I've been choppered onto the 20,000 tonne command vessel by a Sea Hawk helicopter to gain a rare insight into the day-to-day life of crew aboard the warship as it pulled into Sydney Harbour yesterday.
Among its 900 personnel are fewer than 200 women and I learnt they tend to lean on each other for support - particularly as on-board romances are strongly discouraged by the navy, which doesn't mean they don't happen "here and there".
"It's a man's world - we've got to stick together," explains Megan Lerch, a 21-year-old operations specialist, who has spent the past two years on ships. "It's hard but you all get through it together."
She and colleague, Lieutenant Junior Laurel Fernandes, a 23-year-old division officer in the engineering department, were inspired to join the navy because of their families' strong military backgrounds.
Lieutenant Junior Grade Laurel Fernandes and OS3 Meghan Lerch (operations specialist). Picture: Tim Hunter Source: The Sunday Telegraph
"The things I miss most are Skype and sleeping in my own bed," Lt Jr Fernandes said.
It's easy to see why they miss their beds. Each sleeping quarter, or berthing as it's known in ship lingo, sleeps 88, cramped full of triple-bunk single beds.
Here, a woman's presence must be forewarned, divided as it is according to gender.
Each sailor has just a small cubby hole to fit their shoes and a locker not much larger for uniforms and civilian clothes.
The tight space is all the more challenging for mass communications officer
Bobby Northangle, who, at 196cm tall, is used to knocking his head on the low ceilings and hanging pipes.
"I've got some nicks and bumps, but I'm used to it," MC1 Northangle said.
MC1 Bobby Northnagle, 6'5", ducks under the low hanging pipes on board. Picture: Tim HunterSource: The Sunday Telegraph
Lights go on at 6am and most crew have to be on duty in their respective commands on one of the ship's 18 levels an hour later.
At 10pm, it's "taps", which means lights off, although there are crew who work all through the night.
When they're not on duty, the sailors wind down by working out in the ship's gymnasium or spinning studio, or play the latest DVDs, Xbox and PlayStation games in the loungeroom.
They pray for decent internet connection so they can keep in touch with loved ones on their mobiles via FaceTime.
Another mass communications officer, Timmy Wakefield, says in the three years he's been with his ex-serviceman partner - who he met in the navy - they have spent only six months together.
They are planning to get married in California soon, where gay marriage is legal.
"He was in the navy for 10 years and got out because he got fat," MC1 Wakefield says. "Most of our time (in a relationship) has been away from each other."
Officers take a few happy snaps as the USS Blue Ridge docks in Sydney. Picture: Tim HunterSource: The Sunday Telegraph
The ship is in Australia to lead Talisman Saber, a training exercise in which 18,000 US and 9000 Australian service personnel will test their readiness for battle.
They will spend a week in Sydney before continuing on to other Asia Pacific ports as part of their 3 1/2-month deployment.
For many, this stop represents their first-ever visit to Sydney, with trips to the Opera House, seeing a koala and eating a pie from Harry's Cafe de Wheels among the top activities on their to-do lists.
Others, however, are all about how soon they can hit the clubs and pubs.
"I'm looking forward to going out to town, (getting) three sheets to the wind," Patrick Baker said.
The USS Blue Ridge docked at Garden Island in Sydney. Picture: Tim Hunter Source: The Sunday Telegraph