Nimitz
got underway for the first time since January 2015 when it pulled away
from the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Oct. 5, to begin the sea trials
phase. Sea trials is intended to assess the ship's readiness by evaluating
the crew's performance, and testing the operability of the ship's equipment
and upgrades using various system checks and drills.
"I would say sea trials was an overall success,"
said Senior Chief Petty Officer Matthew Searer, leading chief petty
officer of navigation department. Searer added every department ran
into a few problems of their own, but overall the ship performed well
mechanically.
Some of the major evaluations included the execution of high-speed turns,
an activation of the ship's countermeasure washdown and aqueous film
forming foam (AFFF) systems, sea and anchor and precision anchoring
exercises, testing of the ship's self-defense weapons, and man overboard
drills.
"Sea trials, for us, is a lot like a normal underway cleaning and
maintaining the hangar bays," said Seaman Tyven Mcelhinny. "We
got the opportunity to deep clean all the hangar bays after lighting
off the AFFF. It was something I have never gotten to do, and it was
actually really fun."
While underway, the ship's MK-38 25mm machine gun, MK-15 Phalanx Close-In
Weapons System, and .50-caliber machine guns were tested.
Among the many successes of the underway, the certification of the ship's
catapults, which received extensive work and upgrades during the maintenance
period, is the first step in allowing Nimitz to launch aircraft once
it returns to sea.
"The certification is critical to the safe launch of aircraft,"
said Ensign Lester Quinlin, air boatswain in charge of V-2's maintenance
program. "More than 45,000 man-hours were put into the catapult
maintenance. It feels great to be able to go to sea and know we have
the ability to take CVN 68 to the fight."
With sea trials successfully completed, the ship and crew can look forward
to the next milestone. Nimitz will soon be joined by Carrier Strike
Group 11 and Carrier Air Wing 11 to begin conducting flight operations
and begin working on flight deck certification upon returning to sea.
This will be the crew's first time underway with new Strike Group Commander
Rear Adm. William D. Byrne, and the strike group staff, since he took
command in September.
In the coming months, Nimitz will undergo a series of inspections and
multi-ship exercises as a part of a work-up cycle that will test the
ship's proficiency and capabilities in preparation for her upcoming
2017 deployment. |
