Navy Boot Camp Ships and their history?

[Jay Thompson]

This may be a question specific for Jim as I got the list from his posting, or maybe someone else has info. What I'm specifically looking for, is each division is named for a ship, list is:

Ship 1 USS Pearl Harbor
Ship 2 USS Reuben James
Ship 3 USS Hopper
Ship 4 USS Arleigh Burke
Ship 5 USS Theodore Roosevelt
Ship 6 USS Constitution
Ship 7 USS Chicago
Ship 9 USS John F Kennedy
Ship 10 USS Enterprise
Ship 11 USS Kearsarge
Ship 12 USS Triton
Ship 13 USS Marvin Shields
Ship 14 USS Arizona
Ship 17 USS Mason

Now for each ship, where can I find the specific history to the NAMED ships. For example, I know Ship 2 is the USS Reuben James, but a quick search on wiki lists a total of 3 ships. I need to know which ships are the basis for each division name.

The reason I am interested is, although I'm not a "professional" modeler by any means, I do occasionally build hobby models. I thought it would be neat to build a model for each ship my son is assigned to and present it to him as a gift (that I keep on MY bookshelf for "safe keeping" of course)....starting with whatever division ship he will be assigned to in RTC (still waiting on first letter to know his division). Last thing I want to do is though, is build a ship that is the wrong ship.  So....where can I find that info? Done some searching but can't seem to nail it down. Any help from someone in the know would be appreciated

[Jay Thompson]

ok, got off the phone with Public Affairs at RTC and the barracks named for ships encompasses all ships of that name (USS Reuban James covers all 3 ships for example). So if building a model, I would use any ship that bears the name, especially if you consider that a model of a particular ship may not be available for purchase.

[Jay Thompson]

I did find this info on NavyDEP.com:
http://www.navydep.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2058

Not complete, so I'll try to fill out the rest when I find out. Just need to know if a barracks is named for a single specific ship or any ship with the name. Ex: USS Chicago was 3 cruisers and 1 sub. I guess in the end it may not matter and I could build a model on any ship with the name, especially since we're actually talking about a barracks name and he'll eventually be assigned to a real ship. But if my son is assigned to the division bearing the name USS Enterprise, I'd like to build just one ship, not eight (unless I throw in one of the Star Trek models for kicks). of course I could also be over thinking this whole thing.

[Blake Owen]

I was on the on the real USS John F. Kennedy and I was kind of hoping my son would be on ship 09 the RTC USS JFK but the Hopper will do.

[Jay Thompson]

Thanks Jim. Pretty much what I'm coming up with, but I have a plan. Gonna contact Great Lakes tomorrow and ask. Some public affairs officer will be all happy like to cough up the info I need and I'll post said info. If there is one thing I learned from my own military hitch is the importance of tradition and history. The knowledge I'm seeking is known by all at RTC, I just need to ask.

[Blake Owen]

OOps... My bad. I misspelled Hopper in the link and now I can't fix it. Duh..

[Jay Thompson]

Ok...this is why I need the info....check this out Blake

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Hooper_%28DE-1026%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Hopper_%28DDG-70%29

two different ships, with the list provided by Jim listing the USS Hopper, not USS Hooper. Your link is probably the wrong ship, but my model links are probably what you want. maybe.

[Jay Thompson]

here ya go Blake...

http://www.amazon.com/Hobby-Boss-Hopper-DDG-70-Building/dp/B008F7V4A0

http://www.hobbylinc.com/trumpeter-uss-hopper-ddg70-arleigh-burke-g...

The one from amazon is 1/700 while the hobbylinc is 1/350

[Blake Owen]

What a great idea! I built lots of models as a kid and that is right down my alley. My son is on Ship 03 the USS Hopper. Here is the Wiki for the USS Hopper (DDG 70).