look no further than what we're seeing right now with the President, the Secretary of the Navy. I believe this will be one of the very first exhibitions that he's ever seen. And this is all very important public relations, but it also shows some extraordinary training. And when Erik Prince so rightly talked about having that ethos, that ethos is about the right manning, the right equipment and the right training. And look no further than what we're watching right now.
- [46:08]
Steve Gruber
I mean, some of these weapons systems, like for instance, the submarines, the fast attack, remember the boomers, are the ones that hold the ballistic missiles that can target Russia or China to drop a nuclear weapon.
- [46:19]
Narrator
Today, the Naval Special Warfare maintains a forward sposher operating across the globe from South America and Europe to the Middle east and Asia, proactively addressing emerging threats and safeguarding national interests. These operators are global premier maritime special operations force, delivering decisive action where it matters most. They are trained to operate in the harshest environments, from desert cities to remote coastlines. They continue to innovate in a battle space defined by evolving technology and global competition. However, across its history, Naval Special Warfare has remained true to the ethos of, of the Navy SEAL teams. They are quiet professionals, relentless in their pursuit of excellence and unwavering in their commitment to the mission. Naval Special Warfare honors the great generations of warriors and support personnel who have built its legacy and reaffirms its commitment to serving with honor, courage and excellence well into the future.
- [47:15]
Steve Gruber
Sure, we're going to have some naval air assets also. Captain Morgan, I'll bring you in here. Before we get. Was it Leyte, Golf or Midway was the first naval battle I think in history that the two sides never saw each other. Right. They were at such a distance that it was all done through naval aircraft. Now this eventually will be. You'll evolve around to drones, etc. But people should understand in these battles, the way they're set up, it's not like Nelson's Navy or in the revolution where you pull alongside, just unsheath the guns and just, let's get it on these are done at vast different distances are not. Sir.
- [47:59]
Admiral Masso
Well, Steve.
- [48:00]
Narrator
The multiplier. A highly skilled warrior capable of operating in remote environments or engaging enemy in an urban setting. They are experts in close quarters combat, demolitions, communications, marksmanship and a myriad of other skills essential for success in the most challenging environments. They are the tip of the spear, the silent God Imran, the embodiment of American resolve. They are the US Navy seals and they stand ready to defend freedom, protect our interests and answer the call, however it may come. Ladies and gentlemen, we hope you enjoyed this small display of the capabilities of the Naval special warfare and our supporting elements as we seek to carry on the legacy of of the frogmen that have gone before us. Give it up for your United States Navy SEALs. During the Second World War, USS San Wesito launched Lieutenant Junior Grade George H.W. bush and his TBF Avenger torpedo bomber from a vast expanse of the western Pacific. This helps support 58 critical combat missions. Since this pivotal area, the aircraft carrier has remained an indispensable pillar of America's national security, providing vital roles in the conflicts from Vietnam all the way to recent inherent resolve. Today, our Nimitz class nuclear powered aircraft carriers represent the cutting edge of naval aviation technology. These mighty vessels launch aircraft using steam catapults powered up powerful enough to accelerate a 65,000 pound aircraft from zero to nearly 200 miles per hour in a mere seconds. This represents an extraordinary feat of engineering and precision. After completing their missions, our pilots execute one of the most challenging maneuvers in aviation. Landing aboard a moving ship approaching at the precise 8 degrees of 3 and a half degree glide slope from approximately 3 quarters of a mile, they aim to catch one of the three arresting wires that are only 40ft apart, offering a total landing area of 80ft. This narrow margin leaves virtually no room for error in this demanding skill. This is required both day and night and it distinguishes our naval aviators as the most highly trained and capable pilots in the world. The flight deck is angled at 9 degrees, a critical design feature that allows aircraft to be launched and recovered simultaneously, maximizing operational tempo and efficiency. Four steam catapults propel the fixed wing aircraft into the skies, while three resting wires safely recover them upon return. All aircraft operations are expertly coordinated by the air boss from the primary flight control. Supporting these complex operations are four large elevators that move the aircraft seamlessly between the flight deck and the hangars below. These hangars are carefully divided into three bays of thick steel engineered to contain and restrict the spread of fire, ensuring the safety personnel and equipment the two aircraft located on the fantail at the aftmost portion of the ship are now about to kick on their engines and prepare to launch and intercept whatever may be on the way. We see them taxiing forward to the waist catapults now, where 52,000 pounds of steel will use its own 44,000 pounds of thrust and the impressive power of the carrier's catapult system to go from 0 to 150 knots in roughly 3 seconds. The USS8 George H.W. bush, has four catapults, two on the bow, two on the waist. It is capable of launching one aircraft every 30 seconds. As you will see, the aircraft will taxi up to the catapult, lower the launch bar into a small shuttle. Behind the nose gear will be attached a hold back fitting from the landing gear to the ship. The hold back bar will hold the aircraft as the pilot runs his throttles to full power. When the pilot is ready to launch, they will give a crisp loot and the catapult officer will then press the button who will release the launch bar. And away he goes. Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you from the waist the catapult demo.
- [54:18]
Steve Gruber
Captain Morgan, this is still one of the most dangerous carrier launches and carrier recovery still among the most dangerous activities the Navy does, correct?
- [54:29]
Steve Bannon
Well, absolutely. I, again, I admire this so much. This has been a lot of fun.
- [54:39]
Steve Gruber
They very rarely get this kind of up close and personal on this President would be on the, on the bridge right now observing this. There we go. Check out.
- [55:06]
Narrator
Intrepid alert aircraft. Proceed to investigate and neutralize the threat. Three of our aircraft are returning from the fight now. Overhead in the stack, we will recover 1F35 Lightning, 2 1F18 Super Hornet and 1E 2D Hawkeye.
- [55:37]
Steve Gruber
Very technical, very dangerous. Admiral Masso, on the, on the recovery of these of the aircraft. Normally there's a destroyer right in back of the, right back of the carrier. That is a plane guard ship. Talk to me about that. What's the purpose of having a surface warfare combatant right in back of the carrier?
- [57:44]
Admiral Masso
Well, they actually do a combination. They'll have a helo off, you know, what they call the starboard delta. And they stand off in the kind of in the wake, in the absence of that helo, they'll put a destroyer in what they call two SNX position, which is anywhere from 12 to 1500 yards astern of the the carrier. And if someone were to be blown overboard or there'd be an aircraft accident of some sort, the destroyer would render that first response to either Pick up an individual who's fallen overboard or to go alongside to grab a pilot that may be part of a plane that went into the water. So it's a pretty essential, you know, very, very demanding. You know, you've got to be at the top of your game. You've got to be paying attention, all hands on deck, watching and making sure. Because you just don't have that much time to respond to any sort of emergency.
- [58:50]
Steve Gruber
There's a commander in chief right there getting fully briefed now.
- [58:54]
Narrator
Overhead. The Hawk is the navy's all weather carrier based tactical battle management airborne early warning command and control aircraft. The E2D is a twin engine 5 crew member high wing turboprop aircraft with a 24 foot diameter radome attached to the upper fuselage. The Hawkeye is our eye in the sky. The pilots will manage this aircraft to touchdown in the landing area or LA. A small piece of steel roughly 100ft wide and with a wingspan of nearly 80ft. There is not much room for error here. The E2D pilot would demonstrate the power of the E2D's engines and look to take back off again in only a few hundred feet.
- [59:39]
Steve Gruber
Paul Morgan. That's what people have to realize. When these planes come in, they hit, they go to full power. Right. In case the arresting gear, they miss the arresting gear or something breaks, they got to be ready to launch instantaneously, sir.
- [59:51]
Steve Bannon
Oh, absolutely. And this, what you're looking at right here is one of the hardest aircraft to bring aboard. I know a lot of E2 guys and it's pretty sporty. Well, there was turbine buildup, Steve, that was the thing until they put the new blades and new fedex on, was there was a little lag time and.
- [60:17]
Narrator
It.
- [60:21]
Steve Gruber
Talk to us about that as we watch this come in. What do you mean by that? Tell the audience.
- [60:25]
Steve Bannon
Well, these are turbofans or jet engines with props on the end. And so these are new engines and new blade arrangements. They used to be four bladed, so didn't take as much air as this did. You can see that it's a magnificent airplane by the way. But they're going to go to full power. And there was always that little wind up time that they hated right there.
- [60:53]
Steve Gruber
That's a touch and go right there.
- [60:55]
Steve Bannon
Yeah, so they'll, they'll spool up as they come in the land. And there was always that second or two that the pilots would tell me. It was just like, come on baby, let's. Come on, keep going, let's go.
- [61:08]
Narrator
Next inbound is the F35. The US Navy's first fifth generation stealth fighter. This cutting edge aircraft marks the historic leap in naval aviation bringing radar evading stealth technology to the carrier deck for the first time in naval history. The F35C sets new standards in western weapons system integration, lethality, maintainability, combat radius and payload. Delivering a true multi mission power projection from the sea. It pairs fifth generation survivability with major advances in network enabled mission systems reliability and interoperability. Designed as a first day of the war fighter, the F35C is built to dominate both air and surface threats while surviving the most challenging threat environments of today.
- [61:56]
Steve Gruber
Admiral Manso, you first and then pause to come in here. The Commander in Chief I think is down there on, on the actual deck itself. I've never seen, I thought it'd be observed from up above. That's, that's like the most dangerous place on earth right now, is it not, Admiral Masso?
- [62:12]
Admiral Masso
Well, he's, he's not standing next to an aircraft that's getting ready to launch. If he's on the deck, he's probably in the landing signal officers staging area. Yeah. And, and if he's there, he's, you know, this is where the LSO is that they have a glass glide slope indicator and they, and the landing signal officer will ask the pilot to call the ball and, and he's looking for an alignment of lights and, and that's a great place to view it. It's very exciting, especially for non aviators such as the President or such as me. You know I love being back there. Yeah. You know it's, but, but, but if.
- [62:57]
Steve Gruber
That cable, but if that cable, if, if that cable snaps and they do snap, that cable snaps, it goes off like a, I mean Captain Morgan, I admire the President for being down there and like you said, like Sonny said, it's unique, you get a unique opportunity. But everything on this deck right now is still one of the most dangerous places on earth. Am I incorrect in that?
- [63:27]
Narrator
The next approach is the F18 Super Hornet, a fourth generation aircraft in the workhorse of the US Navy with a wingspan of 45ft and touching down with over 100 knots. The arresting wires across the deck will bring it to a speed of down to zero, allowing to stop within a few hundred feet. This clears away for any following aircraft with an ideal interval of 55 seconds.
- [64:06]
Steve Gruber
Captain for captain for now, with the captain for now. Remember, those pilots have to go to full throttle. That's the bravery and courage of naval aviation.
- [64:16]
Captain Fennell
Yes, it is. It's very exciting. And it's very dangerous. I've done it several times. I think the President is actually standing.
- [64:25]
Narrator
Forward of the island. Recognize the harv and equipment that are working on the flight deck operations to make the flight ops possible on an aircraft carrier. If you look around you will notice a wide array of different colored jerseys and float coats running around the deck of the carrier. These are the people that make things happen out here on a day to day basis. They are the reason the George H.W. bush Strike Group team can achieve our full combat capability anytime any place. These are just a few of the people that make the aircraft carrier flight operations possible. The true strength of the carrier strike group comes from the dedicated men and women who work tirelessly to maintain these impressive machines every day. Our next demonstration will be an F18 organic refueling capabilities here. You will now see an aircraft coming into the pattern who is operating on a low fuel state and will be forced to discontinue his approach it.
- [66:02]
Steve Gruber
I want to thank the Navy for providing us this feed. I think we're the only. I think we're the only channel that has it. Really want to thank people for doing this. Got postal out there. Extraordinary naval exercise right now.
- [66:21]
Narrator
The pilot is now executing a wave off from the carrier indicating a foul deck. A foul deck means that there is an obstruction in the landing area and for the safety of those on the deck and the aircraft coming into land the approach has been aborted. The airborne refueling aircraft has been set to hawk our low fuel aircraft in the pattern during their attempt to land. Since they were unable to come aboard, they are on low fuel and it is up to the tanker aircraft to expeditionally join and refuel the aircraft to give it another chance to land. If you follow the path of the low fuel aircraft on the port side of the ship you will see the tanker setting up in position to set up for air to air refueling. Now it is up to the pilot with a low fuel aircraft to steal his nerves and execute a precise and controlled connection. Inserting the refueling P.O. into the drogue basket of the tanker aircraft and flying a perfect formation to hold in basket and to receive enough fuel for another chance to land. Organic tanking has made it possible by the F18 and has made Navy's operations in hostile theaters without divert airfields possible for the last two decades. This ensuring safe aircraft recovery and extends the operational range of the F18 for long range strikes.
- [68:02]
Steve Gruber
Captain Morgan. Paul Morgan. What. What is the. This ability to. Right there. Another great shot. What is the power of that in flight refueling Capability you had to waive off low fuel. Tell the audience. Why is that so important?
- [68:23]
Steve Bannon
Well, Blue Water ops means there's no gas stations, right? You're not flying to San Diego, so this is a great shot.
- [68:31]
Narrator
Next we will witness the 2M 35C Lightning II air perform basic fighter maneuvers commonly referred to as dog fighting. This is a tactic that has roots tracing back to the daring pilots of World War I. Each pilot will push their bodies and their aircraft to the extreme limits in order to achieve victory. Approaching from the bow and the stern, the fighters close in on each other at speeds exceeding 1000 knots. Beginning in the fight on neutral terms. To determine the winner, the aircraft will fly past each other in a high aspect pass with just 500ft separating them.
- [69:26]
Steve Gruber
There's a commander in chief right there with the first lady getting a briefing. I think it's the strike force. I think it's a strike force commander. The admiral, maybe. Sonny, is that this, is that the chief of naval operations with him or is that the strike force commander?
- [69:44]
Admiral Masso
I don't, I can't see clearly, but I'm, I'm almost certain that Admiral Cottle is there as well.
- [70:10]
Narrator
After the verge, each fighter will look to max perform their aircraft by pulling to the load limit of the aircraft at 7.5 GS as they raid around and approach the next merge, each fighter is looking to cue and employ both the AIM120 and AIM9X missiles to take out their adversary and win the fight. Both fighters in a similar aircraft will look to capitalize on errors made by the other pilots who gain the offensive position. The fighters are now approaching the second neutral merge. One aircraft has decided to execute a nose high maneuver and gain a positional advantage. Preparing to employ the AIM120 to kill their adversary, they will open their weapons bay doors and the fighter that has a positional advantage will max perform to get them behind their adversary and maintain the offensive position. After Employing both the AIM120 and the AIM9X, the offensive fighter will not maneuver to execute a gain attack on their adversary in an attempt to gain a 1v1 engagement victory.
- [71:34]
Steve Gruber
Paul Morgan, tell the audience what would seven GS feel like?
- [71:40]
Steve Bannon
Well, as a helicopter pilot, it would be bad. I think the max I've ever done is like four or five in flight school, but seven G's is, that'll make you tired.
- [71:56]
Steve Gruber
The edge of human endurance.
- [72:00]
Narrator
We will see the E2D up close and personal in flight. The E2D is the Navy's premier carrier borne airborne early warning asset. It provides impressive radar detection ranges and works alongside the rest of the carrier's troop as the eye in the sky maintained. Atop the fuselage you can see a large rotating dish. This is a powerful APY9 radar that allows the E2D to maintain situational awareness to the battle space. It plays a critical role in ensuring the carrier strike group defenseless.
- [72:25]
Steve Gruber
This.
- [72:44]
Narrator
During large scale engagements. It is up to the E2D that is providing crucial intelligence and direction to the aircraft. Engage in the prosecution of threats and aircraft and surface vessels.
- [73:17]
Steve Gruber
It a touch and go right there. President is down on the flight deck. It's. It's pretty amazing. Very amazing actually. See the resting. The hook, the tail hook right there. So Paul, walk us through that. What that tail hook is there to catch the arresting gear. How difficult is that?
- [74:40]
Steve Bannon
Well it's, you know I again I was a not a jet guy but the aids to landing are so much better. And this is such a magnificent airplane. But a lot of it's done glide slope wise and the, the admiral said it earlier, let's call the ball and they'll get you down. But one quick aside. You remember Jeff Strabel, all right.
- [75:03]
Steve Gruber
Sure.
- [75:04]
Steve Bannon
His daughter is the E2NFO in the last.
- [75:13]
Steve Gruber
Was the E2NFO where in the last.
- [75:16]
Steve Bannon
Top Gun movie when Tom Cruise is Talking to the E2. That's.
- [75:20]
Captain Fennell
Wow.
- [75:21]
Steve Gruber
Wow.
- [75:21]
Narrator
I know.
- [75:21]
Steve Bannon
I thought I'd share that with you.
- [75:24]
Steve Gruber
That, that's amazing.
- [75:28]
Steve Bannon
I know, it's awesome.
- [75:30]
Steve Gruber
See the, see the tail hook right there?
- [75:33]
Captain Fennell
Yep.
- [75:35]
Steve Gruber
So folks, if that tailhook doesn't get the arresting gear, that's the touch and go. You're at full throttle so you just touch and go right back up. That's what they practice all the time before they teach them how to actually land it. Sonny, we've been a couple three of those exercises off of San Diego where they're taking the pilots from, from Miramar. Teach them how to land on carriers. Right. A couple of three can do the touch and goes.
- [76:02]
Narrator
But they can't do that.
- [76:03]
Steve Gruber
They can't do that.
- [76:04]
Narrator
The aircraft is equipped with the M61A1 Vulcan Gatling gun housed in the nose. The weapon fires 20 millimeter rounds at a staggering of 6,000 rounds per minute to precisely destroy small targets while minimizing collateral damage. The 20 millimeter cannon is equipped with a semi armor piercing high explosive incinerator rounds which are fired at supersonic speeds to inflict heavy damage to their targets. Each aircraft will execute a well honed strafe pattern diving at nearly 30 degrees straight at the target and unleashing the Vulcan's firepower in a demonstration of the F18's ability to prosecute targets even when all bombs are expended.
- [76:56]
Steve Gruber
Sonny, we had the close end weapons system to put up that wall of steel to stop a missile from hitting a surface vessel at the last second. This is kind of what we have in the air in one of these fighter aircraft. This Vulcan gun is kind of similar. You're just putting down a wall of lead to rip apart shatter anything in front of you.
- [77:19]
Narrator
We will see them dispensing flares and executing a guns jink in order to defend against enemy air defense artillery and surface air missiles and look to return to base safely. Next UP is the MH60 Sierra. The Sierra is the Navy's multi mission workhorse helicopter. It has two auxiliary fuel tanks and it can stay airborne for about four and a half hours, about two hours without it. Its max speed is 180 knots. It can carry up to £23,000 and £55 of internal fuel for special operations support. The MH60 Sierra can insert and extract Navy special warfare personnel by fast roping or static line as well as free fall parachute. It also provides ISR capabilities, sniper overwatch, JTAC support and helicopter visit board search and seizure for maritime interdiction. The armament for the MH60 Sierra includes the GAU 2150 caliber gun with nearly 2 kilometers effective range of M24 7.62 mm guns with an effective range of 1100 meters. When fully armed the MH60 Sierra can carry up to eight AGM 114 Hellfire missiles with an 8 kilometer reach and 20 mm 3 barrel M197 Gatling gun with up to 38 rounds of unguided 2.75 inch rockets. Using the digital rocket launcher, this platform can fire precise rockets at about 5,000 meters. Here we see the Sierra make three total approaches off a notional target off our port side. First deploying their unguided rocket payload before circling around the ship at the end of the run and now returning over the right shoulder we'll see a combination of 20mm machine guns, unguided rockets and lastly they will depart to the north prior to returning to suppress the area with crews surveying weaponry with 4050 caliber machine guns to ensure target destruction.
- [81:02]
Steve Gruber
Paul, the utility of those helicopters is pretty extraordinary. You've got anti submarine helicopters, you have a whole different. Walk us through quickly what the what the different types of helicopters are and how they add both of the you Got the surface combatants out there and the carrier.
- [81:18]
Steve Bannon
You know it's interesting Steve, I manage both of those programs, the Romeo and the Sierra. As the IPT lead we have only two helicopters now with the 53s we, we ran a program called the common cockpit. The cockpits are virtually the same. That's the key. So training and how we get people through the pipeline is completely different than what used to be where we all had stovepipe helicopters and training. The Sierra is more of the tactical insertion extraction. Romeo now is the ASW bird anti submarine bird, but they both have guns and missiles now and they're also MVG compatible, which they weren't for decades unfortunately. Magnificent airplanes by the way.
- [82:15]
Steve Gruber
Aeromasso, the helicopters add a whole different dimension when they're put on service combatants, do they not?
- [82:23]
Admiral Masso
Absolutely. And in fact if you think about different missions, specifically anti submarine warfare.
- [82:34]
Narrator
If.
- [82:34]
Admiral Masso
We are in contact with a submarine, you really want to fight that submarine with a helicopter.
- [82:41]
Narrator
What you are about to witness highlights the mobility, versatility and power of the most lethal carrier based strike fighter aircraft in the world. The F18 Super Hornet. Nicknamed the Rhino.
- [82:55]
Steve Gruber
It.
- [83:32]
Narrator
The F18. Pilots are now setting up for the minimum radius turn to the tailstand. With the max AB selected, the aircrew will select 90 degrees angle of bank and hold for 7.5 G's for a 360 degrees of turn. At the end of the minimum radius turn, aircraft will max perform to the vertical followed by a negative G pushover to return to level flights. Pilots are now setting up for the square loop. As the Super Hornets approach through the show center at 350, 50 miles an hour, the pilot will rapidly reposition, reposition the nose four times, flying a distinct square path through the sky. Ladies and gentlemen, from the left, the square loop.
- [85:19]
Steve Gruber
Admiral Massive. If you're in the, if you're in the deck of that carrier, deck of that carrier like the President's right now. When it goes by in stripes you can barely. It's pretty all encompassing.
- [85:29]
Narrator
As the pilots push out, they are now setting up for the inverted whisker. Pass it.
- [86:06]
Steve Gruber
Ladies. We're getting a direct feed from the carrier. I don't think anybody else, I don't think any other network's getting this. So it's really. And the Navy's doing this, switching of the camera so they're in control. There's some magnificent shots. If you had full volume of the sound you would barely be able to hear yourself think. It's, it's that loud, that all encompassing. There's A carrier right there, ladies and.
- [86:28]
Narrator
Gentlemen, naked, your cameras ready. The F18 is now setting up for their final maneuver, their photo pass. The aircraft will pass show center at a 90 degrees angle of bank and 200ft and in maximum afterburner.
- [87:10]
Steve Gruber
Paul Morgan, how many years of training does it take to be able to fly like this, these, these fighter pilots?
- [87:17]
Steve Bannon
Well, flight school is about a year and then depending on the aircraft, it's going to be at least another year. And then you go to your first squadron from what's called replacement Air Group. It takes about two and a half, three years in the pipeline to go on your first cruise. It's kind of amazing.
- [87:40]
Steve Gruber
Admiral Massa. We would be off in the San Diego OP area many weekends. Right. And when they were training those pilots to come out and do carrier landings.
- [87:52]
Narrator
Ladies and gentlemen, next UP is the F35C, the Navy's newest variant Joint Strike Fighter. It is the only fifth generation aircraft in the Navy's inventory and combines stealth with sensor fusion. The C model differs from other F35 variants with its larger wings, increased fuel capacity, added ailerons and enhanced landing gear, giving it the unique ability to launch and recover from the aircraft carrier at sea. Serving as the pilot today for the Demo will be Lieutenant Underdown, call sign Bam from Virginia Beach, Virginia.
- [88:37]
Steve Gruber
It.
- [89:09]
Narrator
Ladies and gentlemen, you are watching now the F35C repositioned for the minimum radius turn. As you're watching this, you will see that he was pressed in his seat at seven and a half times the force of gravity. To put that in perspective, during this maneuver, Bam's body weight will feel close to 1500 pounds. During an aerial dogfight, the F35C can execute extremely tight turns, giving the ability to rapidly reposition its nose and gain an advantage over the adversary. To now demonstrate the agility of the F35C, Lieutenant Underdown will approach for the tactical pitch. From a speed of 300 mph. Bam will select full AB, roll the aircraft 45 degrees and show the F35's ability to rapidly reposition its nose at high speeds and high angles of attack. He will then climb in the vertical, demonstrating the power of the Lightning II as he accelerates away from the ground.
- [89:56]
Steve Gruber
It.
- [90:23]
Narrator
The F35 will now set up for the high speed pass, pulling six GS back toward showline. He will then approach show center at 300ft and 95 mach. You may notice the white vapor coming off the aircraft indicating it is approaching the speed of sound at nearly 750 miles per hour. The ability to ingress at low altitudes and high speeds enables pilots to avoid detection and preserve the element of surprise.
- [90:47]
Steve Gruber
It. Captain Morgan, what seven G's if it's. If you weigh 1500 pounds, how do you even function in the cockpit?
- [91:38]
Steve Bannon
Well, they have G suits on and they. The design of the seats is actually really good. You're leaning back a lot more than you used to. So to pull four GS and like a T34 is, is hard, but it's. To pull seven leaning backwards with a G suit on, it's going to be. It's going to feel like you had no G suit. Sitting in a 34 at about 4 G's that's about the way it feels. But you'll black out. That's the way it goes.
- [92:11]
Steve Gruber
Oh, look at that. That's magic. Emerald Massa. What do we have right there?
- [92:21]
Admiral Masso
I can't tell. It looks like a. I can't tell. Looks like a cruise.
- [92:34]
Steve Gruber
Hopefully maybe we get a helicopter demonstration off the, off the fantail. I would tell you one thing, Captain Morgan, as dangerous it is for those fighter aircraft coming in on as you guys used to do with no visibility, no horizon in the dead of night is pretty, pretty dangerous when you got like a. When the frigates and destroyers, those small laying decks are bouncing around. Correct, it is.
- [93:00]
Steve Bannon
But your brother had a lot harder time than I did. Steve's brother was an H2 pilot. I was an H60 guy. 60s are so robust. They're just so much more stable than the old age two. But it's challenging, but it's got its place in aviation. But the carrier stuff is really quite something.
- [93:19]
Narrator
For the culminating events air power demonstration, all participating in the aircraft will return overhead the aircraft carrier for one final flyover. This formation represents the full complement of the carrier air wing, embodying the strength, precision and professionalism of United states Naval Aviation. 14 War ready aircraft will thunder across the sky in a disciplined wedge formation. While the MH60 displays the colors of our nation, a solemn reminder of the freedoms we protect. Each aircraft is a vital instrument of our Navy's war fighting capabilities. Combining power, precision and unwavering resolve. Together they stand as a shield for America's interest, A testament to our credible deterrence and if called upon an overwhelming force.
- [94:40]
Steve Gruber
Paul, is that we're putting down, actually putting down a diver or putting down someone to actually rescue a. A pilot because Sonny had mentioned that the Arbriano. The real way, when you have a man overboard during one of these exercises in the fleet and you get guys blown overboard all the time by the jets. The plane guard ships right in back. But the best way actually to get them is by the helicopter. Can get them quicker before because I can tell you and Sunny, I think, will vouch for this. Very hard to send when you're blown overboard. That ocean is pretty vast. Even if you're on top of it. Very hard to see. Still. The helicopter is the best way to rescue somebody, correct?
- [95:21]
Admiral Masso
It is.
- [95:22]
Steve Bannon
And the interesting part is they'll send an air crewman down on the hook to make sure if who we're rescuing is hurt or disabled, that the air crewman will take care of the person and they'll both winch up together.
- [95:37]
Steve Gruber
There's the commander in chief. Did that whole exercise from the. From the actual flight deck itself. Wow. Talk about in harm's way. Admiral Masso talked about the lamps. You've. They're come right there. The. The wedge. They're coming across now. The entire representative of the air wing.
- [95:59]
Narrator
Itself, ladies and gentlemen, give it up for United States naval aviation.
- [96:06]
Steve Gruber
Pretty impressive. Always.
- [96:15]
Narrator
Ladies and gentlemen, as we conclude today's sea power demonstration, we stand united in awe and gratitude for United States Navy, a force forged in the crucible of history and the stalwart defender of American freedom for over two centuries. From the daring frigates of the Revolutionary war, which challenged the might of the British Empire, to the steel battleships that secured victory in two world wars, from the vigilant silent service of submarines during the cold war to the swift carrier presence that projects power in today's global arena, the navy has stood as the unwavering shield of our nation. These waters have been the proving grounds of heroes like John Paul Jones, whose legendary resolve declared, I have not yet begun to fight. They echo with great value of the great white fleet that carried America's message of strength and diplomacy throughout the globe. They remembered the sacrifice at Midway and Leyte Gulf, where fate and freedom was decided in the open seas and the skies above. Today, as we witness the might and precision of this modern fleet, we honor the generations of sailors who have answered the call to defend liberty and uphold justice. Their courage, skills and dedication have preserved the peace and prosperity we cherish. To the men and women of the United States Navy, you are the inheritors of this proud legacy, the embodiment of America's promise to stand vigilant and strong against our nation's enemies. We salute your unwavering commitment, your honor and your sacrifice. May your sails always catch the winds of victory. May your watch be ever steadfast. And may God bless the United States Navy and the United States of America.
- [98:00]
Steve Gruber
Obviously. Very impressive. The Commander in Chief. I think we'll spend a few minutes with the crew and then maybe with the officers. He'll be heading back to Norfolk. We got Steve Gruber there. There's going to be a actual series of talks and the President will address that vast crowd that's on the deck of the USS Truman.
- [98:40]
Narrator
Should I just keep talking what you guys are doing?
- [98:42]
Steve Gruber
Okay, maybe we go back, we get a shot of the Truman. I think it's going to shift there and they're going to be some speakers. Prior to the there's Titans of the Sea, Admiral Masso, the lamps helicopters coming in on a small frigate or destroyer in the middle of the night with no horizon. Pretty dangerous operation for naval aviators and the personnel on the tiny little flight decks back there on the frigates and destroyers.
- [99:09]
Admiral Masso
You know, I always found the level of professionalism of the air debts that we deployed with to be extraordinary. And we had what we called R2D2, which was the computer and robot in Star wars. And that was our glide slope indicator. And as they would make their final approaches, we would turn on the run the flight deck lights and the sgli, the glide slope indicator. And they just were so professional. And as you recall, we were able to land 40 sixes. We landed H3s and SH2 Seasprite helicopters. And in the pilots were extraordinary. They just did an. An amazing job.
- [100:00]
Steve Gruber
Incredible. Incredible. So proud. My kid brother's a lamp sp Right there you see the color guard. Let's go and cut back to the. Let's cut back to the main deck. Don't need to see me, people. Here we go right now.
- [100:14]
Chaplain
250Th birthday. As one force and of one voice, we remember and we celebrate both our storied past and our proud heritage. With the origins of the Navy predating our independence, our Continental Congress knew that a fleet of sufficient force was necessary for protection of our colonies and even for freedom itself. With your hands and through your vessels, our Navy was born as a force for good. Today we celebrate one another. Sailors and Marines who are the lifeblood of our force and the heart of our birthday celebration. And we are deeply grateful for all our shipmates past and present who have thrown themselves upon the sea again and again in the service of our great country and the finest, most powerful Navy and Marine Corps the world has ever seen. May you fill this space now with your divine presence, presence in power. As we commemorate this momentous occasion together, may you gird us with toughness and discipline as war fighters, even as we work diligently to deter and passionately to preserve peace through strength. May you make us ready and resilient when the call of duty comes as protectors of our nation and guarantors of freedom. The seas and may you forevermore watch over and bless those who serve upon the sea, above the sea and under the sea as we sail towards a bold future together. Amen. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Rabbi Jonathan War. We come together now to acknowledge and memorialize those who came before us. Eternal God. For generations they came, young, hopeful, enthusiastic, to serve, to answer a call from their nation, from their communities, from you. We pray for them, for those who answered the call to serve in the United States Navy and in the United States Marine Corps for 250 years. They came in times of war and in times of peace. They came because freedom, democracy, union, revolution, ask it, require it, demand it. And they answer that call they gave of themselves, of their intellect, of their vigor, of their spirit. And because of that, today we stand on their shoulders and we are eternally grateful for their service. God, Master of healing, we ask you, tend to the emotional and physical well being of our nation's sea service veterans. May they never feel forgotten by those whose liberty they have so steadfastly defended. Lord, aid the caregivers who tend to their wounds. El Mali Raham God, full of compassion, hold close those who made the ultimate sacrifice, who died in the selfless devotion to the greater whole. May they be bound up in the bond of eternal life and may they rest in peace. Lord, remember their parents, partners, children and all the loved ones they left behind. Protect and comfort them, bring them peace, bring them grace. In this semi quincentennial of our Navy and Marine Corps, may all assemble here. May all our fellow service members and may all our nation come to know and savor the blessings of true peace and security. May God bless us and our nation and let us say Amen. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Father Daniel.
- [104:11]
Narrator
Schwartz.
- [104:17]
Chaplain
Eternal Father, strong to save. Throughout sacred Scripture, you have raised men and women and entire peoples to enact your will. Never just for themselves, but also for those entrusted to their care. Behind and next to each sailor and Marine are fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters and sons and daughters, families from whom we go out and to whom we return each time we take to the sea and set foot on foreign shores. The gift of life is a precious and sacred act, the holy bond of a family. We ask your blessing upon the families of America who have offered their sons and daughters in the noble service of persevering in the causes of truth, justice and humanity. May they be protected in our absence and fortified in their waiting vigilance. And while steel ships and ranks of proud uniforms capture the imagination, birthdays, by their nature are family affairs. Today is no exception in our celebration of 250 years of naval and marine service. May we persevere in our thankfulness for the families whose sacrifices run parallel to our own, Lord our God. We ask this final grace to remain steadfast in mission, resolute in our character, and devoted to the threefold legacy you have bestowed upon us which we celebrate today, our families, our fleet, and our great nation. May the good work you have begun in us all be brought to fulfillment.
- [106:04]
Steve Gruber
Amen.
- [106:10]
Chaplain
Ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing as musician 2nd Class Morgan Ramirez leads us in the national anthem.
- [106:22]
Steve Bannon
O say can you see by the dawn's early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight O' er the ramparts we watched Were so gallantly streams and.
- [106:57]
Narrator
The rugged red glare the bombs bursting in air Gave proof through the night.
- [107:09]
Steve Bannon
That our flag was still there O.
- [107:15]
Steve Gruber
Say does that star spangled banner yet we wave.
- [107:24]
Steve Bannon
O' er the land of.
- [107:27]
Steve Gruber
The free.
- [107:31]
Steve Bannon
And the home of the brave.
- [107:47]
Narrator
Ready? Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the.
- [108:18]
Chaplain
Stage the chief of protocol of the United States, Ambassador Monica Crowley.
- [108:41]
Ambassador Monica Crowley
Go, girl. Hello, Naval Station Norfolk. This is my first time here, guys, and this is absolutely awesome. It's such a joy and an honor to be here at the world's largest naval base and home to the US Navy's Fleet Forces Command. Especially today when we all gather to salute the remarkable first 250 years of our incredible United States Navy. I am deeply honored to join President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Secretary Hedseth, Secretary Collins, Secretary Phelan, and, of course, all of you to celebrate 250 years of naval power and American might. The United States Navy has a glorious and storied past of historic victories at sea. From the small but determined Continental Navy sealing American independence in the Battle of the Chesapeake, to victory over the Barbary pirates in the Barbary wars, to the first battle of ironclad warships at Hampton Roads, to the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish American War, to the Battle of Midway, which turned the tide in the Pacific theater in World War II, to the biggest naval battle in history, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which shattered the enemy's naval capabilities for the rest of the Second World War. The United States Navy has always protected and defended American freedom, brought glory upon glory to our great nation. Today, history sets sail again and we all have a front seat to freedom in motion as we honor America's awesome sea power. This big birthday party for the US Navy is part of a year long celebration of our exceptional history and the start of a new era of American greatness. Today, we launch the next 250 years of supreme US naval power and of American liberty, dynamism, leadership and pride. And what an absolute gift it is to have President Trump in the White House during this epic moment in our nation's history. Now, some of us may recall America's bicentennial in 1976, when we were all very, very, very young. One of my early memories as a little girl is gathering with my family at the Jersey shore to celebrate that very special day. I'll never forget the indelible sense of American patriotism that took root in me that day. I can't remember the specifics of July 4, 1976, but I do remember gazing in wonder at the fireworks, holding red, white and blue sparklers, waving a small American flag, and singing the national anthem with hundreds of others. Whether or not you remember every detail of that day, you do remember how you felt proud to be an American. It is now our privilege to share this excitement, experience this core memory with the next generation of young Americans. From sea to shining sea. On the eve of America's 250th birthday, the national mood is one of celebration. Americans are optimistic about the future. Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Hedseff, we are renewed, renewing our commitments to military might and peace. Through strength, we are working together to realign and reunite our great nation around our shared patriotic values and a renewed sense of civic pride. As we sail toward July 4, 2026, there is no greater chance of for this new patriotism than President Donald J. Trump. I am so honored to be part of our national birthday party and to join with all of you in welcoming our exceptional Commander in Chief here today with the kind of tremendous reception he so greatly deserves. We are now in a moment in our history when, thanks to President Trump, we are turning the tide again, just as the revolutionary generation that founded our great Navy did. It is now our time to take big risks to save our country. And it is our duty to honor our past generations and their staggering sacrifices for which we owe them a huge debt of gratitude. We are the natural successors to the Revolutionary War generation. Fiercely independent, ruggedly individualist, faithful to God and to country with a white hot love of liberty and the unique, enduring American spirit. It's been said that great civilizations tend to not last more than about 250 years. We've made it to 249 with our big 250 next year. But preparing for our next 250 years requires forever vigilance. Something that the Navy has maintained with excellence, fortitude and commitment to duty for two and a half centuries. President Trump is reclaiming the American Republic for the American people. He is launching us into the next 250 years of American greatness, as he did in his first term by delivering a strong economy, an enforced border and record low illegal immigration, a rebuilt, modernized military with record recruitment, a government that actually serves its people and world peace. America first. Next year's momentous celebration will be thanks to his leadership in activating a national and worldwide celebration of America's 250th birthday. We are preparing to honor and celebrate our nation's history in unforgettable ways. From our military anniversaries, as we're doing here today, to a majestic flotilla of tall ships from around the world, to many other really big surprises, we know that this celebration will have a truly global impact, showcasing American power and leadership while promoting a future of peace and prosperity. America's 250th is so much more than just a date on the calendar. This moment will inspire a new era of American greatness. Not only will this be the most monumental and exciting celebration in American history, but it will spark a shared vision for America's future. And Lord knows we need that. Thanks to the Trump administration, next Independence Day will be a once or twice in a lifetime moment of sparkling American grandeur and patriotism. This is the new golden age. And with God's help, we will make America even greater over the next 250 years. And it's all made possible by the unmatched force of the United States Navy and the invitation, innumerable sacrifices of every man and woman who has put on the naval uniform. We owe so much of America's independence on July 4, 1776, to the birth of the Navy on October 13, 1775. Today, our hearts are filled with gratitude and pride for you, the men and women of the United States Navy, and your indispensable role in securing the first 250 and the next 250 years of American greatness. Happy birthday, U.S. navy. Because of you, we continue to be the beacon of hope, a citadel of liberty and a light in the darkness. Thank you God bless you. God bless our commander in chief, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.
- [119:23]
Steve Gruber
Ambassador Crowley. Now, Ambassador Crowley's not only had a protocol for the President, the vice president and the Secretary of State, but also as a, as a side deal, is doing the is running America to 50. Captain Fennell, give me a, give me your thoughts of what you've seen so far in the naval exercise. We're going to cut back to the stage as soon as we, as soon as we have some more speakers. Your thoughts so far, what you've seen, sir?
- [119:51]
Captain Fennell
Well, the air power demonstration and the carrier strike group operations writ large reminded me of, you know, my time in the fleet. And I think one aspect that folks would be interested to know about is that the strike planning that goes on on board the carrier and that we do cyclical flight operations. So they'll start flying, say at noon, and they'll fly and launch two dozen aircraft and they'll recover them in an hour and a half or two hours later, and they'll do that cycle again. And they'll do up to 10 or 12 cycles a day, normally during a deployment, on an average flight day. So that's several, over 100 planes. More than 100 planes will be launched throughout the day, closer to 200. And that kind of sustained carrier operations is something that still no one can do like we can. And I think that's really the power of the Navy and our naval air wings and our carrier strike groups and the associated platforms is that we can bring sustained operations over a long duration. In fact, we've tested it. You can go for about four days straight running 247 cyclical carrier flight operations, and then all of a sudden the equipment doesn't break down, but the people do. They need a rest. And that's why when we have multiple carriers, one carrier will be up on the line and another carrier may be back resting for a day or two, and then they'll switch in and out. And that gives us really even a much more power. So that's the kind of power that we have in our Navy in those cyclical operations where they're planning their flight operations, where they're going to fly, what targets are going to strike, and then they go out and they do it and they come back and they report their results to the carrier intelligence team that collates all this data, does the battle damage, bomb damage assessment, and contributes to the war fight, whether it's over land or at sea. This is really something that's unique to any other nation. In the history of mankind, our ability to do this with so many carriers over the course of the last 80 years. And that's the area where we want to stay ahead and make sure that we have the latest and greatest technology to keep us ahead of what the Chinese are building, because they're trying to replicate what we have built. They can't generate the kind of sorties today with the first two carriers that they have. They just can't do it. They're not big enough and don't have the capacity they're follow on carriers. They're going to try to do what we're doing. And so this is the real challenge.
- [122:31]
Steve Gruber
We're standing by waiting for the commander in chief to return to Norfolk Naval Station and come aboard the Truman where he would give remarks. Thousands of sailors and other family members there on the deck of the Truman and in the stands off to the side, Cleo Pascal, you have done a fantastic job of telling us about the importance of the Pacific and that we're a Pacific power in the United States Navy as needed for power projection everywhere, but particularly confronting the Chinese Communist Party in the, in the Pacific and particularly the western Pacific. Give us your your thoughts about today so far.
- [123:11]
Ambassador Monica Crowley
Oh, it's been great. And I think that the message that's being sent not only to the American people but to the Chinese planners, that this is an administration that is serious about the Navy. They're showing off the capabilities, but they're also just showing off the pride, which means that you may start to see some new investment which would be sorely needed, is, is hopefully going to resonate. And as you see the, the resonance within the public across the United States, especially after the speech to the flag officers by the Secretary of War and the president and the fact that recruitment numbers are up, you're dealing with a completely different military and a different political approach to the military than the US has seen in a very long time. So this is on many levels, not, not just in terms of capabilities, but also in terms of what we've talked about before. Political warfare, narrative warfare. This has been a very important day.
- [124:09]
Steve Gruber
Admiral Masso, your thoughts? You're closer to this than many of us. Given the Pete Hex's thought, the Secretary of War, the President's kind of telling the generals about where we're going to go in the future today. Do you think not just Capitol Hill, but you think our enemies in Beijing are taking notice of the pride of the American people in their fleet and the capabilities of this fleet?
- [124:32]
Admiral Masso
I think without question, they Are they are watching this and you know an overused term, shock and awe. That's what we kind of see saw today. We saw a vast capability of special and unique skill sets. We saw the diversity of tasks. A lot of these ships, these Aegis Cruisers and guided missile destroyers can perform, you know, 12 to 18 separate missions. Our helicopter is a long arm extension of all of those capabilities and of course you know, know who would we be without our fighter jets and, and in that. So I think what we saw today was so impressive, impressive especially from the undersea side we can bring a lot of capability to a fight and our sailors are so well trained. And one of the things we learned, you know from the end of the Cold War was that the, the Soviets didn't really employ their enlisted people like we employ our enlisted people. And the backbone of our fleet are those individuals. And I know you knew that I see it every day and I spoke at a ship reunion last night and in all those sailors there were so proud of what they accomplished in their careers. And it's the best part of our, our battle plans are our people.
- [126:02]
Steve Gruber
Talked about that Admiral Massa, the difference in the way that the United States Navy thinks of and utilizes the enlisted man and the understanding. The chiefs run the Navy just like the sergeants run the Army. The non commissioned officers talk about the, about how integrated it is different than some more hierarchical. Even the Royal Navy, but particularly the, the Soviet Union's Navy.
- [126:27]
Admiral Masso
Well if you think about it, we have a structure on every Navy ship that if you're looking at it like a union, you know, we have apprentice, we have journeymen and we have masters and the apprentice are the brand new sailor that comes aboard and may do damage control maintenance as a collateral aside, but it helps them learn the functions of the ship. The same is true even with food service that they have to participate in. But once they start, you know, really learning their jobs and start making rank, you know, third class petty officer, second class petty officer, they enter the, the world of the journeyman and then we start teaching them leadership. And it's a, it's really, it's an algorithm that has been so successful for all these years because we give these sailors every opportunity to crush any limitations that they have. And not every ship is like that. You know, if you were to look at say the old Soviet system, you know, they didn't really get into the journeyman and master officers did all of the tricky maintenance and that. And we value our people and this is why a second class petty officer can get down there and fix some gear that, you know, a lot of other navies would have to call, you know, technical experts to fly in and fix, but yet our people can do that. The greatest part of today's exhibition was demonstrating just how many and how wonderful our sailors are that can pull off all of those multitasks.
- [128:16]
Steve Gruber
Okay, we're waiting for. We're going to go to Steve Gruber now on the riser. Thank you, Admiral Massaro. Guys are going to stick around presence due back off of the, carry the strike group back to Norfolk Naval Station, back to the Truman, going to address the sailors and family members there. Steve Gruber, you're on the riser. What do you got for us, brother?
- [128:40]
Captain Fennell
It's a packed house and I can tell you about the enthusiasm here.
- [128:43]
Narrator
I took the time to speak to some of these sailors, the men and.
- [128:46]
Captain Fennell
Women of the United states Navy today, 20, 25.
- [128:49]
Narrator
I stood out there and mingled with them for a bit.
- [128:51]
Captain Fennell
What do you think about the United States right now?
- [128:53]
Narrator
How's morale? Better than it has been, they said. And I think that's a big takeaway.
- [128:57]
Captain Fennell
Here because this is a big pep.
- [128:58]
Narrator
Rally for the United States Navy, as we've talked about 250 years. And so it's encouraging because, you know, Steve, if you listen to the left.
- [129:05]
Captain Fennell
Wing media think that, you know, the media or the military is not with Donald Trump, that's absolutely false.
- [129:12]
Narrator
When I sit here and talk to these young men and women, some of them have been in a couple of.
- [129:16]
Captain Fennell
Years, some been in 15 or 20 years. They say morale is better today than it has been for a number of years. And you can figure out why. They have a commander in chief.
- [129:23]
Narrator
They believe in a commander chief who.
- [129:25]
Captain Fennell
Sits out there and watches all of their equipment get used. It's impressive, there's no question about it. And the applause that ripped through here every time.
- [129:33]
Narrator
They really like the submarines, by the way. That's a big favorite for the crowd here. But all of the equipment they're showing off, it is, it's electric. The weather is, it's hot.
- [129:41]
Steve Gruber
I'm not going to kid you.
- [129:42]
Narrator
It's a perfect day.
- [129:44]
Captain Fennell
Donald Trump should be here, oh, in the next 20, 30 minutes, we assume.
- [129:47]
Narrator
And I'm looking forward to it, to.
- [129:49]
Captain Fennell
What the president has to say here because he has a very positive, receptive crowd. And look, like I said, it's packed. It's hard to get through the crowd here anymore. It's packed all the way back. Thousands of men and women from the United States Navy are here.
- [130:02]
Narrator
It's a, it's a great scene. Absolutely great scene.
- [130:07]
Steve Gruber
Steve, hang on for a second. We'll come back to you. We're going to come back to the deck of the Truman. I want to give a hat tip to the musical director. Finally, we're getting some great music up there. Not that the Navy band wasn't playing great, great music before, but I think it's a little more appropriate, a little more martial, as we say. We're going to take a short commercial break. We got Admiral Sonny Masso, Captain Paul Morgan, Captain Jim Fernell, Cleo Pascal. Short commercial break. Will return to real America's voice, Navy 250 in A.
- [130:50]
Steve Bannon
We'll be right back with more Navy 250 sea power and freedom. We want to thank our sponsor, Patriot Mobile for standing with Rav.
- [131:05]
Steve Gruber
This is an iHeart podcast.