Rebecca Clark

NS Mayport, officially known as Naval Station Mayport, is a major United States Navy base located near Jacksonville, Florida. Commissioned in December 1942, it was established during World War II to support Atlantic Fleet operations and has since grown into one of the Navy’s largest surface fleet concentration areas. Over the decades, NS Mayport has hosted a variety of vessels, including aircraft carriers, destroyers, and frigates, playing a crucial role during the Cold War and in modern naval deployments. Today, it continues to serve as a strategic hub for Atlantic and Caribbean operations, supporting both U.S. and allied naval forces.

USS PUGET SOUND

U.S. Navy

**USS PUGET SOUND (AD-38)** was a Yellowstone-class destroyer tender commissioned by the United States Navy in 1968. Serving as a mobile repair and support ship, she provided maintenance, logistics, and administrative services to the fleet, primarily supporting destroyers and other surface combatants. Throughout her career, USS Puget Sound operated in both the Atlantic and Mediterranean, frequently serving as flagship for the U.S. Sixth Fleet and supporting operations during crises such as the Lebanon conflict in the 1980s. After nearly three decades of service, she was decommissioned in 1996 and later scrapped.

SIMA Norfolk, or Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity Norfolk, was a key United States Navy maintenance unit based at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. Established to provide intermediate-level repair and maintenance services, SIMA Norfolk supported the operational readiness of the Atlantic Fleet’s surface ships and submarines. The unit specialized in a variety of technical services, from hull and mechanical repairs to electronics and ordnance work. Over the decades, SIMA Norfolk played a crucial role in enabling rapid fleet turnaround and mission success until its functions were integrated into larger regional maintenance centers as part of Navy modernization efforts in the early 21st century.