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USS Nathan James (DDG-151) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer of the United States Navy, under the command of Captain Thomas Chandler and is the main setting of The Last Ship. The Nathan James' primary and allegedly last deployment is to escort and support Dr. Rachel Scott and her mission for the cure of a deadly pandemic, which has caused devastation on a global scale. While at the same time overseeing the delivery of the cure to the surviving rest of the world.

The Nathan James, true to the name of the show, is the last known ship of the U.S. Navy to still be active and the last ship in the world that still upheld its late country's values, procedures and orders.

In the Season 2 finale "A More Perfect Union" the Nathan James made port in St. Louis, Missouri and spent a few months in drydock.

In the series finale "Commitment," the Nathan James is attacked by Gustavo's Battleship and is left sinking. After the rest of the crew abandons ship, except for seventeen people that don't survive, Admiral Tom Chandler rams the dying Nathan James into the enemy battleship, splitting the battleship in half and sinking the enemy vessel. The collision results in the sinking of the Nathan James herself, but Tom Chandler and most of her crew survive.

General[]

The USS Nathan James (DDG-151) Nicknamed "The Last Ship" is a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia and is set under the command of Captain Tom Chandler and his Executive Officer - Mike Slattery. It was named after US Navy Captain Nathan James and was authorized in 2001. Laid down in June 2002, the ship was launched in January 2004. The ship's motto is "The Spear of the Navy".

The Nathan James has a crew of 217 naval personnel. The introduction of Dr. Scott, her assistant Dr. Tophet and the Private Military Contractor - Tex brings the on-board crew numbers to 220 as of Season 1, and by "A More Perfect Union", there are 204 crew members serving on board. The ship is also fully-equipped with the necessary lab equipments for Dr. Scott to conduct her experiments and tests in the hangar at the back of the ship.

According to its real-life counterpart’s technical features, the USS Halsey (DDG-97), the Nathan James has the length of 509 ft 6 inches (155.30m), beam of 66 ft (20m) and draft of 31 ft (9.4m). Including two shafts and four gas turbines with the approximate shaft power of 100,000 (75-megawatt). It is able to attain the speed of more than thirty (30) knots (or more than 55 km/h) at full throttle.

The Nathan James also holds on-board an SH-60 Seahawk ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) Helicopter.

Armaments[]

The Nathan James is fitted with the standard 5-inch/62 caliber Mark 45 Naval Gun, which was used in S1E2 to create a diversion for the shore party to neutralize Gitmo’s Al-Qaeda inmates and rescue Tex. It was also used as the ship's defense against Russian helicopters in S1E1 in cooperation with the ship's Phalanx CIWS system. In S2E10, the Nathan James runs out of ammunition except for four shells for the 5-inch. After luring the Achilles to the surface, the gun was used in conjunction with a hijacked shore battery mounted on land to sink the Achilles. The ship has two Mk 41 Vertical Launch Systems (VLS), placed on the bow and at the aft of the ship. The VLS is fully-stocked, as seen in S2E5, with RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) which can intercept short-to-intermediate-range ballistic missiles, and were used to intercept the missiles of the Achilles submarine and failed when only two were successfully intercepted. The ship also stores BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles and RIM-67 Standard ER (SM-2).

The ship is equipped with two Mk 46 Triple Torpedo Tubes stocked with Mk 45 MAKO torpedoes and was used on S1E3 to clear the way through the volatile corals in Guantanamo Bay and also seen in action on S2E5 when the James utilized them as defense against the Achilles torpedoes and as counterattack against the submarine.

Phalanx Close-In-Weapon-System (CIWS) is installed and was part of the main defense of the ship against the Russian helicopters as they closed in on the ship and opened fire on S1E1, in partnership with the Mark 45 Naval Gun. On the starboard and larboard, the Nathan James also has manned 25mm and 12.7mm machine guns, both used on S2E4 by the crew at General Quarters to support the boarding party clearing out the hostiles on the USNS Solace. Only the 25mm controlled remotely by TAO (Tactical Action Officer) Kara Foster managed a kill shot. She later used these weapons against the Triton at point-blank range, killing the ship's gunners and captain.

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Events of The Last Ship[]

Season 1[]

Season 2[]

Season 3[]

Season 4[]

Season 5[]

Crew[]

Current[]

  • Commander Kara Green — Commanding Officer
  • Lieutenant Commander Duff — Chief Engineer
  • Lieutenant Commander Juan "Gator" Mejia — Navigator
  • Lieutenant Wright — Sonar Officer, later Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, Electronic Warfare Officer
  • Lieutenant, junior grade Maddie Rawlings — Helo Pilot
  • Lieutenant, junior grade Stewart — Officer of the Deck
  • Lieutenant, junior grade Kushon — Officer of the Deck
  • Chief Warrant Officer 2 Carl Nishioka — Tactical Action Officer
  • Chief Warrant Officer 2 Tina "Slider" Almas — Helo Co-Pilot
  • Chief Information Systems Technician Adrienne Rain — Communications chief
  • Chief Engineman Ella Ruiz — Engineer
  • Information Systems Technician 1st Class Redman — Communications officer
  • Engineman 1st Class Ray Diaz — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams; former helmsman
  • Seaman Henry Bell — Helmsman

Presumed[]

  • Lieutenant Siegle — Tactical Action Officer
  • Lieutenant Jackie Makena — Combat Information Center Officer
  • Lieutenant, junior grade Dalia Jaffe — Anti-Submarine/Anti-Surface Warfare Tactical Air Controller
  • Lieutenant, junior grade Maldonado — Officer of the Deck
  • Ensign Fiecoat
  • Officer Candidate Waters
  • Boatswain's Mate 1st class Alvarez — Helmsman
  • Petty Officer 1st Class Nettles — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams
  • Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Long — Boatswain's Mate of the Watch
  • Quartermaster 2nd Class Rios — Navigator
  • Petty Officer 3rd Class Derek Evans
  • Petty Officer 3rd Class Lewis
  • Petty Officer 3rd Class Beier — Combat Information Center Officer
  • Petty Officer 3rd Class McDonald
  • Petty Officer 3rd Class Franklin
  • Petty Officer 3rd Class Garcia
  • Petty Officer 3rd Class Hansen
  • Petty Officer 3rd Class Logan Taddy — Helmsman
  • Seaman Newman — Helmsman
  • Seaman Kincaid — Helmsman
  • Seaman Holland
  • Seaman Allegar
  • Rowler — Member of the Naval Mountain Warfare Unit
  • Fiores — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams
  • Swain — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams
  • Hume — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams
  • Dennison — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams
  • Janowitz — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams
  • Harris — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams
  • Wolff — Messenger of the Watch
  • Halsey — Military working dog

Former[]

  • Admiral Thomas William "Tom" Chandler — Former Commanding Officer (CO), promoted to CNO, disembarked at Naval Base San Diego
  • Admiral Michael "Mike" Slattery —Former Executive officer ( XO) and Former Commanding Officer (CO), promoted to admiral sometime between the events of seasons 4 and 5.
  • Commander Cobb — Executive Officer (temporary)
  • Lieutenant Commander Cameron Burk (WIA, 2015) — Tactical Action Officer
  • Lieutenant Daniel Joshua "Danny" Green — Leader of the Naval Mountain Warfare Unit
  • Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russell "Russ" Jeter — Former Senior Enlisted Advisor, promoted
  • Senior Chief Petty Officer Wolf Taylor, RAN — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams
  • Chief Gunner's Mate Eric Miller — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams, Lost his legs due to a tank blast at Camp X, Cuba.
  • Chief Culinary Specialist Bernie "Bacon" Cowley — Ship's chief cook
  • Sergeant Azima Kandie, Kenya Navy — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams
  • Naval Aircrewman 3rd Class Kathleen Nolan — Helo Gunner
  • Yates, disembarked at Norfolk to join their family
  • Heller, disembarked at Norfolk to join their family
  • Moralez, disembarked at Norfolk to join their family
  • Surviving crew of the USS Hayward (DDG-157)
  • Sasha Cooper — Naval Intelligence Officer

Deceased[]

Season 1

  • Lieutenant Franklin Benz (d. 2013) – Member of the Naval Mountain Warfare Unit, committed suicide after being exposed to the Red Flu
  • Berchem (KIA, 2013) — Member of the Naval Mountain Warfare Unit, killed by the Russians while searching for a possible way out of Guantanamo Bay
  • Smith (KIA, 2013) — Member of the Naval Mountain Warfare Unit, killed by the Russians while searching for a possible way out of Guantanamo Bay
  • Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Cossetti (KIA, 2013) — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams; shot while saving Chandler from the Russians
  • Petty Officer 3rd Class Maya Gibson (d. 2013) — Only casualty during human trials of the cure; CDR Chandler nominates her for the Navy Cross
  • Seaman Ford (KIA, 2013) — Helmsman, shot by Lt. Norris

Season 2

  • Lieutenant Commander Murphy (KIA, 2013) — Tactical Action Officer, killed during the siege of the Nathan James in Baltimore
  • Fire Controlman 3rd Class Foster (KIA, 2013) — Combat Information Center Officer, killed during the siege of the Nathan James in Baltimore
  • Master-at-Arms Lopez (KIA, 2013) — Chief Master-at-Arms, killed during the siege of the Nathan James in Baltimore
  • Lieutenant Commander Barker (KIA, 2013) — Tactical Action Officer, killed during the siege of the Nathan James in Baltimore
  • Four other sailors killed during the siege of the Nathan James in Baltimore
  • Boatswain's Mate Walker (KIA, 2013) — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams, killed in the Valkyrie oil rig explosion
  • Senior Chief Gas Turbine System Technician Lynn (KIA, 2013) — Engineer, killed in the Valkyrie oil rig explosion
  • Lieutenant, junior grade Andy Chung (KIA, 2013) — Main Propulsion Assistant, killed in the Valkyrie oil rig explosion
  • Lieutenant Ravit Bivas, IDF (KIA, 2013) — Member of the United States Naval Special Warfare Command Joint Operations Training Program; joined crew in Norfolk, killed in the Valkyrie oil rig explosion

Season 3

  • Naval Aircrewman 1st Class G. Lincoln (KIA, 2014) — Helo Officer, killed in the attack in Vietnam
  • Riley (KIA, 2014) — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams, killed in the attack in Vietnam
  • Harris (KIA, 2014) — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams, killed in the attack in Vietnam
  • DaCunha (KIA, 2014) — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams, killed in the attack in Vietnam
  • Lieutenant, junior grade Will Mason (KIA, 2014) — Sonar Officer, killed by Takehaya's pirates on Kumonosu Island
  • Kudelski (KIA, 2014) — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams, killed in the minefield near the Paracel Islands
  • Wallace (KIA, 2014) — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams, killed during the rescue mission on Kumonosu Island
  • Butler (KIA, 2014) — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams, killed during the rescue mission on Kumonosu Island
  • Master-at-Arms 1st Class Javier Cruz (KIA, 2014) — Member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams, killed during the rescue mission on Kumonosu Island

Season 4

  • Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Heggen (KIA, 2015) — Corpsman, killed by Harry Sinclair
  • Two other sailors killed by Harry Sinclair
  • Chief Master-at-Arms Johnny (KIA, 2015) — Killed by James Fletcher
  • Chief Engineman Michael O'Connor (KIA, 2015) — Engineer, killed by Harry Sinclair
  • Commander James Fletcher, RN/MI-6 (KIA, 2015) — Intelligence Officer, killed by Giorgio Vellek
  • Lieutenant, junior grade E. "Razor" Ramsey (KIA, 2015) — Helo Co-Pilot, shot down by HS Triton
  • Chief Warrant Officer 3 Rodney "Sunshine" Poynter (KIA, 2015) — Helo Pilot, shot down by HS Triton

Season 5

  • Captain Andrea Garnett (KIA, 2018) — Former Chief Engineer and Executive Officer, promoted, killed during the attack on Fleet Week
  • Lieutenant Rios (KIA, 2018) — Chief Medical Officer, killed during the attack on Fleet Week
  • Lieutenant Commander Alisha Granderson (KIA, 2018) — Former Officer of the Deck, promoted, killed by Kelsi Baker
  • Admiral Joseph Meylan (KIA, 2019) — Former Executive Officer (XO), promoted, killed by Octavio de la Paz by jumping in front of bullets meant for President Joshua Reiss
  • Commander Carlton Burk (KIA, 2019) — Executive Officer, killed by a young Colombian boy on board a GCE patrol boat.
  • Naval Aircrewman 3rd Class Kitty "Stinger" Wallace (KIA, 2019) — Helo gunner, killed with machine-gun fire by the GCE during the morning invasion of Colombia

Marines[]

Season 5

  • Colonel Steve Zotti — Commanding Officer of the USMC during the invasion of Colombia
  • Captain Utt — Leader of Vulture Team
  • Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Ecker - Corpsman

Deceased[]

  • Lance Corporal Weeks (KIA, 2019) — Killed on the plane after being shot down by a GCE Battleship
  • Gunnery Sergeant Barco (KIA, 2019) — Killed on the beachhead in Colombia
  • Corporal Toone (KIA, 2019) — Killed on the beachhead in Colombia
  • Corporal Tattersall (KIA, 2019) — Killed on the beachhead in Colombia

Civilians[]

Former[]

Season 2

  • Dr. Rachel Scott, Ph.D. (d. 2013) — Paleomicrobiologist, shot by Curtis
  • Dr. Quincy Tophet, Ph.D. (d. 2013) — Paleomicrobiologist, shot by Lt. Norris and bled out while protecting the primordial
  • Jed Chandler (d. 2014) — CDR Chandler's father; disembarked at Norfolk, killed by Allison Shaw's men
  • Ashley Chandler — CDR Chandler's daughter; disembarked at Norfolk
  • Sam Chandler — CDR Chandler's son; disembarked at Norfolk
  • President Jeffrey Michener (d. 2014) — The President of the United States who has a genetic immunity to the virus; rescued by the Nathan James from Sean Ramsey and the Immunes and joined the crew; was assassinated by Secret Service agents on the orders of Allison Shaw
  • Kelly Tophet — Dr. Tophet's wife; rescued from captivity on Admiral Ruskov's ship; disembarked at Norfolk
  • Ava Tophet — Dr. Tophet's daughter; rescued from captivity on Admiral Ruskov's ship; disembarked at Norfolk
  • Tex Nolan (d. 2014) — Private security contractor; member of the visit, board, search, and seizure teams, killed by Allison Shaw's men
  • USNS Solace crew, temporary, returned to USNS Solace
  • Dr. Milowsky, Ph.D. — Paleomicrobiologist
  • Bertrise — A young Jamaican woman rescued by the Nathan James who has a genetic immunity to the virus
  • Ray Diaz's friends, Jake and others, disembarked at St. Louis

Season 3

  • Jesse — Civilian helicopter pilot; disembarked at Japan
  • Takehaya — Leader of a band of pirates; disembarked at Japan
  • Kyoko — Takehaya's wife; disembarked at Japan
  • Valerie Raymond (d. 2014) — Creator of the Valkyrie Network, killed in a plane crash

Season 5

Emblems, Awards and Decorations[]

On the bridge wings of the Nathan James are the following Command Excellence Awards prominently shown.

Nathan award
  • Green “H”: Health and Wellness (Medical) Excellence Award
  • Yellow “E” with two hashmarks: Commander, Naval Surface Forces (CNSF) Ship Safety Award
  • Blue “E” with three hashmarks: Logistics Management Excellence Award
  • Green “E” with three hashmarks: Command & Control Excellence Award
  • Red “E” with three hashmarks: Engineering/Survivability Excellence Award
  • Black “E” with three hashmarks: Maritime Warfare Excellence Award
  • White “E”: Battle Effectiveness Award

The Nathan James displays a Golden Anchor as a symbol for the Retention Excellence Award.

Crest
NathanJamesCrest
Insignia
USS-Nathan-James-Patch
Unit awards

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Navy “E” Ribbon

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Meritorious Unit Commendation
Service and training awards

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Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Campaign and service medals

Template:Ribbon devices/alt/sandbox

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

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Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

Trivia[]

  • A real Arleigh Burke-class destroyer has been used for the filming of the USS Nathan James: the USS Halsey (DDG-97).
  • In Phase Six, Chandler called the Nathan James a $3 billion dollar destroyer when in reality an Arleigh Burke Destroyer only cost $1.8 billion dollars.
  • It is unknown if the Nathan James holds two SH-60 Seahawk's helicopters on-board or not, for it is standard for an Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer to accommodate two Seahawks on deployment. It is possible that the Seahawk which was used in the show is the only one for the large setups of Dr. Scott's lab in the Hangar.
  • Most of the ship's crew extras are real-life sailors.
  • During Cry Havoc, the Nathan James is able to sink the Achilles with its forward cannon and help from a commandeered on-shore missile battery. However, it takes damage and exhausts all of its ammunition in the battle. At the end of the next episode, the President mentions that the Nathan James has taken such damage that it will be in dry dock for months.
  • The Nathan James uses only regular sonar to track the Achilles when in reality, an Arleigh Burke destroyer uses an advanced sonar mounted in its hull below the bow which can pin-point a sub's location underwater. So the Nathan James could easily have tracked the sub, even under the ship.
  • In Devil May Care, the Nathan James sails right into a minefield when in reality, an Arleigh Burke destroyers' advance sonar can easily detect a minefield before sailing into it. So the James could have easily detected the minefield and avoid it.
  • Some people claim this ship is based off of a Zumwalt-class destroyer, but that is not correct in almost every possible aspect. See the comments below for reference.

 External links[]

Ship gallery[]

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