USS Nathan James

USS Nathan James is a fictional ship of the United States Navy, used as the setting for the 1988 post-apocalyptic novel The Last Ship and the television series of the same name.

Book

USS Nathan James (DDG-80)
First appearance The Last Ship
Affiliation United States Navy
General characteristics
Class Nathan James-class guided missile destroyer
Armaments 2 × 61-cell Mk 41 Vertical Launching Systems, 56 nuclear-tipped Tomahawk cruise missiles
Power Nuclear reactor
Length 466 feet (142 m)
Width 59 feet (18 m)

USS Nathan James (hull code: DDG-80) is the lead ship of her class and has a beam of 59 feet (18 m), a draft of 27 feet (8.2 m), and a length of 466 feet (142 m), with a rated speed of 38 knots (43.73 mph; 70.38 km/h). The number at the end of the hull code stands for the ship's position in the series, while the letters "DD" stand for "Destroyer" and the "G" for "Guided Missile". The ship was named after a U.S. Navy ensign who was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in World War II.

Weaponry

Armed with two 61-cell Mk 41 Vertical Launching Systems, the Nathan James carries a payload of 28 nuclear-tipped Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles for each Vertical Launching System, for a total of 56 nuclear-tipped Tomahawk cruise missiles rated at 200 kilotons each.[1][2]

Television series

USS Nathan James (DDG-151)
First appearance The Last Ship
Affiliation United States Navy
General characteristics
Class Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer
Maximum speed 30+ knots (55+ km/h)
Auxiliary craft 2 × SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters
Armaments 1 × 32 cell, 1 × 64 cell Mk 41 vertical launch systems, 96 × RIM-66 SM-2, BGM-109 Tomahawk or RUM-139 VL-ASROC, missiles
1 × 5/62 in (127/62 mm), 2 × 25 mm, 4 × 12.7 mm guns
2 × Mk 46 triple torpedo tubes
1 x 20mm Phalanx CIWS
Propulsion 4 × General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines, 2 shafts
Power 100,000 shp (75 MW)
Length 509 feet (155 m)
Width 66 feet (20 m)

In the television series, USS Nathan James is homeported at Virginia's Naval Station Norfolk, rather than in Norway, as in the book. Its hull code is DDG-151, where in the book it is DDG-80. This change was made because USS Roosevelt, launched in 1999, was assigned the hull code DDG-80. In the pilot, "Phase Six", it is mentioned that the Nathan James has a crew complement of 217.[3] By the season 2 finale, "A More Perfect Union", CDR Chandler mentions that there are 204 crewmen on the Nathan James.[4]

In the season 2 finale, "A More Perfect Union", the Nathan James arrives in St. Louis, Missouri after defeating the Immunes and is scheduled to spend the next few months in drydock.

In "The Scott Effect", CAPT Slattery, CDR Garnett, CMC Jeter, LTJG Mason, Dr. Rios, GM2 Miller, and SA Diaz are taken prisoner from a Vietnamese nightclub by Asian pirates.[5] In "Shanzhai", CAPT Chandler, as ranking officer, retakes command of the Nathan James and names LT Granderson acting Executive Officer over LT Cameron Burk, a senior lieutenant who held the conn while CAPT Slattery was off-ship.[6] Upon the rescue of the prisoners of war in "Dog Day", CAPT Chandler returns command of the ship to CAPT Slattery.

USS Halsey (DDG-97) stands in for the television show's version of USS Nathan James. USS Halsey is a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and is armed with a 5"/62 caliber Mark 45 gun.[7]

Crew

Under CDR Chandler (2014-2015)

Civilians

Under CAPT Slattery (2016-Present)

Awards and decorations

The following are the medals and service awards depicted on the USS Nathan James.

 

These are:

See also

Notes

  1. Unknown rank

References

  1. Brinkley, William (February 1989). The Last Ship (Paperback ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. p. 3. ISBN 0345359828.
  2. Brinkley, William (February 1989). The Last Ship (Paperback ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. p. 21. ISBN 0345359828. USS Nathan James, DDG 80, guided missile destroyer, first of her class,
  3. "Phase Six". The Last Ship. Season 1. Episode 1. June 22, 2014.
  4. "A More Perfect Union". The Last Ship. Season 2. Episode 13. September 6, 2015.
  5. "The Scott Effect". The Last Ship. Season 3. Episode 1. June 19, 2016.
  6. "Shanzhai". The Last Ship. Season 3. Episode 3. June 26, 2016.
  7. "Naval Base San Diego; USS Halsey featured in "The Last Ship"". Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Justin L. Webb, Naval Base San Diego Public Affairs. United States Navy. November 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
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