Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) was named the Naval Air Force Pacific Battle Efficiency (Battle “E”) award winner Feb. 11, in a close competition among the aircraft carriers in the Pacific Fleet.
“The Sailors and officers of this carrier continue to achieve and surpass the high standards of those who have preceded them. We are proud of the operational excellence and sound fiscal execution that you have displayed. You have my personal congratulations on a job well done,” Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF) Pacific, Vice Adm. David H. Buss wrote in a congratulatory award message.
The Battle “E” competition is an evaluation of the ship’s abilities in logistics, material, engineering, damage control, navigation and command and control, as well as air, surface and subsurface warfare. Lincoln earned an “E” in all of the departmental categories. Once the Lincoln passed these evaluations, it had to demonstrate sustained superior performance, operational effectiveness and documented combat readiness to CNAF. The yearlong evaluation also included inspections and observing training.
Capt. Karl O. Thomas, Lincoln’s commanding officer, said the Battle “E” topped off a highly successful 2012 for the crew.
“It took the entire ship-air wing team working together, and tremendous support from the families during an around the world cruise and home port change,” Thomas said. “They are richly deserving of this recognition, and I couldn’t be more proud of each and every one of them.”
At the beginning of 2012, Lincoln was already underway in the 7th Fleet on the first leg of her around-the-world cruise, which would culminate in a change of home port to Norfolk, Va. The ship finished the year having sailed more than 58,600 nautical miles through the 5th, 6th and 7th Fleets, completing 8,100 arrested landings with no Class A or B mishaps, flying more than 30,000 hours, with more than 2,400 directly supporting troops on the ground in combat.
In addition to its Battle “E” accomplishments, while deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Lincoln Sailors qualified all of its eligible Sailors as Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS), and 77 percent to Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist (EAWS). In concert with Carrier Air Wing 2, Lincoln launched 2,411 operational missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom during its around-the-world deployment. The ship also exceeded the Navy-wide average for promotion rate to Petty Officer and Chief Petty Officer by 18 percent.
The following video gives a brief insight into USS Abe Lincoln’s everyday operations.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, February 14, 2013; Image: US Navy