Comments on: Camp Pendleton, California

By: Jan

Jan — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:05:56 +0000

It’s spelled Governator

By: pooms

pooms — Tue, 31 May 2005 00:03:53 +0000

Looks like more of the same here:
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

By: Sharky

Sharky — Tue, 24 May 2005 07:37:06 +0000

Govinator, those are called “LCACs” in military-speak, pronounced “ell-kack”. It stands for “Landing Craft, Air Cushion”. They are high-speed, amphibious landing craft used to transfer troops, weapons systems and cargo from ships to shore, and they are indeed still used. They have them here in Panama City, Florida at the Navy Coastal Systems Station and are seen operating on St. Andrew Bay occasionally.

Here’s a web page with details and photos: http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/lcac.htm

- Sharky

By: The Govinator

The Govinator — Mon, 23 May 2005 20:06:07 +0000

I didn’t even know we used hovercraft. Are they still used at all or are they just for show anymore?

By: Olly

Olly — Sun, 22 May 2005 21:21:02 +0000

Thanks for pointing that out caknuck, I’ve added it to to Large Type aswell.

By: Mike McCormick

Mike McCormick — Sun, 22 May 2005 20:39:23 +0000

That pad north of the hover craft base is used for helicopters to practice their ship landings. The clif there is about the height of an aircraft carrier. Don’t know if the Harriers use that pad since it is made out of temporary metal matting; the same stuff they made temporary fields out of in WWII. The heat from the Harrier and jet blast can be an issue.

Mike

PS: The Navy SEALS train near San Diego, on Coronodo Island.

By: caknuck

caknuck — Sun, 22 May 2005 18:16:37 +0000

What, no entry in the ‘Large Type’ category?

And is this where the Navy does it SEAL training?

By: Aaron

Aaron — Sun, 22 May 2005 03:28:07 +0000

If you follow the coastline northwest a bit, you come to first what looks like a very short runway and helipad. Could this be for practicing short take-off/landings in Harrier jump jets? Slightly further up is what looks to be a landing deck of a marine amphibious assault ship, again possible for practicing landings and takeoffs. Any thoughts?