Mothball fleet location?

Question

As an old salt, I am interested in the mothball fleet. Navy websites list the location of many mothballed ships as the James River, but exactly where on the James are they located? Is there a visual access point or is it close to a road where you can see some of the ships? Any info would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Benicia, California, USA is the main "mothball fleet"

But if you are looking for a site on the James River then check out mulberry point.

If you have Google Earth. Just zoom in to the US Naval Base at Norfolk then just go up river about 20-23 miles

If you don't have google earth, then just go to google maps. zoom in to the James river area up river from Norfolk. zoom to the middle of the river right at Ft. Eustice. then switch to satellite view.
VIOLA!

Answer 2

The previous answer about the James River Fleet is correct. It is east of rte. 64. There are also a FEW (Sub tenders) outside the Norfolk Naval Shipyard at the Inactive Fleet compound by the Jordon Bridge (outside my warehouse) with the USS L.Y.Spear AS-36, the USS Simon Lake AS-33 and the USS McKee AS-41.

(USN/retired)

Answer 3

Sorry I don't have any LANTFLT info...

But I've been driving past the Suisun Bay Fleet near Benicia, CA since the 1960's...

There are also a few of our carriers mothballed up in Bremerton, WA.

Sadly almost ALL my old boats (FFG's, DD, and old carriers) are now in foreign fleets or scrap.

Answer 4

I don't know about the one you are talking about, but if you go to Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Navy Yard is still filled with old ships waiting to be bought, scrapped or put back into use. You can see it from the stadium parking lots.

If you were to go to Pearl Harbor, go to Millilani and you can see 70 - 80 ships on the backside of the harbor.

Answer 5

There are about 45 old navy ships in the san fransisco bay near the town of benecia. you can even get a good view from a 'scenic viewpoint' off interstate 680.