Summary and Key Points: Last month, three U.S. Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carriers – USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), and USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) – conducted a significant ammunition off-load operation in the Atlantic.
-The event involved the transfer of 3 million pounds of ordnance using MH-60S Seahawk helicopters between the carriers and the USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12).
-The operation, which took several days and included 1,765 vertical and connected replenishments, was crucial for preparing the carriers for their next deployments. The off-load underscored the Navy’s commitment to safety and operational readiness.
Although the United States Navy could be rightfully described as "spread thin" in the Indo-Pacific, the same couldn't be said of the Atlantic Ocean – as three of the sea service's nuclear-powered aircraft carriers conducted an operation together last month.
The U.S. Navy announced that the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) completed an ammunition off-load with her sister flattop USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) and the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), the lead vessel of the newest class of supercarriers. Also taking part in the ammunition transfer was the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS William McLean (T-AKE-12).
CVN-69 had returned from an extended deployment to the Middle East in June, and it conducted the ammunition off-load as the other two carriers prepare for their next deployments.
Though it was a routine operation, it was no small affair. It involved a total of 1,765 vertical and connected replenishments.
"To prepare for transport, IKE's weapons department staged 3 million pounds of ammunition on the flight deck and in the hangar bay," the U.S. Navy said in a statement. It involved the use of MH-60S Seahawk helicopters attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 9 (HSC-9) "The Tridents," and HSC-11 "Dragon-Slayers" flying between the nuclear-powered supercarriers, while HSC-7 "The Dusty Dogs" moved the remaining ordnance to T-AKE-12.
"Weapons department was amazing at clearing out all of the ordnance on the ship," explained Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Alexis Armstrong, G-5 division leading chief petty officer. "Off-loads and on-loads are like the Super Bowl for us."
Safety is "the top priority for the entire crew," the Navy added.
"Prior to every ordnance evolution, each division does a safety brief at the beginning of each off-load," said Master Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Jerome Ruffins, weapons department leading chief petty officer. "Throughout the off-load we have officers, chief petty officers and first-class petty officers that are roving the flight deck, hangar bay and magazines for safety. We are moving a lot of heavy equipment and explosives, so safety is paramount."
The operation also took several days to complete, but it was deemed a "success," and will allow CVN-75 and CVN-78 to continue with their respective deployments.
"I was highly impressed with the amount of work it takes to get everything out of the magazines and ready for vertical or connected replenishments," added Cmdr. Kent Davis, weapons department head, better known as "Gun Boss." "It was a huge effort for the whole team to come together and make it happen."
USS Harry S. Truman recently conducted pre-deployment training, while USS Gerald R. Ford underwent routine maintenance after her extended deployment to the Mediterranean last year. CVN-78 will have a few more "creature comforts" available to the crew as the first United Service Organization (USO) afloat game room, library, and officer's lounge was opened on the flattop this summer.
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
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