Naval Base San Diego Opens Gates So Public Can ‘Meet the Fleet at 32nd Street’

Naval Base San Diego hosts the free “Meet the Fleet at 32nd Street” Saturday with ship tours, the Navy Region Southwest Band, rides, demonstrations and more.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with access at Gate 9, 8th Street and Harbor Drive in National City.

Security will direct guests to parking areas on base, but there are transit and shuttle options as well:

• Take the San Diego Trolley’s Blue Line to 8th Street; the base entrance is directly across Harbor Drive.
• Shuttles will take guests from Gate 9 to the event area on base.

Ships set for tours – the schedule is subject to change due to operational priorities – are the USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), a newer Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Montgomery (LCS 8), an Independence-class variant littoral combat ship, USS Pinckney (DDG 91), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer and USS Tripoli (LHA 7), a “Big Deck” amphibious assault ship.

Tours require additional measures for all guests, including the need for those 18 and older to show a valid U.S. federal- or state-issued identification or passport, an adult escort for visitors under 18 and searches of all visitors and their bags before entering the pier enclave.

In addition, video/audio recording or live streaming are prohibited while inside the pier enclave or on the ships.

Displays and information booths will feature U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps recruiting, U.S. Navy Nimitz interactive trailer, Navy Expeditionary Medical Technology, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center, Navy Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 303, Southwest Regional Maintenance Center Dive Team and Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron One.

In addition, the Navy warns of increased traffic along Harbor Drive and local streets leading to Interstate 5 throughout the day.