Two U.S. Navy aircraft carriers took significant steps in the next phases of their mission-readiness during a major ammunition movement July 16.
Through a collaborative effort between USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and the Military Sealift Command dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12), Truman off-loaded more than 1,200 tons of ordnance, during connected and vertical replenishments in preparation of her upcoming scheduled maintenance period. TR received about 100 tons of the ordnance from Truman, with the rest going to McLean.
“With the Truman heading to the yards, they don’t have a need for the ordnance anymore,” said Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Emmanuel Rodriguez-Martinez from TR’s weapons department. “As we get close to our deployment, we are in the mind set of, ‘after this onload we are ready to go’.”
Lt. Cmdr. James Bell, Truman’s ordnance handling officer said off-loading the ordnance was an important step in Truman’s preparations to enter the shipyards.
“This off-load was critical to the timetable of not only our upcoming maintenance period, but the schedule for other ships too,” Bell said.
Sailors from weapons, deck, air and supply departments on both ships worked together throughout the evolution, which required leadership, efficiency and professionalism from officers and enlisted alike, especially aviation ordnancemen (AO).
This move means a transition in mission for both carriers. Truman concluded a nine-month deployment in the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility as the flagship for Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, April 19, and is preparing for a shipyard maintenance availability this fall. Theodore Roosevelt, in the meantime, is training with other CSG 12 assets to prepare for future deployments.