Hello sailors, says Freo
More than 4000 US sailors and Marines have arrived in WA in a visit set to provide a big boost for local businesses.
USS Bonhomme Richard, USS Green Bay and USS Preble docked in Fremantle yesterday, and the submarine USS Jacksonville arrived at HMAS Stirling at Rockingham.
USS Bonhomme Richard. Picture: Simon Santi/The West Australian
The crews will relax and enjoy the sights and also take part in community service projects.
The ships in Fremantle are taking part in two-yearly training exercise Talisman Sabre 2015 and the Jacksonville is on routine patrol.
The amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard is the command ship for the US Expeditionary Strike Group Seven. The biggest vessel to dock, it is 257m long, weighs 40,500 tonnes, is home to 1200 crew and carries a range of vehicles and aircraft.
USS Green Bay (far), USS Bonhomme Richard (centre- aircraft carrier) and USS Preble (with tugs) at Fremantle Port. Picture: Simon Santi/The West Australian
The Green Bay can support more than 350 sailors and more than 700 marines. It has helicopters, tilt-rotor planes, landing craft and expeditionary fighting vehicles. The Preble has missiles and torpedoes and carries 270 sailors and 30 officers.
The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine Jacksonville has a crew of 144, including a Logistics Specialist who said he had never been south of the equator and was keen to “catch a game of footy and see a kangaroo”.
Fremantle Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Olwyn Williams said the visit would provide a multimillion-dollar boost for the city.
