Matthew Bradley News

USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) successfully completed sea trails Nov. 16 and 17, following a 68-day selective restrictive availability (SRA) maintenance period. During the two-day underway period, Blue Ridge Sailors cycled through a series of tests and drills to ensure the ship and crew are ready for sea. Blue Ridge deck department participated in several evolutions designed to keep their seamanship skills sharp. They conducted line-handling evolutions, an anchorage exercise, and small boat training. Chief Boatswain’s Mate (SW) Russell Townsend, deck department leading chief petty officer, said his Sailors did an excellent job during the underway period. “We didn’t have to knock any rust off our Sailors,” Townsend said of their performance.