USS Flagg
Encyclopedia
The USS Flagg is a fictional U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier 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.
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, 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.
series, the USS Flaggs commander is Vice Admiral
Keel-Haul. However, the commander in the cartoon series is Admiral Ledger. There is no known explanation for the discrepancy.
aircraft.
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. 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.
.
It survives a tsunami in the Gulf of Mexico
, then serves as a staging area for the assault on the newly formed Cobra Island
. The ship again serves as a staging area when G.I.Joe assaults Cobra forces in the fictional country of Sierra Gordo.
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.
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.
' 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. It makes another cameo in the next issue, as Ace lands his damaged Skystriker on it.
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.
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a military-themed line of action figures and toys in Hasbro's G.I. Joe franchise. The toyline lasted from 1982 to 1994, producing well over 500 figures and 250 vehicles and playsets. The line reappeared in 1997 and has continued in one form or another to the...
. It is the G.I. Joe Team
G.I. Joe Team
G.I. Joe is the code name of an elite covert special forces unit operating under the control of the United States Military in the fictional G.I. Joe universe....
's primary sea going vessel. It is named for the team's original commanding officer, General Flagg
General Flagg
General Flagg is the code name as well as the rank and surname of two fictional characters from the toyline, cartoon and comic series, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero....
, who was slain in combat against Cobra.
Classification
The hull classification symbolHull classification symbol
The United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration use hull classification symbols to identify their ship types and each individual ship within each type...
of this ship is often mistakenly identified as CV-66
USS America (CV-66)
The USS America was one of four Kitty Hawk-class super carriers built for the United States Navy in the 1960s. Commissioned in 1965, she spent most of her career in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, but did make three Pacific deployments serving in the Vietnam War. She also served in operations...
, but is actually CVN-99, as based on the artwork on the box and the instructions for the toy, 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.
Commanding officers
In both the toy and comic bookComic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series, the USS Flaggs commander is Vice Admiral
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
Keel-Haul. However, the commander in the cartoon series is Admiral Ledger. There is no known explanation for the discrepancy.
Toy
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 SkystrikerSkystriker
In the fictional world of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Skystriker refers to two things: a jet fighter and a character.-Toys:The Skystriker XP-14F is a variable wing fighter aircraft, which first appeared in the 1983 edition of the hit cartoon series and toyline...
aircraft.
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. 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.
Marvel Comics
The ship is used many times in the comic book series produced by Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
.
It survives a tsunami in the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, then serves as a staging area for the assault on the newly formed Cobra Island
Cobra Island
Cobra Island is a fictional country located in the Gulf of Mexico. It is the main base of operations for the fictional Cobra Organization featured in the G.I. Joe toyline from the 1980s. It is featured in the G.I. Joe cartoon and the comic book series created by Marvel Comics and Devil's Due...
. The ship again serves as a staging area when G.I.Joe assaults Cobra forces in the fictional country of Sierra Gordo.
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
Defiant (G.I. Joe)
The Defiant is a fictional space shuttle complex vehicle and station from the G.I. Joe series, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, line of toys, comics and cartoons.-Toys:...
, the Flagg is saved from further damage. The Defiant then lands on the Flagg, where both ships are featured in a fourth wall
Fourth wall
The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
breaking 'farewell' scene as #28 was the last issue of the series.
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
Skystriker
In the fictional world of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Skystriker refers to two things: a jet fighter and a character.-Toys:The Skystriker XP-14F is a variable wing fighter aircraft, which first appeared in the 1983 edition of the hit cartoon series and toyline...
and a Stealth Fighter
Stealth aircraft
Stealth aircraft are aircraft that use stealth technology to avoid detection by employing a combination of features to interfere with radar as well as reduce visibility in the infrared, visual, audio, and radio frequency spectrum. Development of stealth technology likely began in Germany during...
but all involved survive uninjured.
Action Force
The Flagg makes a cameo appearance in issue #29 of the 'Action ForceAction Force
Action Force was a 1980s range of European action figures initially based on Action Man, and later used to introduce G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toys to European markets...
' series, a slightly different Joe continuity also produced by Marvel Comics. Ace
Ace (G.I. Joe)
Ace is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's original fighter pilot and debuted in 1983.-Profile:...
launches from it in order to take a fly-by of a suspected Cobra installation. It makes another cameo in the next issue, as Ace lands his damaged Skystriker on it.
Sunbow
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.G.I. Joe: Resolute
In the Resolute microseries, the Flagg is the Joe's main base. Storm ShadowStorm Shadow (G.I. Joe)
Storm Shadow is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic book series and television shows. The character is best known for his history with fellow ninja Snake Eyes...
infiltrates, kills Bazooka
Bazooka (G.I. Joe)
Bazooka is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's missile specialist and debuted in 1985.-Profile:...
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.