Proposed Base Closings May Mean Jobs, Ships to San Diego

The report released Thursday on proposed base closings came as good news to San Diego County residents and businesses who depend on the military for jobs and income. None of the dozens of Navy and Marine Corps installations in the county was targeted for closing or reduction. The San Diego Naval Base also stands to gain five ships as well as 1,495 personnel, according to the report.

Specifics of the plan were not known Thursday, according to Chief Petty Officer Craig Heubler, a Navy spokesman in San Diego.

However, Navy officials said that, under the plan, one cruiser, two destroyers and two frigates that were to have been stationed at Hunters Point in San Francisco will instead be stationed in San Diego. The report recommended the cancellation of the construction of Hunters Point, which was to have been the home port of the battleship Missouri.

A Navy source in San Diego said Thursday that it is unclear whether San Diego will experience a net gain of ships and personnel because the numbers seemed to include ships that are now stationed in San Diego, but would have been transferred to Hunters Point if that installation had been built.