Naval Station Mayport

{{Infobox military installation

| name = Naval Station Mayport

| ensign =

| ensign_size =

| native_name = Admiral David L. McDonald Field

| partof =

| location = Mayport, Florida

| nearest_town =

| country = the United States

| image = File:Unitas Gold 090421-N-UC848-013.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Aerial view of NS Mayport during 2009

| image2 = 200px

| alt2 =

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| type = Naval Base and Naval Air Station

| coordinates = {{Coord|30|23|31|N|81|25|25|W|region:US-ME_type:airport|display=inline}}

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| image_map =

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| pushpin_map = USA

| pushpin_mapsize =

| pushpin_map_alt =

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States

| pushpin_relief =

| pushpin_image =

| pushpin_label = NS Mayport

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| ownership = Department of Defense

| operator = US Navy

| controlledby = Navy Region Southeaest

| open_to_public =

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| code =

| built = 1939–1942

| used = December {{Start date|1942}} – present

| builder =

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| condition = Operational

| battles =

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| current_commander = Captain Brian A. Binder

| past_commanders =

| garrison = United States Fourth Fleet

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| website = {{Official website|https://cnrse.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NS-Mayport/}}

| IATA = NRB

| ICAO = KNRB

| FAA = NRB

| TC =

| LID =

| GPS =

| WMO = 722066

| elevation = {{Convert|15|ft|-1|abbr=on}}

| r1-number = 5/23

| r1-length = {{Convert|8001|ft|-1|abbr=on}}

| r1-surface = Asphalt

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| footnotes = Source: FAA,{{FAA-airport|ID=NRB|use=PR|own=MN|site=03320.*A}}, effective 2007-10-25. official site[http://www.nsmayport.navy.mil/ Naval Station Mayport] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040320100511/http://www.nsmayport.navy.mil/ |date=2004-03-20 }} (official site)

}}

File:Aerial NS Mayport with CV-60 and CV-64 1993.JPEG

Naval Station Mayport {{Airport codes|NRB|KNRB|NRB}} is a major United States Navy base on San Pablo Island{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Jacksonville City Council votes to name San Pablo Island |url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/politics/2012/10/24/jacksonville-city-council-votes-name-san-pablo-island/15850055007/ |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=The Florida Times-Union |language=en-US}} in Jacksonville, Florida. It contains a protected harbor that can accommodate aircraft carrier-size vessels, ship's intermediate maintenance activity (SIMA) and a military airfield (Admiral David L. McDonald Field) with one asphalt paved runway (5/23) measuring {{convert|8,001|×|200|ft|m|abbr=on}}.

Base history

Image:Naval Station Mayport, Florida.jpg

The station was commissioned in December 1942. It was reclassified as a Naval Sea Frontier base in 1943.military-technology.com A new naval auxiliary air station (NAAS) was established in April 1944. The naval section Base and the NAAS supported the Atlantic Fleet during World War II. Both were closed after the war. In June 1948, Mayport was reestablished as a naval outlying landing field. The base area was increased to {{convert|1,680|acre}} and the runway was extended in the mid 1950s.

{{USS|Tarawa|CVS-40|6}} became the first capital ship to use the new aircraft carrier basin in October 1952. The Base was renamed back to a Naval Auxiliary Air Station in July 1955. The naval station was extended to accommodate more ships, sailors and their families and the airfield re-designated as a separate naval air station in 1988. As part of post-Cold War force reductions and staff consolidations, NAS Mayport was merged back into NS Mayport in 1992.{{cite web | url=https://www.navysite.de/homeports/mayport.htm | title=Naval Station Mayport }}

NS Mayport has grown to become the third-largest naval surface fleet concentration area in the United States. The station has a busy harbor capable of accommodating 34 ships and an {{convert|8001|ft|m|adj=on}} runway capable of handling most aircraft in the Department of Defense inventory.

Naval Station Mayport is also home to the Navy's U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / United States Fourth Fleet, reactivated in 2008 after being deactivated in 1950.

The base has historically served as the homeport to various conventionally powered aircraft carriers of the United States Atlantic Fleet, including {{USS|Shangri-La|CV-38|2}} (1960–1971), {{USS|Franklin D. Roosevelt|CV-42|2}} (1956–1977), {{USS|Forrestal|CV-59|2}} (1977–1993), {{USS|Saratoga|CV-60|2}} (1957–1994), and, most recently, {{USS|John F. Kennedy|CV-67|2}} (1995–2007). With the decommissioning of all conventionally-powered aircraft carriers by the U.S. Navy, no carriers are presently assigned to Mayport. However, both houses of Congress have passed legislation authorizing about US$75 million for dredging and upgrades at NAVSTA Mayport to accommodate a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier."Congress okays plan to upgrade Mayport", Jacksonville Transportation Examiner, October 23, 2009.{{cite web |url=http://www.news4jax.com/news/21397557/detail.html |title=Senate Passes Mayport Upgrade Bill: Bill To Go To President Barack Obama For Approval |publisher=News4jax.com |date=October 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026161202/http://www.news4jax.com/news/21397557/detail.html |archive-date=October 26, 2009 }}

On 29 January 2010, the Quadrennial Defense Review Report stated that a nuclear aircraft carrier would be homeported at NS Mayport. The action will help protect the fleet against a potential terror attack, accident or natural disaster, because all east coast aircraft carriers are currently based at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, according to the report. West coast aircraft carriers are split between Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California, Naval Base Kitsap and Naval Station Everett in Washington state and one carrier assigned to the Forward Deployed Naval Force (FDNF) homeported at Naval Base Yokosuka, Japan.

In 2009, Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense, stated, "Having a single (nuclear carrier) homeport has not been considered acceptable on the west coast and should not be considered acceptable on the east coast."{{cite web |url=http://www.camdenchamber.com/userfiles/File/Mayport_Carrier_April_2009(1).pdf |title=ISSUE: Aircraft Carrier Presence at Naval Station Mayport, FL |publisher=Camden County Chamber of Commerce |date=April 13, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The decision was opposed by elected officials in Virginia,{{cite web |url=http://jasra.org/Documents/PDFFiles/NewsReleases/scan0059.pdf |title=Mayport To Get Nuclear Aircraft Carrier |publisher=WJTX-TV |date=January 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726201509/http://jasra.org/Documents/PDFFiles/NewsReleases/scan0059.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-26 |url-status=dead }} who would lose 3,500 sailors and their dependents, $425 million in revenue each year, and most importantly, 6,000 support jobs.{{cite web |last=Bacon |first=Lance M. |url=http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/04/navy_mayport_042610w/ |title=Mayport carrier move not delayed, Navy says |publisher= Navy Times |date=April 28, 2010 }} The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce estimated the loss at 11,000 jobs and $650 million per year.{{cite web |url=http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2010/05/20/carrier-move-to-mayport-dead-in-the-water/ |title=Carrier move to Mayport dead in the water? |publisher= Navy Times |date=May 20, 2010 }} Infrastructure changes and facility construction at Mayport were estimated to take five years and cost over half a billion dollars. The 2011 budget committed $590 million during the fiscal years from 2011 to 2019, so a carrier may not move to Mayport until 2019.{{Cite web |url=http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-02-13/story/no-carrier-mayport-near-future-if-all |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-01-09 |archive-date=2013-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302084511/http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-02-13/story/no-carrier-mayport-near-future-if-all |url-status=dead }} An amphibious group was assigned sooner. The {{USS|Iwo Jima|LHD-7|6}} Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), consisting of Iwo Jima, {{USS|New York|LPD-21|6}} and {{USS|Fort McHenry|LSD-43|6}} relocated to Mayport between December 2013 and August 2014.{{Cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=78108 |title=USS New York Changes Homeport to Naval Station Mayport |access-date=2013-12-29 |archive-date=2013-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230232433/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=78108 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/local/military/2014/08/18/uss-iwo-jima-and-uss-fort-mchenry-arrive-at-mayport/14222517/|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140823040844/http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/local/military/2014/08/18/uss-iwo-jima-and-uss-fort-mchenry-arrive-at-mayport/14222517/|archive-date=2014-08-23|url-status=dead|title=USS Iwo Jima and USS Fort McHenry arrive at Mayport|access-date=2014-08-23}}

The Virginia congressional delegation fought the loss of even one of Naval Station Norfolk's aircraft carriers boost to their economy by citing other areas such as shipbuilding to spend the Navy's tight budget.{{cite news |last=Pershing |first=Ben |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/two-states-one-aircraft-carrier-and-no-end-in-sight/2011/05/16/AFVBBB5G_story.html |title=Two states, one aircraft carrier and no end in sight |newspaper=The Washington Post |date= May 16, 2011 }}

On 5 September 2018, the Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier, {{HMS|Queen Elizabeth|R08|6}} and escort frigate {{HMS|Monmouth|F235|6}}, arrived at Mayport for resupplying, on her first deployment to the United States for "Westlant 18".{{cite tweet|number=1037376570103681025|user=HMSQNLZ|title=Hello #USA Delighted to announce we have safely transited the pond and are proceeding alongside Mayport Florid… |date=5 September 2018}}

=Littoral Combat Ship Squadron Two=

A 2013 report from the Navy revealed that they are considering basing as many as 14 littoral combat ships at NS Mayport.{{cite web|url=https://news.usni.org/2013/09/09/fleet-forces-recommends-stationing-14-littoral-combat-ships-florida|title=Fleet Forces Recommends Stationing 14 Littoral Combat Ships in Florida|date=September 9, 2013}} Littoral Combat Ship Squadron Two (LCSRON2) was established at the base on 7 November 2014.{{Cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=84442 |title=Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 2 Established |access-date=2015-06-20 |archive-date=2018-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235142/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=84442 |url-status=dead }} All Freedom variant LCSs, with the exception of the {{USS|Fort Worth|LCS-3|2}} are assigned to LCSRON2. Currently {{USS|Wichita|LCS-13|2}}, {{USS|Billings|LCS-15|2}}, {{USS|Indianapolis|LCS-17|2}}, {{USS|St. Louis|LCS-19|2}}, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Cooperstown, and Marinette are assigned to the squadron, with upcoming ships Nantucket, Beloit, and Cleveland expected to be added as they come into service.{{cite web|url=http://www.jacksonville.com/news/2016-12-30/mayport-officials-get-glimpse-future-first-2-littoral-combat-ships|title=Mayport officials get glimpse into future first 2 Littoral Combat Ships|publisher=jacksonville.com|date=30 December 2016|access-date=25 February 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://mayportmirror.jacksonville.com/military-mayport-mirror/2017-01-04/story/mayport-welcomes-new-lcss-basin#.WpNeWSyWxnI|title=Mayport welcomes new LCSs to basin|publisher=mayportmirror.jacksonville.com|date=4 January 2017|access-date=25 February 2018|archive-date=26 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226211705/http://mayportmirror.jacksonville.com/military-mayport-mirror/2017-01-04/story/mayport-welcomes-new-lcss-basin#.WpNeWSyWxnI|url-status=dead}}

=Commander Naval Surface Group Southeast=

Mayport had been the home of Destroyer Squadron 14 for years. On 31 July 2015, the squadron was merged with Cruiser-Destroyer Readiness Support Detachment Mayport to form Naval Surface Squadron Fourteen (NAVSURFRON14). In 2024, the SURFRON was renamed to Commander Naval Surface Group Southeast (CNSG-SE). This was to facilitate changes in the roles and responsibilities of the Commodore. Currently, the surface group (SURFGRU) consists of the destroyers Ramage, Carney, The Sullivans, Donald Cook, Lassen, Mason, Farragut, Jason Dunham, Thomas Hudner, Delbert D. Black, and John Basilone''.{{cite web |title=Commander, Naval Surface Group Southeast About Us |date=10 November 2024 |url=https://www.surflant.usff.navy.mil/Organization/Supporting-Commands/Naval-Surface-Group/Commander-Naval-Surface-Group-South-East/About-Us/ |access-date=17 November 2024}}

=''Iwo Jima'' Amphibious Ready Group=

The Amphibious Ready Group is no longer based in Mayport. Iwo Jima shifted homeports to Naval Station Norfolk in December 2021, New York shifted in November 2021, and Fort McHenry was decommissioned in March 2021.{{cite web|title=USS New York Shifts Homeport to Norfolk|date=23 November 2020|url=https://seapowermagazine.org/uss-new-york-shifts-homeport-to-norfolk/}}{{Cite web|last=Mongilio|first=Heather|date=2021-12-13|title=USS Iwo Jima Arrives in New Homeport at Naval Station Norfolk|url=https://news.usni.org/2021/12/13/uss-iwo-jima-arrives-in-new-homeport-at-naval-station-norfolk|access-date=2021-12-13|website=USNI News|language=en-US}}

Homeported ships

Cutters (USCG) (1)
{{USCGC|Valiant|WMEC-621}}{{cite web |title=Valiant Joins Mayport Fleet |date=8 August 2012 |url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/military/2012/08/08/valiant-joins-mayport-fleet/15858358007/ |access-date=8 August 2012}}
Destroyers (12)
{{USS|Ramage|DDG-61}}{{cite web |title=USS Ramage heads to Naval Station Mayport after 30 years in Norfolk |date=5 April 2024 |url=https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/national/military-news/uss-ramage-head-to-naval-station-mayport-jacksonville-navy/77-71366c6d-0039-49e3-97e0-24668e38df5b#:~:text=JACKSONVILLE%2C%20Fla.,is%20until%20at%20least%202035. |access-date=11 November 2024}}
{{USS|Carney|DDG-64}}{{cite web |title=USS Carney Returns Home to Mayport |date=20 July 2020 |url=https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/2287360/uss-carney-returns-home-to-mayport/ |access-date=11 November 2024}}
{{USS|The Sullivans|DDG-68}}
{{USS|Donald Cook|DDG-75}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/392310/uss-arleigh-burke-prepares-home-port-shift-rota|title=USS Arleigh Burke Prepares for Home Port Shift to Rota|website=DVIDS}}
{{USS|Winston S. Churchill|DDG-81}}{{cite web |title=USS Winston S. Churchill Homeport Shift to Naval Station Mayport |date=19 July 2021 |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/6739565/uss-winston-s-churchill-homeport-shift-naval-station-mayport |access-date=20 July 2021}}
{{USS|Lassen|DDG-82}}
{{USS|Mason|DDG-87}}{{cite web |title=USS Mason arrives at new homeport of Mayport |date=22 August 2022 |url=https://www.jacksonville.com/picture-gallery/news/2022/08/22/uss-mason-arrives-new-homeport-mayport-naval-station/7865879001/ |access-date=11 November 2024}}
{{USS|Farragut|DDG-99}}
{{USS|Jason Dunham|DDG-109}}{{cite web |title=USS Jason Dunham arrives at new homeport of Mayport |date=13 February 2021 |url=https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2021/02/13/uss-jason-dunham-arrives-at-new-homeport-of-mayport/ |access-date=17 February 2021}}
{{USS|Thomas Hudner|DDG-116}}{{cite web |title=USS Thomas Hudner brought to life in Boston |date=3 December 2018 |url=https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/2249009/uss-thomas-hudner-brought-to-life-in-boston/ |access-date=11 November 2024}}
{{USS|Delbert D. Black|DDG-119}}{{cite web |title=New destroyer USS Delbert D. Black to be commissioned at Port Canaveral |date=18 September 2020 |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2020/09/18/navy-commission-new-destroyer-uss-delbert-d-black-port-canaveral/5826185002/ |access-date=12 December 2024}}
{{USS|John Basilone|DDG-122}}{{cite web |title=Navy commissions destroyer USS John Basilone, named for legendary Marine and Medal of Honor recipient |date=10 November 2024 |url=https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2024-11-10/navy-destroyer-uss-john-basilone-commissioned-15803352.html |access-date=11 November 2024}}
Littoral Combat Ships (9)
{{USS|Wichita|LCS-13}}
{{USS|Billings|LCS-15}}
{{USS|Indianapolis|LCS-17}}
{{USS|St. Louis|LCS-19}}
{{USS|Minneapolis-Saint Paul|LCS-21}}
{{USS|Cooperstown|LCS-23}}
{{USS|Marinette|LCS-25}}
{{USS|Nantucket|LCS-27}}{{cite web |title=New Navy ship USS Nantucket commissioned while 'stern to stern' with the oldest Navy ship |date=17 November 2024 |url=https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2024-11-16/uss-nantucket-commissioning-ceremony-boston-lcs-ship-15869743.html |access-date=10 November 2024}}
{{USS|Beloit|LCS-29}}

Adm David L. McDonald Field

On 1 April 1944, the air facility at Mayport was commissioned as Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Mayport. Following World War II, the NAAS was decommissioned and placed in a caretaker status. The United States Coast Guard took over the base and operated a small "Boot Camp" there for several years, but they vacated Mayport in late 1947 due to budget cuts. Mayport was reactivated again in June 1948 as a Naval Outlying Landing Field under the cognizance of the Commanding Officer, Naval Air Station Jacksonville. As helicopter aviation evolved during the Cold War, Mayport became the East Coast home for the Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) MK III squadrons. As a reflection of growth, Naval Air Facility Mayport was re-designated as a naval air station in 1988.{{cite web| url = https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Regions/cnrse/installations/ns_mayport/about/history/| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141219191850/https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrse/installations/ns_mayport/about/history.html| archive-date = 2014-12-19| title = History}}

=Aircraft wings and squadrons=

Helicopter wing

Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing, U.S. Atlantic Fleet

Helicopter squadrons

HSM-40 "Airwolves"{{cite web|url=https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Regions/cnrse/installations/ns_mayport/about/tenant_commands/|title=Tenant Commands|publisher=CNIC|access-date=October 29, 2021}}
HSM-48 "Vipers"
HSM-50 "Valkyries"{{cite book|title=AirForces Monthly|date=November 2021|publisher=Key Publishing Ltd|location=Stamford, Lincolnshire, England|page=20}}