USS Ronald Reagan is replenished at sea

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Nathan Burke | 150902-N-OI810-249 WATERS OFF THE COAST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (Sept. 2, 2015) Gunner’s Mate 1st Class John Barkmeyer from Palm Springs, Calif., fires an MK 240 machine gun during a weapons training evolution on the fantail of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan, and its embarked carrier air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 provide a combat-ready force that protects the collective maritime interests of its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nathan Burke/Released)  

WATERS OFF THE COAST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AT SEA

09.01.2015

Courtesy Story

USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76)   

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nathan Burke

WATERS OFF THE COAST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) conducted an underway replenishment with the Military Sea Lift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187) off the coast of southern California, Sept. 1.

Ronald Reagan’s successful completion of the replenishment at sea was its first as the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed naval aircraft carrier.

According to Cmdr. Rodney Thomas, Ronald Reagan’s navigator, the evolution began with a process known as aligning the masts – a procedure where Ronald Reagan lined up behind the Henry J. Kaiser to marry the ships’ courses.

“We had a projected course and speed that we were supposed to do,” said Thomas. “But, what we steer and what they steer is a little different, so we adjust our heading to theirs.”

Both ships were connected by a series of line transfers and operated at a close distance during the fuel transfer while maintaining the same speed and course.

“During a RAS, we are not only right next to the other ship, but we also have tension with span wire,” said Quartermaster Seaman Yaymee Riveracruz, a Ronald Reagan master helmsman. “There’s only a certain amount of degrees we can go off.”

According to Riveracruz, master helmsmen are Sailors who are qualified to steer the ship during special evolutions such as RAS, vertical replenishments at sea, anchorages and any other evolutions that require a small margin of error.

The ship’s crew heavily relies upon its training and the experience of it’s leadership to maintain the safety of its Sailors.

“The importance of safety is paramount,” said Senior Chief Boatswain’s Mate John Pompey, Ronald Reagan’s deck department leading chief petty officer. “The are a lot of hands involved during this evolution. Everybody aboard has a job to do and they can’t miss a beat.”

According to Pompey, the ship took on approximately 800,000 gallons of JP5 jet fuel during the 4-hour evolution.

“There’s a lot of flying going on and there’s a lot of fuel being expended just to get the pilots their qualifications,” said Pompey.

Ronald Reagan is scheduled to conduct similar evolutions during this patrol with the anticipation of conducting daily flight operations and continuing carrier qualifications.

Ronald Reagan, and its embarked carrier air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 provide a combat-ready force that protects the collective maritime interests of its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific Region.

• Date Taken: 09.01.2015
• Date Posted: 09.03.2015 01:24
• Story ID: 175115
• Location: WATERS OFF THE COAST OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AT SEA