Guns, Training and COMPTUEX Continues, Week 2

CARR Families and Friends,

As I mentioned last week, it is important for everyone to be familiar with the Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS). NFAAS standardizes a method for the Navy to account, assess, manage, and monitor the recovery process for personnel and their families affected and/or scattered by a wide-spread catastrophic event. NFAAS provides valuable information to all levels of the Navy chain of command, allowing commanders to make strategic decisions which facilitate a return to stability. The site can be accessed at https://navyfamily.navy.mil/. I encourage all of our family members to register in the event of a natural disaster.

A busy week as COMPTUEX continues. This week’s significant events included:

Day 10 – Sunday, April 29th
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Today we conducted a simulated strait transit along with three other ships – this event is designed to ensure we are ready to react to any potential threat when transiting through restricted waters. A significant challenge is to quickly assess the shipping traffic and determine who is/is not a threat. In this event 19 small and fast boats approached the force, with four vessels coming straight at CARR. Our teams manned their crew served weapons and photographic intel team responded to quickly assess the threat. Initially the small boats operated close to CARR, but did not present a threat. Great job to CTTSR Nathanial Weston who as part of the photo team identified a person on one of the boats who leaned down and picked up a simulated Rocket Propelled Grenade. CTTSR Weston has only been on board a short time but he is already making a huge impact as CARR’s photographer – keep it up!1

Almost instantly after identifying the simulated weapon on the boat, I gave the order to kill the target…FC2 Adam Lemons took control of our Close in Weapon System and wacked the target . Shortly after the small boat encounter, CARR observed a mine like object in the water…again, we rapidly assessed the situation, maneuvered to remain clear, and took actions in case the object was a simulated mine.

We have spent a significant amount of time down on email and internet as a result of having a large blockage zone for our satellite receiver…the forward mast interferes with signal reception on certain courses. Typically when we maneuver out of our blockage zone our internet/email comes right back up…this time it didn’t. Our ET’s and IT’s quickly responded and broke out the tech manuals to commence fault isolation.   Although it took a few hours to restore, the team stayed focused and restored our connectivity – superb job by IT2 Richard Freese, IT1 Kevin Bultman, ET2 Michael McCullick, and ET1 Carl Denker.

Congratulations to out new Morale, Welfare, and Recreation officials: MWR President: YNSN Timothy Crowell; Vice President: IC1 Derek Hotop; Secretary: FC2 Justin Gunderson. I am looking forward to seeing MWR active throughout deployment and decommissioning preps.

Day 11 – Monday, April 30th
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This morning as we prepared to conduct flight operations we had a casualty to our helo hangar door – much like a garage door, this door rolls up on a track. The door had come off the track and one of the aluminum seams separated, bringing the door to the deck. As a result of potential risk of foreign object damage to the helo (possibility of sucking debris into the engine) we couldn’t fly the helo. After several phone calls and emails, we received permission to pull into Mayport to get the door quickly repaired – luckily we were only 10 miles away when this happened. As always, the Southeast Regional Maintenance Center did an exceptional job of supporting us and getting our casualty fixed quickly. We did have to spend the night in port…I did not allow anyone to go ashore for liberty because I felt we were supposed to be at sea conducting an exercise…every minute we can stay on the ship now is a minute we should be able to spend with our families when we get back to Norfolk. Also, it was important to stay focused on the job at hand – preparing for upcoming COMPTUEX events and INSURV.

While in port, our helo recovery, assist, secure, and traverse technician (RAST) EN3 Joseph Lawhorn, received a replacement air valve to complete repairs on one of our Rapid Securing Devices (RSD). The RSD is used to secure the helo upon landing and helps move it into and out of the helo hangar. Replacement of the valve wasn’t quite as simple as it sounds – it was very difficult to access, requiring several parts to be removed to support the repair.

This was also our first opportunity to receive mail during this underway.

Despite our short time underway, Logistics Specialist 2nd class Daniel Shelton organized the receipt of 9 bags of mail while in Mayport. As we prepare for deployment keep in mind that we can expect to receive mail once or twice per month.

Day 12 – Tuesday, May 1st
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While in port Mayport today we took advantage of the time to push preparations for our upcoming inspection by the Board of Inspection and Survey in a few short weeks.

Following completion of the door repair, deck division immediately painted the door…not just for aesthetics, but to ensure that mandatory safety markings were in place to support the helo. There are an amazing number of lights and painted indications on our flight deck that are used to support safe helo operations.

In the afternoon we were underway and back in the fight and ready to resume COMPTUEX.

Great job to LSSN Augustine Otwori, our Depot Level Repairable and Pack Up Kit (PUK) custodian, for coordinating with the local depot to make sure we could turn in our excess material. Many of our broken parts are required to be turned in so they can get repaired; to ensure ships turn them the new parts have two prices (a high price if no turn in part is received, and a much lower price if the broken part is returned). He supervised the offload of 22 parts, saving CARR $200K in carcass charges. As the Aviation PUK manger, he made over 50 storeroom issues of hazmat to the AIR DET on board, supporting 36 hours of Helo Operations.

Lots of activity with our helo detachment, HSL-48 Det 2…they will be with us through deployment. Kudos to AD2 Jered Melton performed exceptionally as night shift supervisor. He led a five person maintenance team to ensure our helicopter (VENOM 502) was ready for operational tasking.

BZ to LSSN Kyle Owens who coordinated with the base environmental protection office to offload several pallets of used Hazardous Material (greases, lubricants, etc) and place orders for new material for deployment.

Day 13 – Wednesday, May 2nd
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In the morning, CARR successfully thwarted a simulated pirate attack on a merchant vessel operating in international waters. Upon receiving the distress call, CARR proceeded at high speed toward the vessel under attack. Upon arriving we used our crew served weapons to force the pirates to retreat. After chasing off the pirates, we sent a team over to provide medical support and ensure the vessel was still seaworthy. CTT2 Joseph Seal did an excellent job documenting the efforts of the team, which is a major portion of our counter-piracy mission.

Today we conducted both a day and night gun shoot along with three other ships. These were not our typical 30 minute gun shoots…they began at 1300 and lasted [until] midnight. The first obstacle that had to be overcome was boat traffic in the area…the weather was great, which results in more sports fishermen and sailing boats on the water. In addition, there were several presentations made by a remote controlled high speed vessel and towed jet ski.   Safety was paramount, so we ensured that everything was done with purpose. The day gun shoot consisted of us engaging the high speed craft with our 76mm gun at varying ranges. After that we had the opportunity to engage the Jet Ski with our .50 Cals, M240’s, 25mm gun, and Close in Weapons System (20mm). Everyone did a great job and then we reset to do the same thing again in the dark. Once it gets dark the level of complexity increases, but the team was up for the challenge. We repeated the evolution and scored multiple hits on the targets. Awesome job to GMSA Steven Joyce who prepared our 76mm gun for operation and GM2 Ethan Krug who ensured the crew-served weapons were ready.

Day 14 – Thursday, May 3rd
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Today we started the ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) portion of the exercise. We validated our sonar system and conducted familiarization runs with a diesel and nuclear submarine. Just prior to the exercise commencing, we streamed our tactical towed array sonar (TACTAS) …basically a series of microphones dragged behind CARR to detect the noise from submarines. STGC William Colmenares and his team of Sonar Technicians worked tirelessly to ensure the team was ready to successfully demonstrate their USW prowess.

Great job to STG1 Christopher Wilson, STG2 David Botel, and STG2 Matthew Greenwood who used their expertise to track and report the submarines. They worked together to fuse information and provide excellent reports to the Anti-Submarine Warfare Commander as well as keeping our sonar equipment in excellent working condition.

Great job to AE3 Eli Kerner who ensured VENOM’s electrical and automatic flight control systems were ready for operational tasking. He continued to display superior technical skill and energy as he strives to keep our helo in top condition.

Day 15 – Friday, May 4th
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This morning started out with the entire Carrier Strike Group in a formation….ships placed in stations (maintaining specific bearings and ranges from the high value unit…in this case USNS BIG HORN…an oiler). When it was our turn to get ready to take fuel, LTJG Philip Chayka sharply maneuvered CARR to Starboard and drove at high speed to our new station…1000yds astern of the BIG HORN. Great job to my Master Helmsman, BM3 Joshua Fidler! As always, he did a great job driving us into station and maintaining our position…you can’t imagine how difficult it is to precisely maneuver CARR. Additionally, the Rig Captain, BM3 Travis Gardner, ensured our station 8 was rigged correctly and the hook-up and disconnect with BIG HORN went smoothly.

On the way there we went to flight quarters in order to launch our helicopter to go hunt for submarines. Once the helo was off deck, we quickly transitioned and prepared to go alongside. The Bridge team did a great job bringing us alongside at about 160 ft horizontal separation…the rig team and foc’sle team quickly got lines across and the probe connected to take on fuel. In about 30 minutes we received 32,500 gallons of Diesel Fuel Marine.

Once we were gassed up we were off to conduct anti-submarine operations.

Throughout the day we used our TACTAS, active sonar, and helo to hunt for submarines.

Day 16 – Saturday, May 5th
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Today CARR conducted another daytime Live Fire Exercise. The target didn’t stand a chance against CS3 Jonathan Brown, ET3 Gregory Dyson, LSSN Augustine Otwori, and SH2 Justin Howard – they ensured their mounts provided pinpoint gunfire. FC2 Lemons finished off the towed target as he controlled our Close-in Weapons System (CIWS), devastating the target with hundreds of rounds of 20mm projectiles.

In the afternoon we had aircraft fly against us simulating enemy missiles; this gave us the opportunity to fire Chaff – a countermeasure designed to produce a large radar cross section…the hope is that the missile will head for the bigger target.

Great job to our LINK response team who restored our system after a sudden loss of connectivity. Our LINK 11 is a system that allows multiple ships to share contact information – even though a contact may be too far away for CARR to pick it up on her sensors, the LINK relays information to us from ships/aircraft that have radar contact. The operators and the technicians used their procedures and technical acumen to restore this vital system.

Special thanks to OS2 Rafel Trice, OS3 Caleb Bryant, ET2 Michael McCullick and ET3 Corey Mink.

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Until next week, stay safe Carr Family and Friends!

CDR Patrick Kulakowski
Commanding Officer
USS CARR (FFG 52)
“Courage, Will, Determination”