The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, has successfully completed a significant ammunition off-load operation involving two other carriers and a dry cargo ship, according to a press release.
From August 22 to 30, the Eisenhower transferred 3 million pounds of ammunition to the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), and the USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12) in the Atlantic Ocean.
The operation involved 1,764 helicopter deliveries, using MH-60S Seahawk helicopters to move the ordnance between the ships.
Safety was a key focus throughout the operation. “We are moving a lot of heavy equipment and explosives, so safety is paramount,” said Master Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Jerome Ruffins, who led the weapons department during the off-load. The crew conducted safety briefings before each stage of the operation to ensure everything was carried out smoothly.
Cmdr. Kent Davis, who heads the weapons department on the Eisenhower, noted the teamwork required to complete such a complex task. “It was a huge effort for the whole team to come together and make it happen,” he said, acknowledging the dedication of the sailors involved.
Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Alexis Armstrong described the off-load as a major event for the crew, saying, “Off-loads and on-loads are like the Super Bowl for us,” highlighting the importance of the operation to those on board.
According to a U.S. Navy statement:
“In order to ensure the success of the off-load, leadership emphasised safety as the top priority for the entire crew. The ammunition off-load was a success and the weapons department chain of command was pleased with the commitment and effort from their Sailors.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) are underway in the Atlantic Ocean for an ammunition transfer between the three ships and the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12).”
Someone is bound to complain one of ours wasn’t there!
Why were the…..😇
😂
The Ike is going in for midlife refueling, upgrades and maintenance, needs to get rid of its ammo and extraneous equipment for safety
No it is not. It is well past it’s mid life refueling. Think it is due for withdrawal in 2030. It is almost definitely due some end of deployment maintenance though after an extended deployment.
It’s already had its midlife refueling.
Bloody Show Offs 🥴
Impressive operation but why was it necessary?
To say “we can”……
Good question. Maybe a show of force for Putin & the Iranian proxies threatening Israel & merchant shipping? Depends of course where the Truman & Ford go next.
Strange to happen at sea. Did Eisenhower have a fault necessetating returning to homeport & another carrier covering her deployment?
No, she is at the end of a long deployment.
Three carriers together is an impressive show of force, but my question (badly posed) was about why did they de-ammunition ‘the Eisenhower’?
The same reason the Zumwalt destroyers have been left neutered. Your government is bankrupt and cannot afford to arm them.
I served on the Kitty Hawk CV63 , we would always take on munitions and other supplies, both for readiness training/certification and because it’s often impractical politicly and strategically to keep a bunch of munitions on shipment port. More so if stationed overseas, as the KittyHawk was.
They transferred the ammunition from the IKE to the other carriers so it can go into the shipyard for after cruise repairs and upkeep.
ISRAEL are the ones the icj found carrying out GENOCIDE. You yanks don’t have 2 braincells to rub together. Yes I have 1st hand experience of dealing with how stupid the average yank is. I worked for usafe for 8 years
Genocide is genocide wether carried out against or on the behalf of Israel. Indeed Israel needs to stop behaving according to the playbook of those who murdered 6 million of them.
Just responding with more deadly criminal brutality to each deadly criminal brutality, one side to the other endlessy just perpetuates hate & violence.
Netanyahu is dragging Israel down to the level of the fanatics who plague them. Butchering innocent civilians who Hamas/Hezbollah have made into human shields is no way for a civilised country to act.
I think I had a braincell… …-.once
To keep sharp and show it can be done when the time comes. Be prepared for everything 💯 ✌️
The Truman is very close to deploying, Ike just got off of an extended deployment and is transferring her ammo to Truman. I’m not sure what Ford is doing, but it makes for an impressive photo:)
Ah, OK. Thanks.
To hone your skills and keep yourself in tip-top condition in case of what is to come.
stupid comment.
I’m speechless at this level of ignorance! Btw, I don’t often comment but ….
Oh Andy please. As a former pongo I will say the Matelocks are not gutless. And there only useless as we havnt got enough ships. The rest yer i ll go with that.
Very good Lee. The Pongo’s could nip their mob down to the beach to show us how to do it.
Not really sure a carrier is quite the right thing to patrol the Dover Straits…
Test
Test
test
Test?
Is George getting testy about something.
Cloudy beer how me…
Why am I banned ?
Testberg
Why am I banned ?
Why am I banned ?
How can you be banned when you have posted the same question 3 times?
I’ll not be able to explain.
All my comments were deleted, I asked why but each comment was held for approval then deleted, then they came back and I was still unable to comment, now I’m able to again !
Awaiting for approval again.
Theoretically you could take a Chinook Helicopter or an Osprey and turn them into “ship refueler” by just putting a fuel tank in the troop compartment.Land on a “Flat Top” and drop 10000 gallons of fuel right into the carriers fuel tanks.
Think you have over estimated the capacity of a chinook… perhaps a quarter of the fuel quantity would be more realistic… plus not very useable, the carrier would have to be very close to an airfield to be fuelled.
Wait, aren’t they nuclear propulsion? Mmmm nevermimd, jet fuel JP5 or 8 for the fighters.
Why aren’t big boats propelled using nuclear- is it the waste it creates and if so: do subs dump nuclear waste in the ocean or has my naivety become a problem- do we not really have nuclear subs- and do they come back to shore to dump?
I used to theorise of how much damage we actually do in the oceans and whether we dump nuclear waste there but surely our media would have been all over it if true.
Why is military information made public.
Should be top secret and not given to our enemies
sometimes you want to send a message
Why not?
It’s not like there is any sensitive tactical information in there and you can’t hide the strategic part, nor do you likely want to.
I think media is horrible in many ways but it exists because of assumed political prowess and necessary subterfuge diverting attention to other quarters.
It’s a tool which is somewhat misused in my opinion and I agree with you – but do we realise the truth- not likely.
Mate, I really don’t get your banter. Please explain the comment.
1764 Helicopter deliveries – this doesn’t sound right, surely?
Hmmm…3M lbs. ÷ 1764 flts. = ~1700 lbs./flt
Certainly w/in the realm of possibility. Presume the pace of current events dictated the requirement to transfer munitions enroute as opposed to a transfer at homeport. Actually, did not realize until this article that multiple carrier groups probably share the same munitions, in turn. Presume RN has a similar practice? Does this obliquely ndicate that there may be inadequate levels of war reserve munitions available? Dunno, hopefully not…🤔😳
…indicate ..🙄
The RN does not do VERTREP Helo ammo resupply if it can at all help it. It is literally a massive accident waiting to happen.
Normally any transfer is via the stores ship using RAS (S) on a Jackstay.
Transfer of ammo from ship to shore is doable and a well practised evolution in support of RM etc.
Regarding Warstock ammo.
In the RN a big chunk of the Warstock ammo is usually afloat on either RN ships or in RFA supply ships.
Thanks for the info re RN practice. Uncertain why USN is practicing this evolution. 🤔
It seems logical to me to empty out a carrier that is going in for a refit.
But, there being shortages , mainly due to attrition from the long and partly pointless wars in the Middle East, but also due to the absolutely necessary aid to Ukraine seems evident.
If the latter affects carriers I am not sure, the first reason definately does. For instance, the F-18E went from one of the safest fighters to a rather iffy record mainly due to lack of maintenance and replacement of parts.
Meaning there were that many help sorties/transfers from ship to ship.
Hello not help
Thanks for telling everyone! Sitting target.
For when it’s going to kick off.
Americans would not have spine to bring this many aircraft carriers to North Korea’s doorsteps anymore. So now they have to do a little demonstration out in the middle of nowhere.
Most Americans also have no clue that these operations costs billions per day and is not listed in their defence budget.
Soon they’ll be wondering about how to pay the interest on their massive mountain of debt.
3 carriers in the Atlantic, none operational in the Pacific , all down for maintenance, great planning , very vulnerable, at this moment ! I’m sure the Chinese, Russians and North Korea ,see this !
Train & train then train again. That’s why U.S. Navy can get anywhere on earth less than 24 hours. Be ready to Strike or Deescalate.
Fabulous pic. The might of the US navy on display for all to see.
Absolutely Norm. Thank God for the good old US of A!
God, those three carriers together carry more airpower than most European nations have. A very impressive show of force. Then combined with the carriers escorts which would normally be 2 CCGs, 3-4 DDGs and 2 SSNs per carrier plus support ships the combined strength of these three carriers is equal if not more than any European nation. To think that the US could put ten of these Strike Groups to sea if the carriers were all operational at the same time really should give any nation a think twice before you take on the USN. Whilst looking at the photo… Read more »
Good Morning Ron. Your suggestion makes perfect sense but it is unlikely to happen. Notwithstanding the standardisation that has occured in the EU over the years,National self interest persists, especially in countries such as France! In addition, there is very little support for properly combining the Bloc’s armed forces and realistically this could only happen if the EU were to integrate much further to form a proper nation state
It’s not an inherently bad suggestion, but European integration isn’t going to happen for a very long time, at least not until the rest of Europe agrees to buy literally everything off the French.
As much as I love France, they’re an absolute pain in the arse to work with in my field. I can only imagine (and read) how much of a nightmare they’d be in defence procurement.
That was my home from 1999 to 2004
CVN-75 U.S.S. HARRY S. TRUMAN is one of the Finest and Best carrier in our Navy. Every ship has its own Stigma and story.. I was on the ship for it’s 1st cruise and it’s 2nd cruise which was Operation Iraqi Freedom.. So recognize she’s going strong and ready for her next deployment.. She has won the Battle E. On several occasions and won on Food..
Truman is the best ship
Very impressive, no explosions smooth transfer of supplies
Are my eyes deceiving me on my phone?
No Aircraft over flowing on the decks?
Scandal!!!!
lol
Clear decks just incase there’s an accidental kaboom? You don’t want all your very expensive warplanes peppered with shrapnel because of unnecessary vanity
Hey i see a couple, even an AEW rotating dish.
So Eisenhower was damaged by the Houthies and is off for scrapping?
How is this “news”? Every US carrier offloads/transfers its ordinance prior to a yard period and they do it at sea for safety rather than pierside in CONUS. This is a relatively routine evolution for a carrier going offline. But, given the recent debacles the USN has experienced in doing anticipated and required complex overhauls and midlife (25 year) nuclear refueling I guess anytime the USN succesfuly does anything out of the ordinary is cause for celebration. My carrier did this transfer in one day back in the mid 1980s – not eight days. BTW, why do so many articles… Read more »
Really curious. All three carriers were in port at Norfolk just prior to the date of this photo – 24 August. It appears that all three carriers departed Norfolk a few days prior to this photo specifically to conduct this replenishment at sea.
USN voluntarily chose to conduct this exercise? Very interesting, uncertain re implications, but an impressive proposition. 🤔
Stocking up to finish the genocide of their puppet masters in the Middle
I am so grateful for all your hard work and diligence on this operation. Thank you all for continuing to keep us all safe! Thank you for your service and God bless you All
Three carriers together is unusal ? Not many planes on deck – why ???
The ammunition transfer between those ships is nothing short of amazing. The teamwork of the pilots and crew members is essential to the success and safety of all involved!
They are getting ready for the forthcoming worldwide event😅
A lovely show of force for the deep state criminals they will be rounding up for sure 💪
Yet another war the US is perpetrating, stop the funding, and use the money for your own citizens.