Donald Woodard News

Bataan Departs Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Returns to Sea

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Pedro A. USS Bataan (LHD 5) left the Norfolk Naval Shipyard after an eight month dry-docked planned maintenance availability (DPMA), May 5. Some major jobs completed aboard were completion of a seawater compensated fuel system modification and upgrades to support the newest vertical/short take off and landing Marine Corps aircraft, the MV-22 Osprey. The fuel compensation modification changes the way the fuel tanks aboard the ship are emptied. As fuel is used, the emptying tanks fill with seawater, so the ship's stability is not reduced as fuel is burned while underway. "The biggest thing with this modification is stability…