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USS Nathan James

USS Nathan James

Nathan James is a fictional guided missile destroyer 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.

Nathan James
First appearanceThe Last Ship
CaptainThomas
General characteristics
ClassGuided-missile destroyer
Armaments
  • 2 × 61-cell Mk 41 Vertical Launching Systems
  • 56 nuclear-tipped Tomahawk cruise missiles
Nathan James
The Last Ship vehicle
Captain
  • Tom Chandler
  • Mike Slattery
  • Kara Green
General characteristics
TypeGuided-missile destroyer
Armaments
  • 1 × 32 cell Mk 41 vertical launch systems
  • 1 × 64 cell Mk 41 vertical launch systems
  • 96 × RIM-66 SM-2
  • BGM-109 Tomahawk or RUM-139 VL-ASROC
  • 1 × 5/62 in (127/62 mm)
  • 2 × 25 mm guns
  • 4 × 12.7 mm guns
  • 2 × Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes
  • 1 x 20mm Phalanx CIWS
imgimg

Book

USS Nathan James (DDG-80) is the lead ship of her class. The ship 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. She was nuclear-powered, although her registry number lacked the "N" of such warships, and in reality no nuclear-powered destroyers were in commission in the U.S. Navy by 1988.

Weaponry

Nathan James is armed with two 61-cell Mk 41 Vertical Launching Systems and carries a payload of 28 nuclear-tipped Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles (each rated at 200 kilotons) for each Vertical Launching System, for a total of 56 nuclear-tipped Tomahawk cruise missiles.[2][3]

Television series

In the television series, USS Nathan James is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer 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, likely because USS Roosevelt (DDG-80) was christened after the release of the novel. In the canon of the show, it is named after a U.S. naval captain from World War II and was authorized in September 2001, laid down in June 2002, and launched in January 2004.[4] The ship's motto is "The Spear of the Navy".[5]

In the pilot, "Phase Six", it is mentioned that Nathan James has a crew complement of 217.[6] By the season 2 finale, "A More Perfect Union", CDR Chandler mentions that there are 204 crewmen on Nathan James.[7]

In the season 2 finale, "A More Perfect Union", 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, CMDCM Jeter, LTJG Mason, Dr. Rios, GM2 Miller, and SA Diaz are taken prisoner from a Vietnamese nightclub by Asian pirates.[8] In "Shanzhai", CAPT Chandler, as ranking officer, retakes command of 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.[9] Upon the rescue of the prisoners of war in "Dog Day", CAPT Chandler returns command of the ship to CAPT Slattery.

In "Casus Belli", Nathan James is under the command of CDR Kara Green and her executive officer is CDR Carlton Burk.[10]

In the series finale, "Commitment", Nathan James is severely damaged and eventually sinks after ramming an enemy vessel, which also sinks.

USS Halsey, a real Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, stood in for Nathan James during filming.[11]

Crew

Season 1 to Season 2 (2014–2015)

  • Commander Thomas William "Tom" Chandler, USN (Eric Dane) - Commanding Officer

  • Commander Michael "Mike" Slattery, USN (Adam Baldwin) – Executive Officer

  • Command Master Chief Petty Officer Russell "Russ" Jeter, USN (Charles Parnell) – Senior Enlisted Advisor

  • Lieutenant Commander Andrea Garnett, USN (Fay Masterson) – Chief Engineer

  • Lieutenant Commander Barker, USN (KIA, 2015) (Jamison Haase) – Tactical Actions Officer; killed during the siege of Nathan James

  • Lieutenant Daniel Joshua "Danny" Green, USN (Travis Van Winkle) - Leader of the Naval Mountain Warfare Unit

  • Lieutenant Kara Foster, USN (Marissa Neitling) – Tactical Actions Officer (2015-2015); former Combat Information Center officer (2014-2015)

  • Lieutenant Carlton Burk, USN (Jocko Sims) – Head of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams

  • Lieutenant John "Gator" Mejia, USN (Michael Curran-Dorsano) – Navigator

  • Lieutenant Alisha Granderson, USN (Christina Elmore) – Officer of the Deck

  • Lieutenant Ravit Bivas, IDF (KIA, 2015) (Inbar Lavi) – Member of the United States Naval Special Warfare Command Joint Operations Training Program; joined crew in Norfolk; killed in action during the oil rig attack

  • Lieutenant, junior grade Andrew "Andy" Chung, USN (KIA, 2015) (Andy T. Tran) – Engineer; killed in action during the oil rig attack

  • Ensign William "Will" Mason, USN (KIA, 2016) (Chris Sheffield) – Sonar Officer (2015-2015); former Communications Officer (2014-2015)

  • Warrant Officer (E9) Wolf Taylor, RAN (Bren Foster) – Member of the United States Naval Special Warfare Command Joint Operations Training Program; joined crew in Norfolk

  • Senior Chief Petty Officer Lynn, USN (KIA, 2015) (Chris Marrs) – Engineer; killed in action during the oil rig attack

  • Chief Hospital Corpsman Rios, USN (Maximiliano Hernández) – Independent duty corpsman

  • Fire Controlman First Class Carl Nishioka, USN (Ben Cho) – Member of the Combat Information Center

  • Culinary Specialist Second Class Bernie "Bacon" Cowley, USN (Amen Igbinosun) – Ship's cook

  • Petty Officer Third Class Cossetti, USN (KIA, 2014) (Tommy Savas) – Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams

  • Master-at-Arms Third Class Javier Cruz, USN (Ness Bautista) – Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams

  • Gas Turbine System Technician Third Class Michael O'Connor, USN (Paul James)

  • Petty Officer Third Class Maya Gibson, USN (d. 2014) (Felisha Cooper) – Only casualty during human trials of the cure; CDR Chandler nominates her for the Navy Cross

  • Seaman Miller, USN (Kevin Michael Martin) – Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams

  • Seaman[1] Walker, USN (KIA, 2015) – Crewmember who was killed in action during the oil rig attack

Civilians

  • Dr. Rachel Scott, Ph.D. (KIA, 2015) (Rhona Mitra) – Paleomicrobiologist

  • Dr. Quincy Tophet, Ph.D. (KIA, 2015) (Sam Spruell) – Paleomicrobiologist; killed during the siege of Nathan James by Amy Granderson's Maryland State Police troopers

  • Tex Nolan (KIA, 2016) (John Pyper-Ferguson) – Private security contractor; member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams

  • Bertrise (Hope Olaide Wilson) – A young Jamaican woman rescued by Nathan James who has a genetic immunity to the virus

  • Kelly Tophet (Alice Coulthard) – Dr. Tophet's wife; rescued from captivity on Admiral Ruskov's ship; disembarked at Norfolk

  • Ava Tophet (Jade Pettyjohn) – Dr. Tophet's daughter; rescued from captivity on Admiral Ruskov's ship; disembarked at Norfolk

  • Jed Chandler (KIA, 2016) (Bill Smitrovich) – CDR Chandler's father; disembarked at Norfolk

  • Ashley Chandler (Grace Kaufman) – CDR Chandler's daughter; disembarked at Norfolk

  • Sam Chandler (Aidan Sussman) – CDR Chandler's son; disembarked at Norfolk

  • President Jeffrey "Jeff" Michener (KIA, 2016) (Mark Moses) – The President of the United States who has a genetic immunity to the virus; rescued by Nathan James from Sean Ramsey and the Immunes, and joined the crew in "Safe Zone".

Season 3 (2016)

  • Captain Michael "Mike" Slattery, USN (Adam Baldwin) – Commanding officer

  • Commander Andrea Garnett, USN (Fay Masterson) – Executive officer

  • Command Master Chief Petty Officer Russell "Russ" Jeter, USN (Charles Parnell) – Senior enlisted advisor

  • Lieutenant Commander Kara Foster, USN (Marissa Neitling) – Ground deputy chief of staff and naval operations

  • Sasha Cooper (Bridget Regan) – Intelligence officer

  • Lieutenant Cameron Burk, USN (LaMonica Garrett) – Tactical Actions Officer

  • Lieutenant Daniel Joshua "Danny" Green, USN (Travis Van Winkle) - Leader of the Naval Mountain Warfare Unit

  • Lieutenant Carlton Burk, USN (Jocko Sims) – Head of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams

  • Lieutenant John "Gator" Mejia, USN (Michael Curran-Dorsano) – Navigator

  • Lieutenant Alisha Granderson, USN (Christina Elmore) – Officer of the Deck

  • Lieutenant, junior grade William "Will" Mason, USN (KIA, 2016) (Chris Sheffield) – Sonar Officer

  • Ensign Rios, USN (Maximiliano Hernández) – Chief Medical Officer

  • Warrant Officer (E9) Wolf Taylor, RAN (Bren Foster) – Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams

  • Chief Fire Controlman Carl Nishioka, USN (Ben Cho) – Member of the Combat Information Center

  • Master-at-Arms First Class Javier Cruz, USN (KIA, 2016) (Ness Bautista) – Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams

  • Gunner's Mate Second Class Eric Miller, USN (Kevin Michael Martin) – Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams

  • Seaman Apprentice Ray Diaz, USN (Adam Irigoyen) – Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams

  • Jesse (Dichen Lachman) – Civilian helicopter pilot

Season 4 (2017)

  • Captain Michael "Mike" Slattery, USN (Adam Baldwin) – Commanding officer

  • Captain Joseph "Joe" Meylan, USN (Emerson Brooks) – Executive Officer

  • Command Master Chief Petty Officer Russell "Russ" Jeter, USN (Charles Parnell) – Senior enlisted advisor

  • Sasha Cooper (Bridget Regan) – Intelligence officer

  • Lieutenant Commander Cameron Burk, USN (LaMonica Garrett) – Tactical Actions Officer (WIA)

  • Lieutenant Commander Kara Green (née Foster), USN (Marissa Neitling) – Tactical Actions Officer

  • Lieutenant Daniel Joshua "Danny" Green, USN (Travis Van Winkle) – Leader of the Naval Mountain Warfare Unit

  • Lieutenant Carlton Burk, USN (Jocko Sims) – Head of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams

  • Lieutenant John "Gator" Mejia, USN (Michael Curran-Dorsano) – Navigator

  • Lieutenant Alisha Granderson, USN (Christina Elmore) – Officer of the Deck

  • Ensign Rios, USN (Maximiliano Hernández) – Chief Medical Officer

  • Chief Warrant Officer 3 Rodney "Sunshine" Poynter, USN (KIA 2017) (Wiley M. Pickett) – Helicopter pilot

  • Warrant Officer (E9) Wolf Taylor, RAN (Bren Foster) – Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams

  • Chief Fire Controlman Carl Nishioka, USN (Ben Cho) – Member of the Combat Information Center

  • Chief Culinary Specialist Bernie "Bacon" Cowley, USN (Amen Igbinosun) – Ship's cook

  • Chief Gas Turbine System Technician Michael O'Connor, USN (KIA, 2017) (Paul James) – Engineer

  • Chief Information Systems Technician Adrienne Rain, USN (Ritu Lal) — Communications chief

  • Gunner's Mate First Class Eric Miller, USN (Kevin Michael Martin) – Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams

  • Hospital Corpsman First Class Heggen, USN (KIA, 2017) (Ben Turner Dixon) – Corpsman

  • Sergeant Azima Kandie, Kenya Navy – Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams

  • Boatswain's Mate Third Class Ray Diaz, USN (Adam Irigoyen) – Helmsman

  • Naval Aircrewman Third Class Kathleen Nolan, USN (Jade Chynoweth) – Helo gunner

  • Commander James Fletcher, Royal Navy (KIA 2017) (Jonathan Howard) – MI-6 Liaison Officer

Season 5 (2018)

  • Commander Kara Green (née Foster), USN (Marissa Neitling) – Commanding Officer

  • Commander Carlton Burk, USN (Jocko Sims) – Executive Officer

  • Lieutenant Commander John "Gator" Mejia, USN (Michael Curran-Dorsano) – Navigator

  • Lieutenant Rios, USN (KIA, 2018) (Maximiliano Hernández) – Chief Medical Officer

  • Chief Warrant Officer 2 Carl Nishioka, USN (Ben Cho) – Tactical Actions Officer

  • Chief Gunner's Mate Eric Miller, USN (Kevin Michael Martin)

  • Boatswain's Mate Second Class Ray Diaz, USN (Adam Irigoyen)

Awards and decorations

The following are the medals and service awards depicted being painted on the bridge wing of USS Nathan James.

These are:

  • Meritorious Unit Commendation

  • Navy E Ribbon

  • Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

  • Global War on Terrorism Service Military Ribbon

  • Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

See also

  • List of fictional ships

Trivia

  • Naval hats depicting USS Nathan James appear in Family Guy, season 16, Episode 14.

References

[1]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgUnknown rank
Sep 24, 2019, 4:41 PM
[2]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgBrinkley, William (February 1989). The Last Ship (Paperback ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. p. 3. ISBN 0345359828.
Sep 24, 2019, 4:41 PM
[3]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgBrinkley, 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,
Sep 24, 2019, 4:41 PM
[4]
Citation Linkweb.archive.orghttps://web.archive.org/web/20170414195409if_/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/.ZBRLYeDGBPDXsVYKiKdcQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9MTI4MDtoPTk2MDtpbD1wbGFuZQ--/http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/tv/2014-06-20/f9ccb560-f80e-11e3-b769-df546e9160a0_the-last-ship-bts-02-26-61-22.jpg
Sep 24, 2019, 4:41 PM
[5]
Citation Linki.ebayimg.comhttp://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/EbcAAOSw5VFWM728/s-l300.jpg
Sep 24, 2019, 4:41 PM
[6]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.org"Phase Six". The Last Ship. Season 1. Episode 1. June 22, 2014.
Sep 24, 2019, 4:41 PM
[7]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.org"A More Perfect Union". The Last Ship. Season 2. Episode 13. September 6, 2015.
Sep 24, 2019, 4:41 PM
[8]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.org"The Scott Effect". The Last Ship. Season 3. Episode 1. June 19, 2016.
Sep 24, 2019, 4:41 PM
[9]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.org"Shanzhai". The Last Ship. Season 3. Episode 3. June 26, 2016.
Sep 24, 2019, 4:41 PM
[10]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.org"Casus Belli". The Last Ship. Season 5. Episode 1. September 9, 2018.
Sep 24, 2019, 4:41 PM
[11]
Citation Linkwww.navy.mil"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.
Sep 24, 2019, 4:41 PM
[12]
Citation Linkweb.archive.orghttps://web.archive.org/web/20170414195409if_/https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/.ZBRLYeDGBPDXsVYKiKdcQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9MTI4MDtoPTk2MDtpbD1wbGFuZQ--/http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/tv/2014-06-20/f9ccb560-f80e-11e3-b769-df546e9160a0_the-last-ship-bts-02-26-61-22.jpg
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[13]
Citation Linki.ebayimg.comhttp://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/EbcAAOSw5VFWM728/s-l300.jpg
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[14]
Citation Linkwww.navy.mil"Naval Base San Diego; USS Halsey featured in "The Last Ship""
Sep 24, 2019, 4:41 PM
[15]
Citation Linken.wikipedia.orgThe original version of this page is from Wikipedia, you can edit the page right here on Everipedia.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Additional terms may apply.See everipedia.org/everipedia-termsfor further details.Images/media credited individually (click the icon for details).
Sep 24, 2019, 4:41 PM