Photos by Rob Varela / Star staff From left, Sarah Schouten, 12, Jordan Nedbailo, 13, and Rebecca Troske, 12, check out the bridge Tuesday of the USS Antietam, which is docked at the Port of Hueneme.

From the bridge of the guided missile cruiser USS Antietam at the Port of Hueneme, the sweeping view of the Pacific Ocean with Anacapa Island in the distance was impressive.

But it wasn't the view that Navy employees, their families and community leaders came aboard to see. The main attraction was the guided missile cruiser and its sophisticated combat and weapons systems.

Touring the ship was the highlight for many visitors Tuesday during the 45th anniversary celebration of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Point Hueneme Division.

The center provides engineering and logistical services for the Navy's most sophisticated missiles, guns and computing systems.

More than 650 Navy employees and their families attended an outdoor barbecue at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme. The event included live music, presentations from community leaders and commendation honors sent from the Department of the Navy, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and President Bush.

"The Navy's presence is a huge economic engine for Ventura County," Port Hueneme Mayor Toni Young told the crowd. "Our city wouldn't exist if the Navy wasn't here."

While the USS Antietam is moored at the Port of Hueneme this week, its weapons systems will be assessed by engineers and logisticians from the Warfare Center. Repairs and upgrades will be made while the ship is in port.

"We're exceptionally fortunate to be located at a deep-water port so that we can service a cruiser like the Antietam. We only get this opportunity once or twice a year," said Capt. Stephen Huber, commander of the center.

He said that normally his engineers and logisticians travel around the world to the Navy's 280 ships to test weapons systems.

"With the Antietam here, it provides an opportunity to train sailors to be at a higher standard of readiness than when they arrived, and helps our engineers integrate their experience aboard the ship," said Timothy Troske, the center's technical director.

"All of the Antietam's weapons and combat systems will be assessed, including its Tomahawk and Harpoon cruise missile systems," said Chief Danny Long, who coordinates the Warfare Center's systems assessments.

The USS Antietam is an Aegis class Navy cruiser. It is 567 feet long and weighs 200 tons. It has a crew of 367, including 36 officers. It was named by the Navy after a famous Civil War battle in which 23,000 troops were killed and wounded in one day.

"We take our heritage very seriously. We honor all Americans who have died in battle, and it serves as a reminder of what we're here to do," said Lt. j.g. Kevin Pilcher, a fire control officer aboard the Antietam.

The ship was commissioned in 1987 at a cost of $1.2 billion, said Capt. John Mitchell, commanding officer of the Antietam. "We're here to make sure it's operating at peak performance, and we appreciate the opportunity to come to Port Hueneme and have all the experts basically groom the ship," said Mitchell.

Ensign Jackie Ellis, one of the ship's tour guides Tuesday, said the ship houses up to 120 missiles with a range of up to 750 nautical miles.

"We're very proud of what our ship can do," Ellis said as she explained the firing power of the ship's missile systems and 5-inch guns. She is one of eight female officers serving on the Antietam. Ellis said enlisted female sailors will be on board in 2010.

"I'm astonished by the level of sophistication, training and management in the Navy. The private sector could learn a lot from the Navy in terms of management," said Ojai Mayor Sue Horgan, who toured the ship.

"This is the first time I've been on a ship like this — it's fascinating to see its capabilities and to know that our security is in good hands," said Robert Slavin, mayor pro-tem of Westlake Village.

"Every day this week, something is planned to celebrate our 45th year," said Nancy Landeros, a contracting officer for the Warfare Center. "It's great for families and community leaders to see what we do every day.