The USS Nimitz, the basis for the USS Flagg |
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| Affiliation | G.I. Joe |
|---|---|
| Launched | 1985 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class | Nimitz class aircraft carrier |
| Length | 1,092 feet (332.8 m) |
The USS Flagg is a fictional U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier[1] from the toy line, comic and cartoon series, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. It is the G.I. Joe Team's primary sea going vessel. It is named for the team's original commanding officer, General Flagg, who was slain in combat against Cobra.
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The hull classification symbol of this ship is often mistakenly identified as CV-66, but is actually CVN-99, as based on the artwork on the box and the instructions for the toy,[2] which call for the numbers on the command tower to be placed as 99. The numbers on the deck are upside down based on true configuration of the active carriers for the U.S. Navy.
In both the toy and comic book series, the USS Flagg's commander is Vice Admiral Keel-Haul. However, the commander in the cartoon series is Admiral Ledger. There is no known explanation for the discrepancy.
As a toy, it is the largest G.I. Joe playset, measuring in at just under 7'6". It featured an electronic public address system, which could broadcast a child's voice, and a two-piece utility vehicle that was part "low tow" tractor, and part fuel delivery trailer. The Flagg had radar, missile launchers, an "Admiral's Launch" lifeboat, an elevator deck, and an arrestor cable that fit snugly into the rear stabilizers of the Skystriker aircraft.[3]
When the Flagg was initially released, it was the largest boy's playset at the time, and sold for a retail price of $109.99.[4] It is now traded among serious collectors for anywhere from a few hundred dollars for sets in poor condition (individual pieces/parts are vigorously traded/bought as well), to several thousand dollars for a product still in its original, unopened box.[3]
The ship is used many times in the comic book series produced by Marvel Comics.
It survives a tsunami in the Gulf of Mexico, then serves as a staging area for the assault on the newly formed Cobra Island.[5] The ship again serves as a staging area when G.I.Joe assaults Cobra forces in the fictional country of Sierra Gordo.[6]
The Flagg is featured in G.I.Joe Special Missions #28 as the focus of a concentrated Cobra effort to destroy it. It suffers a missile hit straight to the steam lines, rendering all conventional aircraft unlaunchable. Thanks to the intervention of the Joe pilot Dogfight with his prop plane and the Joe spacecraft the Defiant, the Flagg is saved from further damage. The Defiant then lands on the Flagg, where both ships are featured in a fourth wall breaking 'farewell' scene as #28 was the last issue of the series.[7]
The ship is featured when Joes again assault a fictional country, the Middle Eastern area known as 'Benzheen'. The craft deals with two crash landings, a Skystriker and a Stealth Fighter but all involved survive uninjured.[8]
The Flagg makes a cameo appearance in issue #29 of the 'Action Force' series, a slightly different Joe continuity also produced by Marvel Comics. Ace launches from it in order to take a fly-by of a suspected Cobra installation.[9] It makes another cameo in the next issue, as Ace lands his damaged Skystriker on it.[10]
It is featured in many G.I.Joe cartoons, until it sinks. Later episodes of the cartoon would focus on what happened after. Salvage attempts by both Joe and Cobra happened and it was learned there was at least one person still living on board.
In the Resolute microseries, the Flagg is the Joe's main base. Storm Shadow infiltrates, kills Bazooka and bombs it, destroying the entire G.I. Joe armoury and coming close to sinking the ship. As the support staff and computer equipment weren't hit, the Joes are still able to use it for their counterstrike. Eventually, the Commander panics and vaporises the ship with his secondary HAARP weapon, but the crew had already evacuated.
USS Flagg made an appearance in "Shipwrecked" when Duke pointed to a sighting of aircraft carrier and told Shipwreck to not let Techno-Viper touch. After the defeating of Techno-Viper, Shipwreck received the radio from the aircraft carrier which introduced itself as USS Flagg and asked if he needed a help.
The Flagg is featured in the 2009 film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, as a supercarrier with dual prows. The Baroness was held in there under protective custody until the scientists can removed the nano-mites from her body. James McCullen (now Destro) and Rex Lewis (Cobra Commander) are also imprisoned there.
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