Photo Essay: Christmas Warships 2009

USS Russell (DDG 59). (U.S. Navy photo.)

USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). (U.S. Navy Photo By Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Brian L. Short.)

Commander, Navy Region Hawaii barge. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl.)

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph M. Buliavac. )

USS Russell (DDG 59). (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Theresa Donnelly.)

USS Lassen and USS McCampbell. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer Bryan Reckard.)

The guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mark A. Leonesio.)

The guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mark A. Leonesio.)

USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bryan Reckard.)

USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Peter D. Lawlor.)

USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), USS Stethem (DDG 63), and USS Howard (DDG 83). (U.S. Navy photo by Geoffrey Patrick.)

USS Elliot (DD 967), USS Olendorf (DD 972), USS Fitzgerald (DD 62), and the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5). (U.S. Navy photo by Geoffrey Patrick.)

USS Olendorf (DD-972). (U.S. Navy photo by Geoffrey Patrick.)

USS Pinckney (DDG 91). (U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Jo A. Wilbourn Sims.)

USS Crommelin (FFG 37). (U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Ryan C. McGinley.)

USS Peleliu (LHA 5). (U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Zack Baddorf.)

USS Milius (DDG 69). (U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Zack Baddorf .)

USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). (U.S. Navy photograph by Photographer's Mate Airman Thomas J. Holt.)

USS Peleliu (LHA 5). (U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Zack Baddorf.)

USS Russell (DDG 59). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist James E. Foehl.)

The forward hangar bay tunnel aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Arturo Chavez.)

USS Russell (DDG 59). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist James E. Foehl.)

USS Russell (DDG 59). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist James E. Foehl.)

USS Chosin (CG 65). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist James E. Foehl.)

The Sea Wolf-class attack submarine USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23). (U.S. Navy photo by Master Chief Mass Communication Specialist Jerry McLain.)

The guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59) displays a spectacle of holiday lights during the 2008 Afloat Holiday Lighting Contest on board Naval Station Pearl Harbor Dec. 18, 2008. Hawaii area commanders toured the harbor and judged ships based on best lighting scheme, most creative display and energy conservation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Michael Hight.)

Santa waives to friends and family of the crew of the Los Angeles class submarine USS Providence (SSN 719) as the submarine returns home to Submarine Base New London in time for the holidays. Providence is returning from a scheduled six-month deployment, which included a stop at the North Pole in July to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first submarine polar transit, completed by USS Nautilus (SSN 571) in 1958. (U.S. Navy photo by John Narewski.)

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