Pearl Harbor cited as a reason to move carrier from Norfolk

67 years ago on December 7, 1941, the US Navy fleet at Pearl Harbor was attacked. On that infamous day, the three Pacific Fleet aircraft carriers were not in port.

That tragedy is cited as a reason that the Navy needs to move an aircraft carrier from Norfolk to Mayport, Florida.

"I think anybody who's ever been in the Navy and studies history at all would agree with that," says former Atlantic Fleet Admiral Bob Natter, who is retired and now lives in Jacksonville. He supports the carrier move.

"From a national security perspective, strategic dispersal is a good and necessary requirement for our fleet," he stresses.

#main-video{background:transparent;position:relative;top:0;left:0;height:0;width:0;margin:0;padding:0;visibility:hidden;}#video-widget{background:transparent;position:relative;top:0;left:0;height:0;width:0;margin:auto;padding:0;}#previewImage{background:transparent;position:relative;top:0;left:0;height:0;width:0;margin:0;padding:0;visibility:hidden;}#videoPlayer{position:relative;left:0;top:0;margin:0;padding:0;}#loading_container{position:relative;top:1px;left:1px;background:#fff;height:0;width:0;text-align:center;font-family:Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10px;border:0;}#loading{position:relative;top:45%;} #video-image{background:#000;margin:0;padding:0;}#video-controller{margin:0;padding:0;left:0;}#shareEmail{visibility:hidden;}#showShareEmail{cursor:pointer;}#preroll_companion{height:0;width:300px;}#videoad_companion{height:0;width:300px;}#flash_section{background-image:url(/sharedcontent/video/img/gred_back.jpg);text-align:center;}#previewImg{position:relative;left:0;top:0;border:0;}.text_style_1{font-family:Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase;color:#000;font-weight:bold;font-size:12px;}.flash_symbol_placer{padding-top:50px;left:40%;text-align:center;}
Carrier move will avoid another Pearl Harbor, supporters say

Right now, Norfolk has four permanently-based carriers plus there’s one in overhaul and another under construction at Northrop Grumman Newport News.

Virginia leaders say the current East Coast carrier basing structure works fine and Pearl Harbor concerns in this day and time are ridiculous.