Wednesday - October 31, 2007
The Ronald Reagan Heads to Sea
The nation's largest aircraft carrier nears the end of its shakedown period and gets ready for active service.
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) returned to Naval Air Station North Island Oct. 31 following sea trials, which allowed the ship and crew to finish the six-month planned incremental availability (PIA) period one day ahead of schedule.
The two days of sea trials were the final phase for the PIA and were designed to assess Ronald Reagan's material readiness and ability to rejoin the fleet as a fully operational unit.
"The completion of this availability is the culmination of an incredible amount of effort invested into the future capability of Ronald Reagan," said Capt. Terry B. Kraft, Ronald Reagan's commanding officer.
"I'm proud of the fact that we executed the availability safely, with no significant injuries to Reagan or Puget Sound personnel. Completing early was our goal from the beginning - it's great to be back in action," added Kraft.
From advanced combat systems and electronics installation, improved berthing compartments and new deck tiles, Ronald Reagan received more than $150-million in renovations and upgrades since entering the PIA cycle in May. Prior to PIA, Ronald Reagan completed a six-month deployment in 2006 to support the global war on terrorism, as well as a three-month surge deployment to the Western Pacific in early 2007.
Ronald Reagan Sailors joined shipyard workers from Northrop-Grumman's Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for a special picnic Oct. 18 in the ship's hangar bay prior to sea trials, celebrating the end of the PIA maintenance period. During the picnic, Kraft addressed the crowd of Sailors and contract workers before a traditional cake-cutting ceremony to mark the end of the PIA period. Read more....
How big is the Reagan?
• Towers 20 stories above the waterline 1092 feet long; nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall Flight deck covers 4.5 acres 4 bronze propellers, each 21 feet across and weighing 66,200 pounds 2 rudders, each 29 by 22 feet and weighing 50 tons
Author: The Machiavellian
Technorati Tags: U.S.S. Ronald Reagan
Technorati Cosmos:
Technorati Watchlist:
Add this entry to: