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Damage Controlman News

21 Jul 2017

Truman Departs for Sea Trials

USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) departed Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) for Sea Trials July 21 following a 10-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA). Truman's Commanding Officer, Capt. Ryan B. Scholl, praised ship forces, NNSY and civilian contractors for working together to stay on schedule and making an on-time departure from the shipyard. "The number one goal for this ship over the last year was making it better than when it arrived here," said Scholl. "This excitement, enthusiasm and teamwork is what propelled us out of the shipyard. Critical work during the availability, which began last September, included upgrades to the ship's internal and external communication network…

21 Mar 2017

USS Lake Erie Assists Distressed Mariners

Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) provided assistance to 25 mariners in the early hours of March 19, after receiving a distress call from a civilian ship taking on water. Lake Erie deployed a rescue and assistance team aboard its rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB), and after embarking the distressed vessel, the eight-member team began dewatering the ship and searching for the source of the flooding. "After making sure everyone was alright, we noticed water was coming in at about 1,200 gallons a minute," said Lt. Ruben Maldonado, Lake Erie's damage control assistant, of Junction City, Kansas. The team found two cracks in the hull of the wooden vessel and used wooden shoring to reduce the flow of water.

12 Mar 2015

Theodore Roosevelt Deploys for World Tour

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) departed its homeport in Norfolk for an around-the-world deployment, March 11. TR and its Sailors will conduct operations in the U.S. Navy's 5th, 6th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility during the deployment. "The crew has done an absolutely stellar job getting TR ready for deployment," said Capt. Daniel C. Grieco, TR's commanding officer. The deployment is part of an ongoing rotation of U.S. forces supporting maritime security operations in international waters around the world. "This is a unique deployment that will actually encompass three different areas of responsibility or AORs," said Grieco.

25 Feb 2015

200th Anniversary Commemoration of Dual Victory

The crew of USS Constitution commemorated the bicentennial of Old Ironsides' final battle during the War of 1812, her unprecedented dual-victory over Royal Navy ships HMS Cyane and HMS Levant Feb. 20 in Charlestown Navy Yard. Constitution Sailors fired the ship's saluting battery at noon to commemorate the start of the battle, and visitors to the ship received dramatic accounts of the battle from Constitution crew members throughout the day. At sunset, the saluting gun was fired again in commemoration of the conclusion of both the battle and the War of 1812. The evening gun salute was followed by a ceremony and reception at the USS Constitution Museum. The reception opened with welcoming remarks from Cmdr. Sean D.

05 Oct 2014

USS Princeton Wins CNRSW 'Good Neighbor' Award

The officers and crew of guided missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) were named as the recipients of the 2014 Navy Region Southwest "Project Good Neighbor" flagship award for medium-sized sea duty commands, Sept. 29. Princeton was one of eight Navy Region Southwest units recognized for their volunteerism and community service in an official naval message released by Rear Adm. Patrick Lorge, commander, Navy Region Southwest. Led by Lt. John Quay, the ship's command chaplain, Princeton Sailors leveraged their experience with community relations projects while deployed last year to create a year-round program to improve the quality of life for the less fortunate in San Diego County. Quay said Princeton Sailors work with Habitat for Humanity at least once a month.

21 Mar 2014

NASNI Builds Navy’s First Submarine FiFi Trainer

Nick Lugue Jr., a welder with Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, welds a new firefighting trainer into place at Naval Air Station North Island. The trainer is the first of four new trainers the Navy is building that will simulate potential fire hazards aboard submarines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Todd C. Behrman)

Smoke bellows out the ventilation ducts. The glow of the blazing fire emanates down the passageway. Firefighters move with precision and purpose, pausing to unleash a torrent of water towards the fire as they kneel before it. Such was the scene at the Navy’s first submarine firefighting trainer, located at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) Oct. 29. Commander, Navy Installation Command (CNIC) approached Kidde Fire Trainers almost one year ago in response to the incident on the USS Miami, in which a fire caused over $400 million of damage to the submarine.

05 Feb 2014

Somerset Embarks for Commissioning

Sailors on board Pre-commissioning Unit Somerset bring in all lines during sea and anchor detail on Somerset's maiden voyage. (U.S. Navy photo by Elena Pence)

The Navy's newest amphibious transport dock ship, Pre-commissioning Unit Somerset, (LPD 25) departed Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Shipbuilding site in Avondale, La., Feb. 3, beginning its maiden voyage to its commissioning site in Philadelphia, March 1. "The commissioning ceremony marks an important milestone in a ship's life and completes the cycle from christening and launching to full status as a ship of the United States Navy," said Commanding Officer, Capt. Thomas L. Dearborn. "On March 1, 2014 when you hear the words " ...

04 Nov 2013

NASNI Builds Navy's First Submarine Firefighting Trainer

Nick Lugue Jr., a welder with Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, welds a new firefighting trainer into place at Naval Air Station North Island. The trainer is the first of four new trainers the Navy is building that will simulate potential fire hazards aboard submarines. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Todd C. Behrman)

Smoke bellows out the ventilation ducts. The glow of the blazing fire emanates down the passageway. Firefighters move with precision and purpose, pausing to unleash a torrent of water towards the fire as they kneel before it. Such was the scene at the Navy's first submarine firefighting trainer, located at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) Oct. 29. Commander, Navy Installation Command (CNIC) approached Kidde Fire Trainers almost one year ago in response to the incident on the USS Miami, in which a fire caused over $400 million of damage to the submarine.

08 Aug 2013

Navy Prepares Ike for the Shipyard

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN69). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ryan D. McLearnon)

After back-to-back deployments, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN69) (IKE) will be headed to Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth for some necessary maintenance during a scheduled docking planned incremental availability (DPIA) period. A DPIA period is a time for a ship to undergo work and to receive needed improvements to maintain its optimal running efficiency. Over the course of the DPIA, IKE will go through both ship's-force maintenance and contractor work to obtain this goal.

17 Jun 2008

George H.W. Bush Visits USS Ashland

The Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) arrives at the Marathi NATO Pier Facility for a routine port visit. Ashland is homeported at Navy Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va. and is deployed supporting maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Paul Farley

Former President George H.W. Bush visited the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) to say thank you for the crew's service, June 15. Bush and some of his family members were on vacation in when they found out that would be visiting Rhodes, while the ship was returning from the . Bush quickly adjusted his schedule and made a detour just to stop by and talk with the crew. "I want you all to know it is a joy for us to see this ship, to be on board and be able to show the respect that we have for the Navy and those who serve there in," said Bush.

04 Mar 2008

USS Buttercup is Still Sinking

Sailors place plugs in the hull of the USS Buttercup during a training exercise. Norfolk area Sailors and Coast Guardsmen test their damage control skills aboard the USS Buttercup during general shipboard damage control training at the Naval Station Norfolk Center for Naval Engineering. U.S. "Battle stations! All hands man your battle stations!" was the cry over the loud speaker. Sailors wearing coveralls, utilities and khakis rushed to plug the holes and place wooden support beams through out the badly damaged interior of USS Buttercup…

30 Nov 2007

Ronald Reagan and CVW 14 Underway for TSTA/FEP

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 departed San Diego Nov. 27 to complete Tailored Ship's Training Assessment (TSTA), an intense training period designed to prepare the ship and embarked air wing for prompt and sustained combat operations at sea. TSTA and the upcoming Final Evaluation Problem (FEP) are conducted by Afloat Training Group Pacific, and are designed to test a ship's ability to conduct multiple simultaneous combat missions and survive complex casualty situations under stressful conditions. Rear Adm. Phil Wisecup, commander of the Ronald Reagan Strike Group, stressed to the officers and crew of Ronald Reagan and CVW 14 that the preparation for future strike group missions starts during TSTA/FEP.

27 Apr 2004

Coast Guard Suffers First Combat Death Since Vietnam

U.S. Coast Guard Damage Controlman Third Class Nathan B. Bruckenthal, 24, from Smithtown, N.Y., died from injuries sustained when a small boat exploded as he and six other coalition sailors attempted to board it near the Iraqi Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal Saturday. Injured was Boatswains Mate Third Class Joseph T. Ruggiero, 23, from Revere, Mass., who is recovering in a hospital in Kuwait. The two men were assigned to Law Enforcement Detachment 403 from Tactical Law Enforcement Team South in Miami, Fla., and were deployed to Coast Guard Patrol Forces Southwest Asia at the time of the incident. Two Coast Guardsmen and five Navy sailors aboard a rigid hull inflatable boat were preparing to board a dhow that had approached the terminal when the explosion occurred. Two U.S.

31 Jul 2007

Safeguard Completes Final Underway

The rescue and salvage ship USS Safeguard (ARS 50) makes her way through the Java Sea en route to Surabaya, Indonesia for the fourth phase of the 2005 Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise. Safeguard is part of a three-ship task group, including the dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) and guided missile frigate USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) that will take part in CARAT Indonesia beginning July 25. CARAT is a regularly scheduled series of bilateral military training exercises with several Southeast Asia nations designed to enhance interoperability of the respective sea services. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Brian P. By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Joshua J. Wahl, Fleet Public Affairs Center Det.

30 Jul 2007

Essex Demonstrates Sustained Mission Readiness

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Corey Truax, Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. The multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) successfully completed a three-day evaluation, Unit Level Training Assessment-Sustainment (ULTRA-S) July 22, while returning from the U.S and Australian-led Exercise Talisman Saber 2007. A team of inspectors from the Afloat Training Group Western Pacific (ATGWP) arrived, via helicopter from Guam, to evaluate 16 mission areas including engineering, damage control, seamanship, combat systems, amphibious warfare, medical, aviation and force protection/anti-terrorism. ATGWP also reviewed Essex's Maintenance Material Management (3M) program to ensure that material readiness standards and maintenance practices continued to meet standards.

06 Jul 2007

ATG Pacific Evaluates Tarawa Sailors During ULTRA-S

After successfully completing over 10 drills during a three-day period, USS Tarawa (LHA1) passed the Unit Level Training Readiness Assessment Sustainment (ULTRA-S) inspection June 28. Alpha fires, mines in the water, man overboard and intruder on the quarterdeck were some of the different types of drills Tarawa conducted. Throughout the inspection, Tarawa’s training teams in damage control, combat systems, force protection, medical and others were evaluated through training team scenarios by Afloat Training Group (ATG) Pacific. The assessment also covers seamanship, navigation and the Maintenance Material Management (3M) program. “ULTRA…

15 May 2007

Ships from Bonhomme Richard ESG Depart Singapore

Amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) leads a formation of ships during a photo exercise near Guam. Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group consists of Amphibious Squadron 7, USS Bonhomme Richard, amphibious transport dock USS Denver (LPD 9), dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47), guided missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69), guided missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), guided missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65), and 2,200 combat ready Marines of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. U.S. USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) (BHR), USS Denver (LPD 9), and USS Rushmore (LSD 47) departed Singapore on May 12 after a three-day port visit.

20 Mar 2007

USS Kearsarge Completes Sea Trials

USS KEARSARGE, At Sea (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) completed a successful three-day sea trials March 14, following major repairs to No. 2 low pressure turbine and an extensive maintenance availability period. In preparation for the sea trials event, the Kearsarge crew, Commander Naval Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center technicians, and various contractors, spent thousands of man-hours completing equipment repairs and maintenance. They also ensured the ship’s engineering, combat systems, aviation and damage control equipment were in excellent material and operational condition. During the sea trials…

08 Mar 2007

Yokosuka Sailors Receive Aircraft Firefighting Training

Forty Sailors from USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) participated in aircraft firefighting training at the Naval Engineering Learning Site here March 1. Students learn about the chemistry of fire, how it behaves, how it moves, and how to extinguish it. Fighting an aircraft fire is different than fighting a shipboard fire. Different techniques are used, due to the uniqueness of the fire. “With a shipboard fire, say, a berthing fire for example, you can classify it and contain it,” said Chief Damage Controlman David D. Jefferson, senior instructor. “With aircraft fires, you have man-made items such as composite fibers, and it reacts differently to fire. Students receive hands-on training in realistic settings to closely simulate the sequence of events in case of a real fire.

07 Mar 2007

Kidd Crew Moves Aboard Ship

PCU Kidd (DDG-100), the newest member of the Arleigh Burke-class of AEGIS destroyers, passed a milestone Feb. 26 as crew members crossed the brow and boarded their new warship for the first time. “'Crew Move Aboard' is one the most important milestones in the history of Kidd. This is the day where this ship ceases to be just 9,000 tons of steel, electronics and machinery. DDG 100 truly becomes a ship of war when the Sailors assembled here take the ship and make it their own,” said Kidd's commanding officer, Cmdr. Richard E. Thomas. The day began with the crew gathering in front of the office building at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS) Shipyard, an office out of which they had worked for the previous two years. They then marched to the pier for a brief ceremony.

18 Jan 2007

Patrol Ships, Naval Academy Conduct Boarding Training

A Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) Sailor assigned to coastal patrol ship USS Hurricane (PC 3) conducts an initial security sweep aboard Yard Patrol Craft 681 (YP 681) while his shipmates board the vessel. YP 681 acted as a non-compliant vessel as part of Hurricane's Advanced Phase Training Exercise, designed to prepare the crew for upcoming deployments. U.S. Sailors and assets from the U.S. Naval Academy provided a unique training opportunity Jan. 10 and 17 for the crews of USS Thunderbolt (PC 12) and USS Hurricane (PC 3) in the Chesapeake Bay. The exercises were part of Thunderbolt and Hurricane's theater-tailored Advanced Phase Training Exercise, designed to prepare the crews for upcoming deployments.

07 Sep 2006

GW Completes Last Underway Before Yard Period

Ammunition is transferred from the hangar to the flight deck during an ammunition offload aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73). The Norfolk, Va.-based Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is currently conducting training off the coast of Virginia. U.S. USS George Washington (GW) (CVN 73) returned to Naval Station Norfolk Sept. 1, following a two-and-a-half week underway period in preparation of the upcoming Planned Incremental Availability plus Docking (PIA+D). It was the last at sea period before GW goes to Norfolk Naval Shipyard. “This has been a tremendous underway, a complete success in every regard,” said Rear Adm. Garry R. White, GW’s commanding officer.

17 May 2006

Oldest Amphib Serves as Base for Iraq’s Future

USS Ogden (LPD 5), the Navy’s oldest active amphibious ship, is currently serving as the Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB) for the multinational maritime coalition operating in the North Persian Gulf. As the AFSB for Commander, Task Group (CTG) 158.1, the 41-year-old amphibious transport dock is providing logistical support for the various forces that are protecting Iraq’s territorial waters and oil platforms, as well as serving as a training platform for Iraqi sailors and marines. “The crew is having a wonderful time,” said Cmdr. James Hruska, Ogden’s commanding officer. On the bridge, Ogden Sailors work and stand watches alongside Iraqi naval officers.